A desert adventure: Landscapes and cultures of Utah, USA

25 September 2024 - 7 days for £4,709

Southeastern Utah holds a wealth of fascinating geological and cultural stories. Join two experienced geologists, Russell Davies and Janok Bhattacharya, to learn about the rocks and their influence on the history of the area.

Starting in Grand Junction you will drive west across the flat desert landscape of eastern Utah to Torrey, the frontier town to Capitol Reef National Park. Over two days you will take in extensive vistas of the Colorado Plateau from spectacular clifftops, hike slot canyons of Capitol Reef’s dramatic Waterpocket Fold and visit early Mormon settlements along shady tree-lined streams.

Continue southeast to Bluff, Utah, stopping to visit cliff dwellings overlooking the Colorado River and learning the history of towns and canyons buried when Lake Powell formed behind the Glen Canyon Dam (and now being slowly re-exposed as the lake level drops).  Two nights in Bluff, a quiet but historical town that has escaped being over-run by overzealous tourists, give you the opportunity for a Navajo-guide led tour of Monument Valley and a visit to narrow canyons with cliff dwellings and paintings and etchings of long-vanished families and communities. 

Your route continues north along the eastern edge of Utah to Moab, a bustling town that contrasts with sleepy Torrey and Bluff.  The dramatic but accessible landscapes of nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks explain why. You will spend a day walking among arches, spires and dinosaur tracks and have the opportunity for a hike across settings featured in countless Westerns. You will end our journey back in Grand Junction.

In partnership with GeoCultura.

DAY 1: GRAND JUNCTION TO TORREY, UTAH

Meet with the group in the morning at a location in central Grand Junction for an overview of the tour and then depart for a drive across the Colorado National Monument, discussing the geology and the history of the Grand Valley with a few short walks and stops for dramatic overviews into the Grand Valley.

Drive west on I-70 with a brief stop at Thompson Springs to view petroglyphs and pictographs on cliff walls.  Continue west on I-70 across the San Rafael Swell, a major dome rising from the desert floor, making several stops for panoramic views to ‘read’ the landscapes and illustrate the links between the rock formations, the history of Native Americans, ranchers, outlaws and mining.  Picnic lunch at one of the stops.

Continue southward into Torrey along the Fremont River.  If time permits, drive to the northern end of Capitol Reef National Park as the striking sun sets for a sensational view into Sulphur Creek Canyon from the Gooseneck Overlook.

Enjoy dinner with the group at Hunt & Gather, "One of the Best Restaurants In The State", featuring slow-cooked meals from local ingredients.

Overnight in Torrey.

DAY 2: IN AND AROUND CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

Today, you will visit Capitol Reef National Park, beginning with a stimulating walk to the spectacular Hickman Bridge, a large natural arch (3 kilometre, 120 metre elevation gain), seeing a Freemont pit house and granary ruin along the way.

After a brief stop at the visitor center we will visit the old town of Fruita, view Fremont petroglyphs in the cliff faces along the Fremont River and have a picnic lunch. You will then drive along Slickrock Drive to Capitol Gorge, absorbing the landscapes, geology and history of the park.  

Depending on the road conditions you may drive down to Capitol Gorge Trailhead for a short hike into the narrow, impressive gorge (1.6 kilometre roundtrip, no elevation change) to view petroglyphs and see Register Rock with names of early explorers.  

Return to Torrey. If the night is clear after dinner, return to the park for star gazing.  The park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at your own leisure.

Overnight in Torrey. 

DAY 3: TORREY TO BLUFF, UTAH

You will leave your Torrey hotel following breakfast and drive east to Hanksville along the Fremont River and then southward past the Henry Mountains to the Colorado River, nestled within steep canyon walls. Stops will include key geological and archeological sites, such as petroglyphs exposed near springs, and panoramic views across the Colorado River and Lake Powell. 

Continue to Blanding making several stops to view prehistoric ruins along the roadside and along a short trail. Turning south on UT 191 at Blanding leads across the flat plains into Bluff where we will check into Bluff Dwelling Resort and Spa for two nights.

Group dinner outdoors with views of the red rocks.

Overnight in Bluff. 

DAY 4: AROUND BLUFF

The morning is free for you to enjoy the hotel spa, explore the town of Bluff and Bluff Fort, or participate in an optional morning tour with choices of the Wolfman Panel, Monarch Cave (with 4 kilometres of moderate hiking) or a drive across the Valley of the Gods and up the Moki Dugway to the Muley Point Overlook. Many of these areas are now protected in the boundaries of the Bears Ears National Monument. 

After lunch, drive to Gooseneck State Park for spectacular views of the meanders in the San Juan River, and then on to the Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley, known for its rock spires as backdrops to westerns, for a tour from a Navajo guide. 

Dinner at the View Restaurant in Monument Valley.

Overnight in Bluff.

DAY 5: BLUFF TO MOAB

You will begin with a stop at a renowned site of petroglyphs along the San Juan River and then head to Blanding and the Edge of the Cedars Museum, adjacent to rebuilt ruins and kivas. Our visit will include a back-room tour to see many artifacts not normally on display. 

Afterwards, continue northward towards Canyonlands National Park to a spring in the valley adjacent to Newspaper Rock, a cliff panel with pictographs that represent different Native tribes over a thousand years. This is one of the most dramatic assemblages of petroglyphs discovered and is now protected as part of the Bears Ears National Monument. Picnic lunch.

Free afternoon in Moab to visit the visitor center, shops and have dinner in town on your own.

Overnight in Moab. 

DAY 6: AROUND MOAB

Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and get ready for an early departure for Arches National Park. 

Spent the morning exploring the park, before enjoying a picnic lunch in the park, where we will hear the fascinating 65-million-year geological history of the rocks – a story of ancient seas, burial of the rocks to depths of kilometres and uplift back to the surface. Our expert will also reveal how the geology and origin of the different rock layers helps create the spectacular arches.  We will view some of the Park’s many arches up close. 

Your visit will include a short walk to the Delicate Arch viewing point (0.8 kilometres). The park has become increasingly crowded and some adjustments may need to be made for scheduling based on park service admittance.  

Drive north to Dead Horse Point State Park, with dramatic views of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. Depending on time, stops to see classic Fremont Petroglyphs along the river or dinosaur tracks.

Enjoy a final farewell dinner with the group.

Overnight in Moab. 

DAY 7: MOAB TO GRAND JUNCTION

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel to enjoy the sunrise along the cliff faces and the peaceful views of the Colorado River. For early risers, a walk into red-rock country can be arranged before the 11am checkout.

Return to Grand Junction along the river road through Cisco, a ghost town, onto I-70. In Fruita, Colorado, take a short hike along a trail to an active dinosaur quarry.

You will have the option today to be transferred to a downtown hotel to continue your exploration of the American West or to the Grand Junction airport.

Note: this provisional itinerary is subject to change as specific locations and accommodations release more information regarding access for 2024.