Utah/Arizona

The Best of Utah's Grand Circle of Parks and Monuments

Program No. 2814RJ
Explore some of the most impressive geological formations in the world with experts as you discover Utah’s Grand Circle. Plus float down the Colorado River & learn about Navajo culture.

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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Apr 25 - May 5, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Filling Fast!
Apr 29 - May 9, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Filling Fast!
May 2 - May 12, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Filling Fast!
May 6 - May 16, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Filling Fast!
May 9 - May 19, 2024
Starting at
3,299
May 13 - May 23, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Filling Fast!
May 16 - May 26, 2024
Starting at
3,299
May 20 - May 30, 2024
Starting at
3,899
May 23 - Jun 2, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Aug 29 - Sep 8, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Sep 5 - Sep 15, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Sep 9 - Sep 19, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Sep 12 - Sep 22, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Sep 16 - Sep 26, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Sep 19 - Sep 29, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Sep 23 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Sep 26 - Oct 6, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Oct 7 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Oct 10 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Oct 14 - Oct 24, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Oct 17 - Oct 27, 2024
Starting at
3,899
Mar 24 - Apr 3, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Mar 27 - Apr 6, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Mar 31 - Apr 10, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Apr 7 - Apr 17, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Apr 10 - Apr 20, 2025
Starting at
3,399
Apr 14 - Apr 24, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Apr 17 - Apr 27, 2025
Starting at
3,399
Apr 21 - May 1, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Apr 24 - May 4, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Apr 28 - May 8, 2025
Starting at
3,399
May 1 - May 11, 2025
Starting at
4,049
May 5 - May 15, 2025
Starting at
4,049
May 8 - May 18, 2025
Starting at
3,399
May 12 - May 22, 2025
Starting at
4,049
May 15 - May 25, 2025
Starting at
4,049
May 22 - Jun 1, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Sep 4 - Sep 14, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Sep 8 - Sep 18, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Sep 11 - Sep 21, 2025
Starting at
3,399
Sep 15 - Sep 25, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Sep 18 - Sep 28, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Sep 22 - Oct 2, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Sep 25 - Oct 5, 2025
Starting at
3,399
Sep 29 - Oct 9, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Oct 2 - Oct 12, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Oct 6 - Oct 16, 2025
Starting at
3,399
Oct 9 - Oct 19, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Oct 13 - Oct 23, 2025
Starting at
4,049
Oct 16 - Oct 26, 2025
Starting at
3,399
Oct 20 - Oct 30, 2025
Starting at
4,049
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Apr 25 - May 5, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Filling Fast!
Apr 29 - May 9, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Filling Fast!
May 2 - May 12, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Filling Fast!
May 6 - May 16, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Filling Fast!
May 9 - May 19, 2024
Starting at
4,229
May 13 - May 23, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Filling Fast!
May 16 - May 26, 2024
Starting at
4,229
May 20 - May 30, 2024
Starting at
4,839
May 23 - Jun 2, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Aug 29 - Sep 8, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 5 - Sep 15, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 9 - Sep 19, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Sep 12 - Sep 22, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 16 - Sep 26, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Sep 19 - Sep 29, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 23 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Sep 26 - Oct 6, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Oct 7 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Oct 10 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Oct 14 - Oct 24, 2024
Starting at
4,229
Oct 17 - Oct 27, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Mar 24 - Apr 3, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Mar 27 - Apr 6, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Mar 31 - Apr 10, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Apr 7 - Apr 17, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Apr 10 - Apr 20, 2025
Starting at
4,389
Apr 14 - Apr 24, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Apr 17 - Apr 27, 2025
Starting at
4,389
Apr 21 - May 1, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Apr 24 - May 4, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Apr 28 - May 8, 2025
Starting at
4,389
May 1 - May 11, 2025
Starting at
5,039
May 5 - May 15, 2025
Starting at
5,039
May 8 - May 18, 2025
Starting at
4,389
May 12 - May 22, 2025
Starting at
5,039
May 15 - May 25, 2025
Starting at
5,039
May 22 - Jun 1, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Sep 4 - Sep 14, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Sep 8 - Sep 18, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Sep 11 - Sep 21, 2025
Starting at
4,389
Sep 15 - Sep 25, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Sep 18 - Sep 28, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Sep 22 - Oct 2, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Sep 25 - Oct 5, 2025
Starting at
4,389
Sep 29 - Oct 9, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Oct 2 - Oct 12, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Oct 6 - Oct 16, 2025
Starting at
4,389
Oct 9 - Oct 19, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Oct 13 - Oct 23, 2025
Starting at
5,039
Oct 16 - Oct 26, 2025
Starting at
4,389
Oct 20 - Oct 30, 2025
Starting at
5,039

At a Glance

With expert instruction, explore the world’s greatest concentration of national parks and monuments, known as the “Grand Circle” — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as Dead Horse Point State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Lake Powell Reservoir and Monument Valley. Learn about the amazing geology up close, and uncover the story of the indigenous human history through a visit with the Navajo. Experience a corner of the world with landscapes and cultures unlike any other!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles daily over varied terrain. Elevations just over 8,000 feet. Participants may elect to opt out of longer walks or take shorter hike options.

What You'll Learn

  • Discover five national parks, three state parks and two national monuments, each exquisite and full of natural wonders.
  • Explore the breathtaking slot canyons and sandstone walls of Antelope Canyon.
  • Float down the Colorado River through towering canyons and Horseshoe Bend.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. Transportation on this program is by full sized motorcoach, with 48 seats on board.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
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 this program.

Profile Image of Darrell McMahon
Darrell McMahon View biography
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.
Profile Image of Janice Hayden
Janice Hayden View biography
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. She is now full-time faculty at Utah Tech University and frequently leads local geology field trips as well as field trips to Utah's national parks.
Profile Image of Eldon Griffin
Eldon Griffin View biography
An avid hiker and photographer, Eldon Griffin is a naturalist who has taught continuing-education courses in geology, computers and photography. Growing up in the Southwest, he spent his days exploring the backcountry, finding fossils and dinosaur tracks. Eldon works as a freelance producer, videographer, photographer, writer, editor, instructor and consultant for various clients. Eldon’s photographs have been featured in numerous travel publications. He was a videographer for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Eldon loves to share his knowledge on the unique geology.
Profile Image of Paula McMahon
Paula McMahon View biography
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.
Profile Image of Diane Griffin
Diane Griffin View biography
Diane Griffin’s unique talent is caring for and assisting others. She has been working in the travel industry for the last 12 years, and currently assists premium for Delta Airlines. She has also worked for JetBlue Airways and Utah Transit Authority, as well as in a surgical center assisting patients. A native Californian, Diane has lived in Utah for most of her life and enjoys hiking in southern Utah's red rock country. She has been a Group Leader for Dixie State University's Road Scholar since 2009.
Profile Image of Maggie Francke
Maggie Francke View biography
Maggie Francke has worked 43 years as a nurse during which time she also raised a family. The first half of her career was spent working in various hospital departments. The last half she worked in home health and hospice, and mainly hospice the last 10 years. Now her days are so filled, she wonders how she ever had the time to work so much. She spends her time hiking, biking, gardening and going to yoga five times per week.
Profile Image of Phil Moore
Phil Moore View biography
Phil Moore is currently an adjunct professor of Geology at Dixie State University. He has been involved with the Southern Utah University Geology Field Camp for several years. 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.
Profile Image of Diana Hawks
Diana Hawks View biography
Diana Hawks was fortunate to be able to work in a career she loved, as an archaeologist in both the southwestern United States and Mesoamerica. She completed a bachelor’s and a master’s in archaeology at Brigham Young and PhD courses in anthropology and law. She has worked most extensively as an archaeologist in southern Utah and northern Arizona specializing in ceramic analysis of Ancestral Puebloan cultures. She enjoys teaching and working with the public on archaeological projects, especially archaeological inventories and rock art recording.
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