Trip Overview
Explore Utah’s Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “AdventureWomen style” in 2020! Try canyoneering, hike among towering hoodoos, and horseback ride through the setting sun over desert landscapes, all while enjoying Utah guest ranch luxe to round out each active and adventurous day.
Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are two of Mother Nature’s greatest marvels, their gigantic canyons and erosion-carved forms layered in ribbons of ochre red, yellow, and white. Begin your Utah adventure vacation at the 4,000 acre Zion Ponderosa Ranch, a Utah guest ranch resort, just perfect for our home base for the week. Over a gourmet welcome dinner, get to know the other women joining you to explore Utah’s canyon country, then settle into your room in one of the ranch’s luxury vacation homes.
For your first day in Utah, survey America’s big, beautiful backyard from Observation Point. At 6,521 feet high, the sweeping scenery before you includes most of Zion Canyon, its high walls and canyon floor stretching out for miles. While some make the tough four-mile steeper climb up, AdventureWomen has a better way to reach the top! A 3.5 mile trail from the park boundary takes us on a gentler course to reach those jaw-dropping views. Afternoon options include horseback riding through Utah scrub lands to catch a luminous sunset.
The next day, head out on the “secret” hikes within Zion. None are long or strenuous, but combined they total 8-10 miles throughout the day. Your first stop is the Court of Patriarchs. This stunning short hike offers expansive views of the monumental peaks that welcome you into Zion Canyon. You’ll have the opportunity to hike part of the Zion Narrows, a deep slot canyon, wading portions of the Virgin River to reach wild hanging gardens and walk among the arcing walls. Discover a few more secret spots in the park unknown to tourists, and crown this perfect day with s’mores and a crackling campfire. You have two options for your next day. For a hike that will test your mettle and prove you love a challenge, choose to travel into Zion to tackle a tricky and demanding route to Angels Landing, navigating switchbacks and sheer drop offs. Your reward is completely breathtaking 360-degree views. For those who prefer a less-challenging option, wake early for a less demanding hike to see the sunrise at Canyon Overlook. Afterwards meet up for lunch, shopping and walking around Springdale. For a true visual feast, on day five spend your time hiking down into sun baked Bryce Canyon and around its spiky sea of multi-colored vertical sandstone hoodoos.
Saving the very best for last, harness up and grab a hard hat to join your friends and professional guides to experience the heart-pumping thrill of canyoneering! Whether you’ve never tried it before or you’re an “old hand,” this safe but adventurous activity is suitable for all Adventure Women! Learn to gradually belay yourself downwards with your climbing ropes as you descend step by step down steep red sandstone walls to land safely down below. It might seem scary as you first step out over the cliff, but by the time you reach the canyon floor, canyoneering might just become your favorite sport!
Your Utah adventure tour with hiking, horseback riding, and canyoneering concludes with a spectacular farewell dinner at our Utah guest ranch to match your spectacular week. As you wish each other a bon voyage, savor the camaraderie, the moxie, and the shared laughs you will remember for years to come.
- Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks Hiking & Multisport Adventure: Day-By-Day Itinerary
- What’s Included in your Utah Adventure Tour
- What to Pack for Hiking in Utah
- Travel Tips & Information About Traveling to St. George, Utah
- Detailed Itinerary September Departure
Spacious and comfortable accommodations at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort at Utah’s Zion National Park.
Main Attractions
- Hike to Angels Landing, one of the most stunning views in the west
- Horseback ride through the expansive countryside
- Try canyoneering for the first time, seeing the area from a different angle
- Explore Bryce Canyon National Park on foot
- Learn about astronomy as you gaze at the pristine night sky
- Stay in houses on a ranch with all single rooms and en-suite bathrooms
What You'll See and Do
- ATV Ride
- Canyoneering
- Hiking
- National Parks
- Ziplining
Download Extended Itinerary
- Sep 20 > Sep 26, 2020
Download Itinerary PDF