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Utah 8 Parks

13 Days • 12 Nights • 830 Mi • 52,000' • $5,490.00

Where else but in southern Utah can you create a bicycle tour through 8 National Parks and Scenic Byways in 13 days! Starting in Zion National Park in southern Utah, on this spring and fall cycling vacation we'll bike from Zion National Park to the red rock hoodoos of Bryce National Park, then onward to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Lake Powell, the Burr Trail, and finally Arches & Canyonlands National Parks and the Needles. This is Epic.

Day 1: Utah 8 Parks - Zion National Park

For this 2018 cycling tour we meet in Springdale, Utah, gateway to Zion National Park. We suggest you Fly into Las Vegas or St George on Saturday, so you will be ready to go Sunday morning when our shuttle picks you up at a local hotel in St George, UT, a two hr shuttle from Las Vegas. It is a 45 minute drive to Springdale. If you are driving you can meet us at the first nights Hotel and leave your car there for the week.

After arriving at our hotel for the first night, the La Quinta Zion Park, just outside Zion National Park, we'll have a brief orientation, set up bikes and still have time for a short 23 mile bike ride down Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Dinner is on your own with lots of choices within walking distance.

23 miles / 1,500 ft. elevation gain

Day 2 - Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park

Today marks the biggest climbing day of the tour. We start by cycling through Zion National Park up a series of switchbacks with amazing views to the Zion Mount Carmel tunnel, where we'll shuttle through to the east entrance. This begins a beautiful bike ride through the upper east portion of the park, where we'll pass geological wonders such as Checkerboard Mesa. Don't forget your camera!

After biking Zion National Park we cycle north, meandering through sleepy towns and eventually meeting Scenic Byway 12. Cycling through the red rocks of Red Canyon on a gently sloping bike path, we'll cycle toward Bryce National Park and it's historic lodge, our hotel for the evening. Take a stroll to the Park rim and watch the patterns of light flow across the Hoodoos in the setting sun! We spend the next two nights at Bryce National Park.

89 miles / 6,500 ft. elevation gain

Utah 8 Parks Day 3: Bryce National Park Scenic Byway

Our second day in Bryce National Park we bike along the Bryce Canyon Scenic Rim Drive, where we top out at over 9,000' at Rainbow Point. Stop at all the pullouts along the way for views into the canyon and its famous hoodoos. If you prefer a long hike after yesterday's epic ride now is your chance.

40 miles / 2,800 ft. elevation gain

Utah Day 4 - Bryce to Grand Staircase Escalante

Today we start the morning with a short 90 minute hike into the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. It's a must see and a good warmup before we get on the bike. We then cycle into the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument on our way to Escalante. Make sure to stop at Escalante Outfitters & Coffee House to relax on the porch sipping your favorite post ride beverage.

50 miles / 2,500 ft. elevation gain

Utah Day 5 - Grand Staircase to Capitol Reef

Today we climb! The highlight of today's bike ride is a 14 mile, 4,000 foot ascent straight up Boulder Mountain. Continuing along Scenic Byway 12, we'll bike through forests of fir, giving way to aspen, as we climb toward the 9,600' summit. Here we are rewarded with fantastic views of the Grand Staircase from above, and a 10 mile descent on the other side!

But first we have to scale the canyon wall of Hells Backbone, a canyon road like no other. Prepare to be amazed! Riders always name today's route as one of their most scenic rides on a bike. We leave Escalante cycling on Scenic Byway 12 toward Capitol Reef National Monument and it's amazing Canyon Country. This is one of Utah's most scenic rides, with panoramas of vast slickrock and scenic canyons cut by the Escalante River.

We spend the next 2 nights at the Capitol Reef Resort, so unpack your luggage and enjoy the epic views.

67 miles / 6,841 ft. elevation gain

Day 6 - Capitol Reef National Park Scenic Drive

Welcome to some of the darkest and most beautiul night skies in the United States! Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges. It is an undiscovered gem. The Waterpocket Fold defines the Park. it is a nearly 100-mile long warp in the Earth's crust.

Bike into Capitol Reef through a canyon of geological wonder with it's white domes of Navajo Sandstone and cliff layers visible back to the Permian and Cretaceous periods. Today we cycle through these timeless reefs along the National Park's Scenic Byway.

After the ride, we take an optional hike to a free standing Arch on the slickrock domes of the Park. We'll also view a 1,000 year old wall of petroglyphs left behind by the Anasazi Indians. Rest up, because tomorrow is an Epic day.

50 miles / 2,300 ft. elevation gain

Day 7 - Capitol Reef National Park to Lake Powell

Today's 112 mile bike ride marks the longest ride of the tour. But don't worry, the first 35 miles is a gradual downhill. We start by cycling through the incredible narrow canyons of Capitol Reef National Park on our way out into the vast expanse of Canyon Country.

After a brief ride through the badlands between the park and Hanksville, we'll cast out into 100 mile vistas along the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway. We then cycle through red rock country, on our way to Lake Powell National Rec Area which borders Utah and Arizona. We'll be staying at Defiance House Lodge, which overlooks spectacular Lake Powell, arguably the most unique lake in the world.

112 miles / 4,600 ft. elevation gain

Day 8 - Cycling Utah 8 Parks - Burr Trail

Today we will be cycling the Burr Trail, a serpentine road that snakes through sheer canyon walls as it slowly climbs from Lake Powell up to Scenic Byway 12. Along the way there are fantastic views of the Waterpocket Fold, Boulder Mountain, Capitol Reef, and a gripping ride up the switchbacks of Burr Canyon.

You have an option today. Those feeling strong after the long ride yesterday may start out from Lake Powell for a 55 mile ride. Those a little leg weary may shuttle to the far boundary of Capitol Reef for a 35 mile ride into Boulder. Either way, both rides require a short, very scenic shuttle over a 16 mile section of dirt road. The ride through Long Canyon will leave you breathless.

55 miles / 4,300 ft. elevation gain

Day 8 - Shuttle to Moab, Utah

After riding the Burr Trail we will shuttle to Moab, our Basecamp for the next 6 days. After checking into our hotel, you'll have the chance to get settled, check out the town, and set up your bike. At an early evening orientation we'll make introductions, provide an overview for the week, and hand out Route Slips.

Day 9 - Arches National Park

Prepare to be amazed. You've never seen anything like it. We'll bike from our homebase in Moab up into Arches National Park. This is truly an amazing ride through a wonderland of red sandstone arches, fins and spires. The road through the park is quiet and punctuated by breathtaking scenic viewpoints, and we'll visit them all, including the world-famous Delicate Arch (pictured above). At lunch we'll take a short hike to an arch and the "Fins Garden" before riding back out of the park to Moab.

55 miles / 5,000 ft. elevation gain

Day 3 - Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Today we bike up onto the plateau overlooking Canyonlands National Park. It's an incredible 100 mile view that stares down on the red rock hoodoos and spires of the park. We'll also stop at Deadhorse Point State Park for a view of the Colorado River far below. Once again this park has views you will recognize from Ride Calendars and photographs. The bike ride starts with a big climb and ends with a big descent! For those of you with sore legs, after the ride we'll hit the famous Moab Brewery for some muscle soothing suds before hitting the hot tub.

100 miles / 4,500 ft. elevation gain

Day 4 - Colorado River Ride, Utah

Today we'll cycle along the Colorado River between towering sandstone cliffs bordering both sides of the road. The bike route is an out and back that takes us through Castle Valley, a backdrop for numerous films and photographs. It's not a big climbing day, but it does roll up and down following the Colorado river the entire ride.

64 miles / 2,000 ft. elevation gain

Day 5 - La Sal Mountain Loop

Today "is" a big climbing day on the bike. We cycle up into the La Sal Mountains that rise above Moab for an incredible view of the Canyonlands from 9,000 feet. Preprare for grades of up to 22%. Riders have been known to zig zag on this section! After cresting the summit you'll have a big descent back down to the Colorado river where you'll follow it back into Moab. Tonight we dine at the Sunset Grill. Situated on a cliff overlooking Moab, you'll enjoy wonderful canyon views of the setting sun to reward you for your effort.

65 miles / 2,214 ft. elevation gain

Day 6 - Canyonlands - The Needles

After yesterday's challenging climb, today we'll start with a downhill, cycling into the Canyonlands Needles District. Along the way we'll pass by ancient Anasazi indian rock paintings before entering into the amazing needle rock formations in the lower end of the park. Visitors usually skip this section of Canyonlands since it requires a short drive from town to get here, so we are likley to have the roads mostly to ourselves. You'll ride through a bonanza of scenic thrills for a perfect finale to your week of cycling in red rock country.

43-70 miles / 2,500 ft. elevation gain

Shuttle to Grand Junction or Zion & St George

After the last day of cycling you have a couple options for returning home.

Fastest: You may catch a shuttle to Grand Junction with Red Rock Express, where you can catch a flight home. it is only a 2 hour drive to Grand Junction so this is the fastest way home.

It is a 4 hour drive to Salt Lake City if you want to rent a car.

Or you may return with us to St George. It is a 6 hour drive back to St George.

Meals:

Lunch on ride days is always included. On this Tour 6 group dinners are included and riders are on their own for the remaining, with suggested seating times for those wishing to dine with others. A continental breakfast is always included of Greek yogurt, a selection of natural cereals, Bagels, cream cheese, etc. Hot breakfasts are on your own and require eating early in the Lodges.

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