Trail of the Ancients National Parks Adventures
A one week national park adventure offered May, June, and July
Great for all physical levels/abilities
 
Trip Highlights
History, hikes and diverse landscapes. This trip features it all. Explore the best ruins and cliff dwellings of the Southwest in red canyons, painted desert, and high  mesa tops settings. Includes Canyon de Chelly, Mesa Verde, Wupatki, Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Parks, and Sedona, AZ.

 
Itinerary
 
Day 1
Depart Salt Lake City… We start this fantastic trip by picking up you and your fellow Adventurers in Salt Lake City. We'll prep you for your adventure and then enjoy a comfortable journey to our first national park…

Day 2
Hovenweep National Monument… Discover “Sleeping Ute Mountain” as the sun rises over our next set of ruins, Hovenweep. Hike around this “deserted valley” past the Twin Towers and Hovenweep Castle. Next we’ll enter the Navajo Nation, where we’ll experience both the modern culture of the Dine (Navajo), with a stop at a Navajo Trading Post, and the ancient past of the original settlers of this area, the Ancestral Pueblans. Explore the North Rim ruins of Canyon del Muerto in Canyon de Chelly before camping out under the stars.

Day 3
Mesa Verde National Park… We begin our tour with some of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the world! You’ll familiarize yourself with the culture and traditions of the Ancestral Pueblans with ranger guided tours of Cliff Palace and Balcony House. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and explore Spruce Tree House and Museum.

Day 4
Canyon de Chelly National Monument… Start the morning with a hike down the red sandstone cliffs to the lush green valley of Canyon de Chelly for great views of White House Ruin. Learn the legend of the Spider Women at Spider Rock Overlook before continuing on camp at Monument Valley.
 
Day 5
Navajo National Monument… Take a Navajo Guided hike/tour to the Betatakin Ruins among the amazing red rock setting of Northern Arizona. Presumed haunted by ancient spirits, most explorers left this site untouched.
 
Day 6
Natural Bridges National Monument… Explore the enormous bridges of this park while discovering ancient petroglyphs. We'll then head to Moab for a night out on the town in a local brewery!

Day 7
Moab, Utah is a dream come true playground for adventurers of all kinds. Spend part of the day hiking, climbing, or rafting and the other half exploring the many ancient petroglyph sites. Perhaps we'll head out to Canyonland's Island in the Sky or Delicate Arch in Arches National Park for sunset.

Day 8
We'll roll back into Salt Lake City by noon, and say our goodbyes.



Trip Dates And Pricing
$925     
Departs and returns to Salt Lake City. Trip price includes all park entrance and camping fees, and 70% of the meals.

Call for 2008 dates