Arizona/Utah
On the Road: Absolute Southwest — A Canyonlands Adventure
Program No. 8718RJ
This one has it all – three iconic National Parks, two National Monuments, a raft trip on the Colorado, a Jeep trip in Monument Valley and quintessential S.W. landscapes throughout!
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800-454-5768
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 17 - Sep 28, 2024
Starting at
3,799Sep 30 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
3,799Oct 7 - Oct 18, 2024
Starting at
3,799Oct 21 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
3,799Oct 28 - Nov 8, 2024
Starting at
3,799DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 17 - Sep 28, 2024
Starting at
4,899Sep 30 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
4,899Oct 7 - Oct 18, 2024
Starting at
4,899Oct 21 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
4,899Oct 28 - Nov 8, 2024
Starting at
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12 days
11 nights
30 meals
11B 10L 9D
2
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Sedona
Sedona, AZ
3
Oak Creek Canyon, Museum of Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon, AZ
4
Natural & Human History at the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon, AZ
5
Desert View Watchtower, Cameron Trading Post, Goulding's
Monument Valley, UT
6
Monument Valley by 4WD Truck
Monument Valley, UT
7
Navajo National Monument and Glen Canyon Dam Visit.
Page/Lake Powell, AZ
8
Horseshoe Bend Overlook, Glen Canyon Float Trip
Page/Lake Powell, AZ
9
The Grand Staircase, Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
10
Zion National Park’s Slickrock Country & Zion Canyon
Zion National Park
11
Zion Park Shuttle to Viewpoints and Nature Walks.
Zion National Park
12
Program Concludes
Las Vegas, NV
At a Glance
Journey to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Learn about the geologic upheavals, native cultures and settlers that give this region its character. Traverse storied landscapes on the Colorado Plateau, experience the Navajo Reservation and gaze up at canyon rims from the Colorado River.
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.
What You'll Learn
- Enjoy a Navajo-led 4x4 adventure in Monument Valley and a smooth-water raft float on the Colorado River.
- Experience the famous Antelope Canyon, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
- Study the region’s geology, natural history, Native Americans, current issues and historical characters.
General Notes
This program starts in Phoenix, Ariz. and ends in Las Vegas, Nev. Transportation on this program is usually by full sized motorcoach, with about 40 participants.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Karlyn Bunting
Karlyn Bunting grew up in Page, Arizona, after the construction of Glen Canyon Dam – at the heart of what is commonly called the Grand Circle. He loves to hike and explore the many natural wonders of the region, and is deeply interested those who traveled this region prior to our modern day — from the Ancestral Puebloans to the Mormon migrations. Karlyn is also an avid photographer and storyteller, and enjoys sharing his unique and multi-faceted perspective of the Colorado Plateau.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Matt Turner
View biography
Since he decided to attend high school in Southwest Colorado, Matt Turner has been in love with the natural wonders of the Four Corners region prompting him to obtain a degree in Natural History from Prescott College. In addition to working as a field biologist and ecological consultant, he is an avid photographer, leads trips throughout the Southwest, across rivers and in the backcountry. As a naturalist, he hopes to impart a unique perspective of the region's natural environment in all of its visitors.
Karlyn Bunting
View biography
Karlyn Bunting grew up in Page, Arizona, after the construction of Glen Canyon Dam – at the heart of what is commonly called the Grand Circle. He loves to hike and explore the many natural wonders of the region, and is deeply interested those who traveled this region prior to our modern day — from the Ancestral Puebloans to the Mormon migrations. Karlyn is also an avid photographer and storyteller, and enjoys sharing his unique and multi-faceted perspective of the Colorado Plateau.
Don Lago
View biography
Don Lago has been exploring the Grand Canyon for 30 years, kayaking it six times and backpacking it about 75 times. He has done years of backcountry research for Grand Canyon National Park. He is the author of two Grand Canyon history books from university presses.
Joanna Joseph
View biography
Daughter of a Montana saddle maker, Joanna Joseph is an artist, musician and interpreter of human history. At the University of Montana, she studied art, drama and classical Greek. Joanna was also program supervisor at Glen Canyon Dam, developing an appreciation for the importance of water in the Southwest. A resident of Big Water, Utah, she has worked with Road Scholar since 1994.
David M. Best
View biography
David Best grew up in North Carolina and received his degrees in mathematics and geology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He retired after 32 years from the Geology Department at Northern Arizona University, where he was both a professor and administrator. His passion was teaching undergraduates, particularly non-majors who took introductory general education courses. He is the author of a textbook on natural hazards and is writing a similar book for the general populace. David enjoys cooking, traveling, woodworking, and reading.
Christopher Eaves
View biography
Christopher Eaves has called the Southwest home for the past two decades, exploring the wild lands and rivers of the region. After teaching middle school math and science for 15 years, he joined Road Scholar to continue his ongoing passion for promoting learning. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Western University of Colorado and a master’s in Education from Northern Arizona University. Chris's hobbies include mountain biking, hiking, and traveling the globe with his spouse and children.
Shayla Pollard
View biography
Shayla Pollard was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Shayla currently attends Northern Arizona University where she is pursuing her bachelor's degree in biomedical science with a minor in Spanish. In Shayla’s free time, she loves adventuring wherever she can. She has visited a wide array of National Parks in the Southwestern United States and continues to check more off her list. Her favorite outdoor activities include hiking, paddle boarding, and rafting.
Devon Beam
View biography
Devon Beam has called Northern Arizona home since 2018. After working in the outdoor industry for the past 15 years, he began working with Road Scholar to continue his ongoing passion for promoting outdoor recreation. Devon has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Central America. His hobbies include traveling, baking bread, playing guitar, and biking in remote places with his spouse.
Suggested Reading List
(7 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
On the Road: Absolute Southwest — A Canyonlands Adventure
Program Number: 8718
Living at the Edge: Explorers, Exploiters, and Settlers of the Grand Canyon Region
A comprehensive look at the pioneer history of the Grand Canyon Region, from its earliest residents to the creation of the national park at the end of the pioneer era (circa 1920). Included are close to two hundred historic photographs, many never published before, and 12 custom maps of the region. 184pp
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecologic and economic disaster. In Cadillac Desert Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city's growth. He documents the bitter rivalry between two government giants, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the competition to transform the West. Based on more than a decade of research, Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden--and Eden that may be only a mirage.
608pp
Life in Stone: Fossils of the Colorado Plateau
Like pages in a book, the layers of sedimentary rock that are exposed on the Colorado Plateau tell us much about the diversity of environments that have come and gone over a period of hundreds of millions of years. This region is recognized as one of the finest earth-science laboratories in the world. Analysis of the fossil record and new discoveries across the plateau are answering questions, solving mysteries, and making connections that help us understand the history of life worldwide. "Life In Stone" tells the story of past environments and current discoveries with numerous illustrations and lively text written for a general audience.
72pp
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
Here Wallace Stegner, a Pulitzer Prize-winner, gives us a thrilling account of Powell's struggle against western geography and Washington politics. We witness the successes and frustrations of Powell's distinguished career, and appreciate his unparalleled understanding of the West. "Stegner's most exciting work." (San Francisco Chronicle)
496pp
The Southwest
A historical and cultural overview, including discussions of present-day racial, conservation, and economic problems. Easy reading, fascinating history. 364pp
Warriors: Navajo Code Talkers
The American offensive in the Pacific during World War II [was] hampered by the Japanese ability to crack the most secret U.S. Codes. Navajo was virtually unknown outside the reservations, ... and [their] code proved uncrackable. Kenji Kawano's striking photographs capture the quiet dignity of the surviving veterans as they recall their actions --Los Angeles Times 128 pp
Native Roads : The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo and Hopi Nations
Using the mile markers of the US, Arizona, and Navajo highways and routes running through the Navajo and Hopi nations as her organizing principle, the author offers a travel guide to the sites found in the area. Natural, historical, and cultural points of interest are covered, along with some information on lodging and services. 280 pp