Itinerary
Day 1: Grand Junction, Colorado
A once humble railroad hub and ranch outpost in western Colorado, Grand Junction has flourished into an agricultural center and vibrant university town renowned for its farm-to-table fare and abundant microbreweries. It’s also a gateway to adventure, especially for the scenic Utah desert that lies nearby. We spend the first night of our adventure here, meeting our Expedition Leaders and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 2: Colorado National Monument / Moab—Petroglyphs / Colorado River
Today marks the start of our immersion in the Colorado Plateau, a vast landscape covering 130,000 square miles across parts of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The plateau is characterized by higher elevations (between 5,000 and 7,000 feet), an arid climate, and its distinctive geology of canyons, flat-topped mesas and colorful rock formations. Our first stop is the Colorado National Monument, one of the state’s best kept secrets. Although it is filled with stunning red rock canyons and monoliths like the better-known national parks in the region, the monument remains less visited than its more famous neighbors. Following the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, we climb more than 2,000 feet in elevation. Completed in 1950, the winding, two-lane road features three historic tunnels carved through solid rock, with scenic pullouts and commanding views of sweeping canyons, the lone sandstone tower of Independence Monument, and the distant peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Continuing our journey to Moab, less than two hours away, we view ancient petroglyphs etched into the canyon walls by the ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the region around 2,000 years ago. These rock carvings offer insight into the lives and worldview of the area’s early inhabitants, depicting animals, human figures and geometric patterns. This afternoon, we get a first look at a few of the many sandstone arches for which the region is renowned. This evening, settle into Red Cliffs Lodge, peacefully located well outside the bustle of town. Perched on the edge of the Colorado River beneath imposing canyon walls, the lodge is our home base for the next three nights.
Day 3: Arches National Park
Few geological phenomena are as emblematic of a place than the 2,000-plus sandstone arches within Arches National Park. These rock formations are the physical evidence of the power of erosion, as wind, rain, sun and time converge to shape the malleable landscape. The Entrada Sandstone, which comprises most of the park’s arches, is particularly susceptible to erosion due to its composition. Water seeps into cracks, freezes and expands, breaking the rock apart, while wind carries away loose particles. The result is an intricate tableau of stone shapes that evoke wonder and whimsy at every turn.
The morning begins with a dawn hike to Delicate Arch, the most recognizable arch in the park and, perhaps, the world. At this hour, though, expect a sublime and less crowded experience. As the sun rises, its light casts a warm glow on the sandstone, illuminating the rock in vibrant hues of orange, red and gold, enhancing its intricate details, and casting long shadows. This interplay of light and rock highlights the natural beauty of the landscape and puts its unique geology in new and shifting perspectives. Witnessing this icon up close, we'll surely concur with Edward Abbey who wrote in Desert Solitaire, "If Delicate Arch has any significance, it lies, I will venture, in the power of the odd and unexpected to startle the senses and surprise the mind out of their ruts of habit, to compel us into a reawakened awareness of the wonderful—that which is full of wonder.” The remainder of the day is devoted to exploring more of the park's mosaic of natural arches, trails and paths with our Expedition Leader, who excels at finding moments of solitude to contemplate the wonders before us.
Day 4: Canyonlands National Park / Dead Horse Point State Park
Today we foray into Canyonlands National Park, a vast red rock wilderness carved by the Colorado and Green rivers over millions of years. The park’s dramatic geography contains a maze of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires over four distinct districts, and we focus on the Island in the Sky, known for its panoramic vistas atop a high mesa. On our journey along scenic drives, we stop at overlooks and follow easy trails to vantage points over the park’s dramatic canyons, mesas and towering rock formations.
In the afternoon, we visit Dead Horse Point State Park. Situated about 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, the park offers a comprehensive look at the region’s geography, from the winding rivers below to the distant La Sal Mountains. From here, we see vast stretches of Canyonlands and the surrounding canyon country, gaining a complementary perspective to our morning immersion. The vista from Dead Horse Point is one of the most photographed in the world, capturing a dramatic bend in the Colorado River and an intricate maze of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires. As the sun begins to set toward the horizon and the day turns to dusk, the sky fading from turquoise to a pastel melange of orange, purple, pink and ochre, the spectacle coalesces into a picturesque rendering of all we’ve experienced in this short but meaningful time together.
Day 5: Sunrise over the Colorado River / Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway / Grand Junction / Depart
Rise early to witness the sunrise this morning on a quiet walk along the Colorado River. With the famous profiles of Castleton Tower and Fisher Towers in the distance, watch the gleaming light of dawn illuminate this otherworldly landscape, changing color from maroon to vermilion to gold. After breakfast, we start making our way back to Grand Junction along the 44-mile Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway, a winding two-lane road that traces the river’s path through a dramatic gorge. The surrounding terrain has been featured in many movies, including famous Westerns, which are remembered at the Moab Museum of Film & Western Heritage located at Red Cliffs Lodge, where we stay. We cross the Colorado River at the site of Dewey Bridge, which was the original wooden span carrying Highway 128 over the river. Built in 1916, the famous suspension bridge was the second longest west of the Mississippi and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places until it was destroyed by a fire in 2008. Once we are back in Grand Junction, you may enjoy exploring this lively western town on your own if your flight schedule permits.
A once humble railroad hub and ranch outpost in western Colorado, Grand Junction has flourished into an agricultural center and vibrant university town renowned for its farm-to-table fare and abundant microbreweries. It’s also a gateway to adventure, especially for the scenic Utah desert that lies nearby. We spend the first night of our adventure here, meeting our Expedition Leaders and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 2: Colorado National Monument / Moab—Petroglyphs / Colorado River
Today marks the start of our immersion in the Colorado Plateau, a vast landscape covering 130,000 square miles across parts of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The plateau is characterized by higher elevations (between 5,000 and 7,000 feet), an arid climate, and its distinctive geology of canyons, flat-topped mesas and colorful rock formations. Our first stop is the Colorado National Monument, one of the state’s best kept secrets. Although it is filled with stunning red rock canyons and monoliths like the better-known national parks in the region, the monument remains less visited than its more famous neighbors. Following the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, we climb more than 2,000 feet in elevation. Completed in 1950, the winding, two-lane road features three historic tunnels carved through solid rock, with scenic pullouts and commanding views of sweeping canyons, the lone sandstone tower of Independence Monument, and the distant peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Continuing our journey to Moab, less than two hours away, we view ancient petroglyphs etched into the canyon walls by the ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the region around 2,000 years ago. These rock carvings offer insight into the lives and worldview of the area’s early inhabitants, depicting animals, human figures and geometric patterns. This afternoon, we get a first look at a few of the many sandstone arches for which the region is renowned. This evening, settle into Red Cliffs Lodge, peacefully located well outside the bustle of town. Perched on the edge of the Colorado River beneath imposing canyon walls, the lodge is our home base for the next three nights.
Day 3: Arches National Park
Few geological phenomena are as emblematic of a place than the 2,000-plus sandstone arches within Arches National Park. These rock formations are the physical evidence of the power of erosion, as wind, rain, sun and time converge to shape the malleable landscape. The Entrada Sandstone, which comprises most of the park’s arches, is particularly susceptible to erosion due to its composition. Water seeps into cracks, freezes and expands, breaking the rock apart, while wind carries away loose particles. The result is an intricate tableau of stone shapes that evoke wonder and whimsy at every turn.
The morning begins with a dawn hike to Delicate Arch, the most recognizable arch in the park and, perhaps, the world. At this hour, though, expect a sublime and less crowded experience. As the sun rises, its light casts a warm glow on the sandstone, illuminating the rock in vibrant hues of orange, red and gold, enhancing its intricate details, and casting long shadows. This interplay of light and rock highlights the natural beauty of the landscape and puts its unique geology in new and shifting perspectives. Witnessing this icon up close, we'll surely concur with Edward Abbey who wrote in Desert Solitaire, "If Delicate Arch has any significance, it lies, I will venture, in the power of the odd and unexpected to startle the senses and surprise the mind out of their ruts of habit, to compel us into a reawakened awareness of the wonderful—that which is full of wonder.” The remainder of the day is devoted to exploring more of the park's mosaic of natural arches, trails and paths with our Expedition Leader, who excels at finding moments of solitude to contemplate the wonders before us.
Day 4: Canyonlands National Park / Dead Horse Point State Park
Today we foray into Canyonlands National Park, a vast red rock wilderness carved by the Colorado and Green rivers over millions of years. The park’s dramatic geography contains a maze of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires over four distinct districts, and we focus on the Island in the Sky, known for its panoramic vistas atop a high mesa. On our journey along scenic drives, we stop at overlooks and follow easy trails to vantage points over the park’s dramatic canyons, mesas and towering rock formations.
In the afternoon, we visit Dead Horse Point State Park. Situated about 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, the park offers a comprehensive look at the region’s geography, from the winding rivers below to the distant La Sal Mountains. From here, we see vast stretches of Canyonlands and the surrounding canyon country, gaining a complementary perspective to our morning immersion. The vista from Dead Horse Point is one of the most photographed in the world, capturing a dramatic bend in the Colorado River and an intricate maze of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires. As the sun begins to set toward the horizon and the day turns to dusk, the sky fading from turquoise to a pastel melange of orange, purple, pink and ochre, the spectacle coalesces into a picturesque rendering of all we’ve experienced in this short but meaningful time together.
Day 5: Sunrise over the Colorado River / Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway / Grand Junction / Depart
Rise early to witness the sunrise this morning on a quiet walk along the Colorado River. With the famous profiles of Castleton Tower and Fisher Towers in the distance, watch the gleaming light of dawn illuminate this otherworldly landscape, changing color from maroon to vermilion to gold. After breakfast, we start making our way back to Grand Junction along the 44-mile Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway, a winding two-lane road that traces the river’s path through a dramatic gorge. The surrounding terrain has been featured in many movies, including famous Westerns, which are remembered at the Moab Museum of Film & Western Heritage located at Red Cliffs Lodge, where we stay. We cross the Colorado River at the site of Dewey Bridge, which was the original wooden span carrying Highway 128 over the river. Built in 1916, the famous suspension bridge was the second longest west of the Mississippi and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places until it was destroyed by a fire in 2008. Once we are back in Grand Junction, you may enjoy exploring this lively western town on your own if your flight schedule permits.
