Road-trip to wintery Bryce and Zion NPs, scenic Escalante area, w/moder.hik

Location: Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center

Address: Utah 63, Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764

Date: 21 Nov

Let's explore spectacular landscape and colorful sandstone rock formations plus using the last weeks' chance of sightseeing Zion by driving through it in a private vehicle (before the Park closes its Scenic Drive in March for the seasonal shuttle usage only.)

With this special itinerary we will explore and hike some of the most scenic but remote areas of the Southern Utah - the Escalante Canyons unit of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is famous for its slot canyons — twisting, turning narrows carved into the rock by water and wind over the millennia. In there we want to hike Peek-a-boo slot Canyon, Zebra Slot and appreciate Calf Creek Falls.

We will visit the small authentic towns of Escalante, UT and Boulder, UT. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument draws its name from the appearance of a series of plateaus separated by cliff faces.

We will finish the journey with exploring wintery Bryce Canyon and Zion National parks. We want to hike at least one trails at each and enjoy the brisk views of snow-capped cliffs and hoodoos in the best of solitude possible in these popular parks. We will stay in small towns' hotels right at the border of each park.

Winter weather in this area is sunny with day average temperatures 52 degree F (35F at night) , little chance of rain and possible light winds. See updates of weather forecasts at: https://bit.ly/3soZUoH

Trip's Summary:

• 6days/5nights trip for a group of 6 explorers.
• The starting point is Grand Junction, CO and ending point is Las Vegas, NV,
• Hotel accommodations in Bicknell, UT, Bryce Canyon, UT and Springdale, UT. All locations in this event follow safety requirements by the state.
• Level of activities: Easy to Intermediate.

Clothes and gear recommended:

• good hiking shoes,
• warm jacket for evenings, be ready to layer up,
• thermal clothes, gloves,
• hiking poles if you used to them,
• consider hydration bladder for hikes,
• sunglasses,
• sunscreen,
• hat,
• for personal protection: mask, carry-on sanitizer, gloves (by your choice.)

Cost $690. What is included:

• 6days/5nights stay in 2-people occupancy non-smoking room (two beds in room),
• Breakfasts at some hotels,
• Transportation by minivan (like Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand or Ford Transit) covering approx. 900 mi of road-tripping total,
• Park entrance fees,
• Organized hikes in all days.

What is NOT included:

• Getting to Grand Junction, CO and from Las Vegas, NV,
• Meals, snacks, water,

Some areas may charge individual (not per vehicle) fee, typically $6, payable by scanning QR code at the trail entrance.

Sunrise: 6:50am. Sunset: 7:45pm. Everyday we want to start off from the hotel at 7 am or 7:30am, or 8am as the latest. If you are a nigh owl, please try to adjust yourself for an earlier getup during the trip - the purpose of it is to use more of daylight for activities.

There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to be connected by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the group.)

Sign up and feel free to comment/message with any questions!

UPD. Photo-album from the previous trip with with a similar activities: https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/photos/31731160/

Escalante area: https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/photos/32362036/

If you see that the event is full/no tickets available, do not hesitate to contact the organizer about your interest as spots can become available.

Also, please check on the photo-album from our past trips (in About section) and our future trips to U.S. National Parks and National Parks in Europe and Asia for 2024-2025. Thanks!

ATTN. There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to connect by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the chat.) Regular messaging will not work out for this trip, sorry.

ATTN. The $10 payment through Eventbrite is for reserving a spot in this small group event (it counts in toward the whole payment for the trip.) After you reserved your spot, you will be contacted by the organizer about a Zoom meeting with the group and joining a WhatsApp group chat. Meeting your future groupmates in a Zoom and being able to communicate by WhatsApp are mandatory steps to become a part of this trip and make the full payment. If any of these cannot be done/mind changed, the $10 reservation payment will be refunded in full though the initial means of payment, minus fees paid to Eventbrite/third parties. The outline of the trip will be communicated during a Zoom meeting and in WhatsApp group chat. The detailed, hour-by-hour, itinerary will be provided to the confirmed participants of the trip.