Southern Utah National Parks Bike Tour
My photos spoke a thousand words regarding the trip to my friends Typically we go to Europe and the cycle tours are good but not to the service level of you guys.
All we had to do was show up, get on a bike and go. When we arrived at each place the guides had room keys, and even a cold beer to help recover. Scenery was mind blowing and we rode with very little traffic.
Zion National Park. Capitol Reef National Park. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Lake Powell. Kodachrome. Grand Staircase. Escalante. Ride all these and more on this amazing tour that starts on one side of the state and finishes on the other. Pack in more arches, bridges and National Monuments than you can shake a spoke at!
National Parks on This Tour: Zion National Park | Bryce Canyon National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
This tour is operated under special use permit/s with the Utah Dept. of Transportation, Bryce Canyon National Park, Dixie National Forest, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park. Bicycle Adventures is an equal opportunity provider.
Itinerary
Day 01
Bicycle through incredible, unstoppable Zion Canyon and have dinner in Bryce Canyon.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Quality Inn Bryce Canyon
Distance
80 miles (or less)
Elevation
+5880 ft / -3615 ft
Meet us in St. George to head out to the canyonlands. Test out your bike, then ride through the wonders of Zion Canyon and out again via the stunning east entrance. Finish at the base of Red Canyon near the red-brick town of Panguitch. Enjoy dinner at Bryce Canyon Lodge tonight with its magnificent view into the majestic amphitheater as your first appetizer!
Day 02
Ride Red Canyon, Kodachrome Basin and on to Escalante.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Slot Canyons Inn
Distance
75 miles
Elevation
+4308 ft / -4925 ft
Ride through Dixie National Forest’s stunning Red Canyon, arguably the most photographed area in Utah. Watch for goblin-like ‘hoodoos’ – nature-sculpted sandstone formations – punctuating the views. Continue bicycling through the tiny town of Tropic. Thrill to the wild colors of Kodachrome Basin. Stay in Escalante tonight.
Day 03
Ride from the orange-and-gold cliffs and canyons of Escalante to Boulder. Explore ancient Anasazi ruins.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Boulder Mountain Lodge or Annie’s Place
Distance
33 miles
Elevation
+2813 ft / -2322 ft
Ride the heart of legendary Escalante – Grand Staircase National Monument today. The Devils Backbone and its challenging pitches and expansive views await! This afternoon, explore ancient Anasazi ruins, get a massage or put in some additional riding. Spend two nights here, at Boulder Mountain Lodge or Annie’s Place.
Day 04
Rest day in Boulder. Or not. Hike, climb, or...go for a nice long bike ride.
Meals
– Breakfast
Lodging
Boulder Mountain Lodge or Annie’s Place
Plenty of options today: take a morning 6-mile round trip hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls. The pictographs alone make this hike well worth it. The falls make it even better! Get a massage, enjoy the bird sanctuary or the hot tub or…go for a nice long bike ride. The adventure is yours to choose.
Day 05
The Queen Stage! Grand Staircase, Capitol Reef, and the center of Utah's Grand Circle.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Whispering Sands Motel
Distance
86 miles
Elevation
+5348 ft / -7676 ft
Today’s ride is nothing short of amazing, crammed with rock spires and fluted walls! Ride up through Grand Staircase and out again beside the Fremont River. Enjoy the incredible scenery of Capitol Reef. Then coast down into Hanksville, in the center of Utah’s Grand Circle.
Day 06
Hanksville to Glen Canyon to Lake Powell: from the desert to the waters.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Defiance House Lodge
Distance
66 miles
Elevation
+3749 ft / -4336 ft
Ride from tiny Hanksville – once a supply post for Butch Cassidy – to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Lake Powell and Bullfrog Bay. Lots of changes in scenery today: from desert scrub to unique rock formations to mountain peaks. Finish off with a great downhill to the dark blue waters of Lake Powell.
Day 07
Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance
25 miles
Elevation
+1375 ft / -2274 ft
Shuttle to Leprechaun Canyon to cycle with red rock walls on both sides. Marvel at the views from the Hite Overlook. American West Travel calls it an outstanding roadside stop. “Lake Powell is extremely low here so the vistas provide a good idea of what Glen Canyon might have looked like before it was largely drowned by the Glen Canyon Dam, which was completed in 1963.” Head onward to cross the Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers. Then we’ll take you on to Durango for your trip home.
*Bicycle Adventures operates under special use permits while on Federal Lands managed by the National Forest Service (USDA), National Parks and Bureau of Land Management. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
