Natural Habitat Adventures | U.S. National Parks Tours | Moab, Arches & Canyonlands Explorer

Operators

NHA Operated

Address
N/A

Office Phone

Emergency Phone

Website

Notes

Trip Accommodations

General Accommodation Notes

Guests fly in and out of Grand Junction, Colorado. One night is spent there and the rest are spent in Moab.

Hotel Maverick

Days Used
1

Address / Location 840 Kennedy Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

Website https://www.thehotelmaverick.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=business_listing

Bed / Room Configuration Half Maverick Double Queen Rooms and half Maverick King Rooms

Notes Breakfast included, pre-night held

Red Cliffs Lodge

Days Used
2-4

Address / Location Mile Post, 14 UT-128, Moab, UT 84532

Website https://www.redcliffslodge.com/

Bed / Room Configuration A mix of King and Queen Suites

Notes No pre/post nights held

Pre / Post Trip Hotels

Pre-Trip Hotels

Hotel Maverick

Address / Location 840 Kennedy Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

Website https://www.thehotelmaverick.com/

Room Category Maverick King or Maverick Double Queen

Rates group rate

Hotel Check-in Time 4pm

Hotel Check-out Time 11am

Breakfast Included? yes

Space Blocked? yes

How to Book
Through Nat Hab

Notes In-Room Features
-Complimentary High-Speed WiFi
-Hairdryer
-Keurig Coffee Maker
-Personal Refrigerator
-Smart TVs with Streaming Capabilities
-Bathrobe & Slippers
-Iron & Ironing Board

FAQs
Do you offer parking?
Hotel Maverick offers self-parking available to guests and is included in the amenity fee.

Do you offer electric vehicle charging stations?
Hotel Maverick has two universal car charging stations.

Do you have a fitness center on-site?
Yes, Hotel Maverick has a small fitness center on-site. Additionally, through our partnership with Colorado Mesa University, we are able to offer our guests complimentary access to the University’s Recreation Center. The Front Desk can provide guests with directions to the Hamilton Recreation Center.

Do you have a pool?
Hotel Maverick does not have a pool however, we have an outdoor hot tub on-site and Hotel Maverick guests have complimentary access to Colorado Mesa University’s lap pool in the Hamilton Recreation Center.

Do you have an airport shuttle?
We do not offer an airport shuttle at this time, but our front desk would be more than happy to schedule your taxi.

Do you allow smoking on property?
We are located on the Colorado Mesa University Campus and it is a smoke-free facility. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on Hotel Maverick property, including balconies or patios.

Post-Trip Hotels

N/A - we do not hold post night room blocks anywhere for this trip

Address / Location

Website

Room Category

Rates

Hotel Check-in Time

Hotel Check-out Time

Breakfast Included? yes

Space Blocked? yes

How to Book

Notes

Ground Transfers

Published Trip Date Transfers

Transportation from the airport to the hotel is provided for pax arriving on Day 1 of the itinerary before 4pm, and from the hotel back to the airport on the final day of the tour.

Early Arrivals

Transfer Included? No -if you are arriving prior to the first day of the trip you will have to make your own way to the hotel

Late Departures

Transfer Included? No -if you are leaving after the final day of the trip you will have to make your own way to the hotel

Trip Transportation

TRANSFER CHART

Day	To/From	Mode of Transport	Distance	Time
1	Grand Junction Airport -> Hotel Maverick	Sprinter	4.5 miles	15 mins
2	Grand Junction -> Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab	Sprinter	100 miles	2.5 hours
3	Red Cliffs Lodge ->Entrance to Arches National park	Sprinter	20 miles	30 mins
4	Red Cliffs Lodge ->Entrance of Canyonlands National Park	Sprinter	42 miles	50 mins
4	Entrance of Canyonlands National Park -> Deadhorse Point	Sprinter	12.5 miles	20 mins
5	Moab -> Grand Junction Airport	Sprinter	113 miles	1.45 hours

Notes

Note that these transfer times are estimates and don't include time stopping for restrooms, photo ops, wildlife etc. They also don't include travel once you are inside the parks to get to hiking/photo op destinations.

Vehicle Details

NHA Sprinter - Everyone gets a window seat in both vehicles.

Seats: Benches or captains chairs depending on van

AC: Yes

Driver or a guide driving: Guide

Safe to leave valuables: Yes

Please note that this trip may use either the new "North American Safari Trucks" with pop-top roofs or our older custom Sprinter vans. Both vehicle types offer great wildlife viewing, with the older Sprinters featuring a small pop-up roof hatch. The new trucks also come with USB chargers, while the older Sprinters do not.

Each trip will use two vehicles of the same type

Internal Flight Details

N/A

Train Details

N/A

Boat Details

N/A

Other Details

Itinerary Details

Air Information - Arrival/Departure Times

Day 1:
Arrive by 4pm in Grand Junction for Welcome Dinner in Grand Junction (exact time and place TBD)

Pax arriving between 7am and 4pm on Day 1, will be picked up at the airport by a representative holding a Nat Hab sign. Depending on when flight lands, pax may need to wait for other guests to arrive before group transfer departs.

Day 5:
Depart anytime after 12pm on the final day from Grand Junction

Guests will be transferred to the airport on the final day of the adventure

Notes
Any pax arriving before Day 1 or departing after Day 5 will need to arrange their own transportation to/from airport.

Day 1: Arrival Transfers/ Welcome Dinner

Time TBD: Welcome Presentation at the Hotel Maverick

Time and Location TBD: Welcome Dinner

Notes

Day 2: Colorado National Monument --> Moab Exploration

8am -- Depart for the day

8:30am -- Explore Colorado National Monument via the Scenic Rim Rock Drive. 1 hour loop + stops. Easy viewing from vehicle with scenic stops along the way

10:00am -- Drive to Moab (2 hr 20 min)

12:00pm -- Lunch in Moab

1:30pm -- 5:30pm -- Scenic river float

6:30pm -- Dinner

Notes

Day 3: Arches

Specific details subject to change

Early am -- Drive to Delicate Arch (~50 min drive from hotel).

9am - Delicate Arch Hike -- The hike is 3.2 miles out and back and climbs up a steep slickrock slope with no shade and some exposure to heights.

11am - Drive to Double Arch trail (~20 min drive) . Hike Double Arch -- .6 miles out and back, easy gentle slope.

11:30 - Option for Windows Arch as well (1 mile)

12pm - Field Lunch

1pm - Stop by Garden of Eden

2pm - Balanced Rock viewpoint + trail on way out (~10 min from windows) .3 miles

3pm - Drive back to hotel (~40 min)

6pm - Dinner

Optional sunset walk

Notes

Day 4: Canyonlands/Dead Horse

Specific details subject to change

Early am -- Depart for Canyonlands (1 hr drive)

Morning hike options include:

Upheaval Dome Overlook Trail. The first overlook is .6 miles via a steep trail. The second overlook is 1.2 miles via rough, uneven, and rocky trail

Candlestick Tower Overlook - easy
Grand Viewpoint Trail - easy

12pm - Lunch

1pm - Mesa Arch for photos

4:30pm - Dinner and Sunset in Deadhorse State Park

Notes

Day 5: Depart

Sunrise over CO river

Drive back to Grand Junction through the Canyon (~1.5 hours)

Notes

Differences for Photo Expeditions

N/A

Optional Activities

Scenic Float on the Colorado River

Enjoy a scenic float on the Colorado River on a premium raft with a professional raft guide steering the boat.

Cost
Included in trip price

How to Book
N/A

Notes
Very likely pax will get splashed with some water during this float.

Optional Extensions

N/A

Cost

How to Book

Notes

Operator Authorized for Custom Extensions?

Physical Requirements

Description
Moderate

This adventure requires a moderate degree of physical fitness to get the most out of your experience. While not every day, you should be able to walk at least 3 miles unassisted on dirt and rock trails with uneven terrain and inclines, and possibly muddy or slippery surfaces at altitudes up to 7,000 feet above sea level. In addition to longer walks, each day may bring several opportunities for short walks ranging from 300 yards to 1 mile. Most of the trip takes place in an arid desert environment, and the sun can often be intense. Our days generally start quite early and are very full with activities, including a few long drives. While travelers are not required to participate in all activities, should you opt out of the day’s scheduled activities, we cannot always guarantee that alternatives will be available.

In order to see Delicate Arch in Arches National park, you must be able and prepared to walk on steadily inclining trail, with varied terrain, over the course of 3.2 miles (roundtrip) and 480 feet of elevation gain.

Notes
The hike to Delicate Arch will likely be the most challenging hike of the trip.

Please note that guests who do not meet the physical requirements will not be able to see Delicate Arch at all. This is an iconic and quintessential landmark of the park. It is what many people picture when they think of Arches National Park. So, if they are booking this trip and hoping to see that site, they MUST meet the physical requirements in their entirety. It is unlikely that we will be able to offer alternative activities for those who can not or do not want to do the hikes with the groups.

Many of the hikes on this trip, including the Delicate Arch hike, will have steady inclines, over smooth/sandy rock formations. There will not be handrails to help with balance. Guests will have to be steady on their feet

More delicate arch hike details:
Trail Details:
Length: 3.2 miles round trip, 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch
Time: 2-3 hours on average (likely longer for our groups)
Elevation Gain: 550 foot gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Out-and-back, mostly slickrock, hikers only
Trailhead: Wolfe Ranch Parking Lot Get Directions.
GPS Coordinates: 38.735502, -109.520666
Tips: Bring plenty of water and a camera, pets are not allowed

Elevation

Day 1: Grand Junction

Location Grand Junction

Elevation 4,646

Notes

Day 2: Colorado National Monument

Location Colorado National Monument

Elevation 4000-7000

Notes
The elevation at Colorado National Monument ranges from 4,000 to nearly 7,000 feet, with the highest point in the park at 7,107 feet:

Days 2-4: Moab

Location Moab

Elevation 4,026'

Notes

Day 3: Arches

Location Arches National Park

Elevation 4,085–5,653

Notes

Day 4: Canyonlands

Location Canyonlands National Park

Elevation 3,900 feet to 7,180 feet

Notes

Day 4: Deadhorse

Location Deadhorse Point

Elevation 5,900

Notes

Age Limits/Group Size

Age/Group Size
12 years old. 14 max pax

Reason for Limits
Nat Hab standard

Exceptions/FITs

FAQs

FAQ

Q: Can I leave a car at the Day 1 hotel for the duration of our trip?
A: Yes! This is free of charge. Guests only need to let the front desk know at check-in that they will be leaving a car.
Q: What are the luggage restrictions?
A: Due to the limited available cargo space in the vehicles used during our adventure, each passenger will be limited to ONE piece of soft-sided luggage weighing no more than 40 lbs, in addition to one daypack or carry-on. Soft-sided luggage (such as a duffel bag or wheeled duffel) is required, as it takes up less space.
Q: Are hair dryers available?
A: Yes, hair dryers are available at all accommodations.
Q: Can you accommodate CPAP machines on this trip?
A: For those with sleep apnea, CPAP machines can be accommodated on this adventure as long as advance notice has been given. It is a good idea to bring an extension cord, to ensure you can place your machine where you need it. It is highly recommended that you also bring a letter from your doctor stating your medical need for such a device. This will make it easier to carry as hand luggage on flights.
Q: What is the climate like?
A: In the spring and fall, the weather in the Moab area can differ from one day to the next or from early morning to mid-day to evening. All travelers should have adequate clothing for a wide range of weather conditions, as the climate in these parks can be highly unpredictable. Rain is not typical but showers can occur at any time, so lightweight, WATERPROOF rain gear and sturdy hiking shoes are essential. Also, the sun can be extremely strong so sun hats, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and lots of sunscreen are recommended year-round.

Grand Junction: Spring and Fall are great times to visit Grand Junction. In the spring, the area is bursting with flowers. Days and nights are cool and get as low as 30s in the mornings and evenings.

Moab: Spring and Fall in Moab boasts wildflowers, budding greenery, and mild temperatures. Expect cool mornings and evenings and warm afternoons. Expect colder temperatures in October and November.

Grand Junction Average Weather (in °F)
Month High Low Precipitation (inches)

March 57° 33° .50

April 66° 40° .80

May 76° 48° .90

October 67° 41° 1.10

November 52° 29° .70

Moab Average Weather (in °F)
Month High Low Precipitation (inches)

March 63° 35° .83

April 72° 42° .83

May 83° 50° .70

October 73° 41° 1.17

November 56° 30° .76
Q: Are there ATMs available?
A: ATMs are available throughout the trip.
Q: Are credit cards accepted?
A: All major credit cards are accepted at most locations throughout the trip. Visa and Mastercard are the most reliable.

Choice of Dates

DATE / TIME OF YEAR

Seasonality

Trip seasonality: March -- May and then October -- early November. We do not run these trips in summer (late May -- September) because it is HOT and busy. Hiking in the heat can be pretty brutal in these parks. Mid-July through early September is also the area's rainy season, which means the afternoons can bring lots of rain. The crowd's mid-summer are also very large, so we try to run during shoulder season to avoid these. March - May are cooler months that tend to be less busy in the parks. October and November also cool down quite a bit and tend to have slightly less crowds than the mid-summer NP rush.

Noteworthy Conservation Info

Staff Who Have Been on This Trip

Provided Gear

Binos, scopes, trekking poles