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Utah/Arizona

Rafting, Hiking & Horses: Zion National Park With Your Family

Program No. 20966RJ

Get a new perspective on Utah and Arizona’s national parks with your family as you hike, climb and horseback ride, learning the unique story of these beautiful places.

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Program

At a Glance

Duration

7 days

Program Begins

St. George

Program Concludes

St. George

Meals

17 ( 6B, 5L, 6D )

Activity Level

Rafting down the Colorado River. Hiking through Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park. Horseback riding and much more at Zion Ponderosa Ranch. Join in the ultimate family adventure as you discover the history and science behind the natural wonders of Arizona and Utah! Hike to the sandstone formations of Snow Canyon and Antelope Canyon. Enjoy special opportunities to meet members of the local Navajo/Diné community and taste a "Navajo taco." At the Zion Ponderosa Ranch, try your hand at paint ball, skeet shooting and other great activities — then enjoy s’mores around the campfire!

Best of all, you'll...

Enjoy all kinds of adventures at Zion Ponderosa Ranch, like horseback riding, paintball, jeep tours and much more!
In Zion National Park, hike trails which run along the Virgin River, and watch for mule deer and wildflowers as you take in the magnificent sandstone cliffs.
Take a flat water float trip down the mighty Colorado River; then explore the swirly and striped beauty of Antelope Canyon—the most photographed slot canyon of the desert Southwest.

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General Notes

This is a Family program for participants, their adult children and grandchildren ages 8 and up. Due to remote locations, only vegetarian and gluten-free diets can be accommodated, with limited meal variety.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Darrell McMahon

Darrell McMahon has worked in natural resource management for more than four decades and has extensive experience as a wildlife and habitat biologist, entomologist and botanist. Darrell has spent many years hiking thousands of miles through this wild landscape and has pinned his soul in the high plateaus and deep canyons of the desert southwest. Darrell has discovered many secret places in the desert southwest and loves to share these places and his knowledge with his best friends and Road Scholar participants.

Please Note:

This expert may not be available for every date of the program

Please Note:

These experts may not be available for every date of the program

Darrell McMahon

Janice Hayden

Janice Hayden moved to St. George, Utah to work as a field geologist for the Utah Geological Survey after working as an oil and gas exploration geologist. For 20 years, Janice mapped eighteen 7-½-minute quadrangles of southwest Utah that delineate geological formations, structures, soils, water resources, mineral deposits, and geologic hazards while teaching part-time. She joined the full-time faculty at Utah Tech University, and after 11 years, leading local geology field trips as well as trips to Utah's national parks, she has recently retired.

Paula McMahon

Paula McMahon has spent a lifetime camping, hiking, backpacking and canoeing in the mountains and deserts of the American West. She feels honored to share her love and passion for these special places with participants on Road Scholar programs, which she has been doing for almost a decade. Paula has also worked for 18 years as an educational paraprofessional with autistic and deaf children and is a sign language (ASL) interpreter.

Phil Moore

Phil Moore worked many years as an adjunct professor of geology at Utah Tech University. During that time he was also involved with the Southern Utah University Geology Field Camp. Phil taught Earth science for public schools in Hurricane, Utah for 28 years. He is also a semi-professional musician along with his wife, Lori, who is also a Road Scholar group leader.

Heidi Loveland

Heidi Loveland is a native of St. George, Utah, and a graduate of both Utah Tech University and Weber State University. She spent several years working as a wildland firefighter and sawyer with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. She also worked as an adventure concierge and leader, heading hiking, biking, and kayaking trips throughout the surrounding area. An avid traveler, Heidi has visited every continent except Antarctica. She enjoys sourdough baking, practicing yoga, and hiking or kayaking with her dog.

Jessica Castleton

Jessica Castleton is an experienced geologist with nearly two decades at the Utah Geological Survey, where she specializes in creating hazard maps and leading educational outreach efforts. With a deep passion for exploration, Jessica has journeyed across nearly all seven continents, with an exciting adventure to Antarctica planned for 2026. When she's not mapping geological hazards or globetrotting, she enjoys teaching yoga and spending quality time with her energetic dog, Pepper.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to 3 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over paved, unpaved, hard packed dirt, rocky and uneven terrain with elevations from 2,000 to 9,100 feet. Program will require approximately 13 or 20 miles (higher amounts based on personal choice) of walking over 6 days. Coach buses are used for transportation and require up to 3 hours (150 miles) of driving time at once with breaks. The horseback/mule ride is optional and takes 1.5 hours. Weight limit for riding is 220 pounds. Must be physically capable of participating in all other planned program activities.

Family Program

Share your love of learning with your family. These programs are designed for any combination of generations: grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and children.

Suggested Books and Resources

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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?

We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!

Call 800-454-5768

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Enroll with Confidence

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.