Utah

Colorful Canyons: Zion, Bryce & Grand Canyon With Your Grandchild

Program No. 8731RJ
From stunning landscapes and ancient geology to horse-back riding and Native American art, set off on an adventure with your grandchild in the national parks of Utah and Arizona.

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At a Glance

In Utah’s Color Country, view ancient Native American petroglyphs carved into red standstone walls in the Valley of Fire. Hike through a forested canyon that leads to two sparkling waterfalls in a tall alcove, hanging gardens and majestic emerald pools. Admire the towering hoodoo rock spires and pink limestone grottos in Bryce Canyon. Take in views of the rainbow rock stair steps of the Grand Staircase as you look across over 100 million years in geologic time. These colorful adventures and more await you and your grandchild in Utah and Arizona’s amazing national parks: Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon’s rugged North Rim. Discover the secrets and mysteries of sculptured canyons and soaring cliffs as instructors lead you through 2 billion years of Mother Nature’s brush strokes.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Hiking up to two miles daily. Elevations up to 8,000 feet.

What You'll Learn

  • Watch wranglers ride the bulls at the Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo, and saddle up yourself as you ride on mule or horse back through Bryce Canyon.
  • Meet an eagle falconer and his feathered friends (a falcon, a hawk and a golden eagle) during a live birds of prey presentation.
  • Spend nights in each of these canyons observing wildlife, exploring the landscape and learning about geology, ecology and human history.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 10-14.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Martin Tyner
At the age of 19, Martin Tyner was hired as curator of birds of prey at Busch Gardens, Calif., and was soon working in the movie industry as a trainer of big cats, elephants, primates, sea mammals and raptors. He is the founder of the Southwest Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit wildlife rescue and environmental education organization. With the help of his Golden Eagle, Bud, they received a donation of 22.6 acres of property for the development of a permanent wildlife rescue facility in Utah.

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 Martin Tyner
Martin Tyner View biography
At the age of 19, Martin Tyner was hired as curator of birds of prey at Busch Gardens, Calif., and was soon working in the movie industry as a trainer of big cats, elephants, primates, sea mammals and raptors. He is the founder of the Southwest Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit wildlife rescue and environmental education organization. With the help of his Golden Eagle, Bud, they received a donation of 22.6 acres of property for the development of a permanent wildlife rescue facility in Utah.
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 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.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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8 days
7 nights
19 meals
7 B 6 L 6 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Las Vegas, NV
D
Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas Strip South

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. 4:30-5:15 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: At the hotel, we'll enjoy a Welcome Dinner featuring an entree, salad, vegetables, iced tea and water.

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Unless specified otherwise, the majority of field trips and lectures will be led by our expert Instructor who will be accompanied by our Group Leader. Afternoon thunderstorms and lightning are common at higher elevations in summer months. Be sure to stay hydrated and dress appropriately for the weather. Refillable water bottles will be provided at the beginning of the program for everyone to keep. Sun protection is recommended throughout. This is a Road Scholar intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
2
Valley of Fire State Park, Zion National Park, Birds of Prey
Zion National Park
B,L,D
Hampton Inn & Suites - Zion National Park

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles total for the day; mostly paved, some uneven terrain, sand, rocks, about 100 stairs. Lower Emerald Pools trail: 1.2 miles round trip 70 ft. elev. gain. Elevations range from approximately 2,000 feet to about 4,000 feet above sea level. Driving approximately 50 miles to Valley of Fire State Park and an additional 130 miles to Zion National Park; about 3.5 hours total throughout the day.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet will feature a variety of choices including fresh fruit, yogurt, assorted baked goods, hot and cold cereals, pancakes, eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes, coffee, assorted teas, juice, milk, and water.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board the motorcoach and travel to the Valley of Fire, Nevada’s oldest state park. We will explore fascinating geological formations and view ancient drawings carved in the red sandstone walls. At Atlatl Rock, our Instructor will show us petroglyphs carved by Native Americans dating back as long as 4,000 years ago. The ancient drawings give us a glimpse of the culture of people that lived and traveled in this area thousands of years ago. Along the way, our Instructor will teach us about the area’s history and geology, and from displays and exhibitions at the Valley of Fire visitor center, we will learn about the area’s native plant and animal communities and other natural resources. Departing from the visitor center, we will travel to St. George, Utah for lunch. Along the way, we’ll travel through the magnificent Virgin River Gorge, a narrow canyon carved by the Virgin River between two mountain ranges.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a buffet lunch featuring a variety of fresh salads, homemade dinner rolls, barbecue favorites, tasty sides, vegetables, and dessert, plus coffee, tea, milk, juice, soft drinks, lemonade and water.

Afternoon: We’ll then set out on a scenic drive following the course of the Virgin River upstream toward the towering cliffs and desert vistas of Zion National Park. Upon arrival, we’ll explore the Emerald Pools Trail. Afterwards we will transfer to Springdale and check into our hotel, which is nestled beneath and surrounded by the soaring sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated dinner with tea, soft drinks, juice, and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Back at the hotel, we’ll be visited by a federally licensed eagle falconer who will bring live birds of prey native to the Southwestern United States! See up close and personal a live falcon, hawk and golden eagle as our expert will teach us about these beautiful and fascinating animals.

DAY
3
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
B,L
Hampton Inn & Suites - Zion National Park

Activity note: Getting on/off Zion Park shuttle; driving about 16 miles round-trip, approximately 90 minutes riding time with stops. Elective walking about 3-4 miles round trip according to personal choice, approximately 4-6 hours; paved and unpaved trails. Riverside Walk 2.2 miles round trip; paved, relatively level. Bring day pack to carry your sack lunch, water bottle, sun protection.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet will feature a variety of choices including fresh fruit, yogurt, assorted baked goods, hot and cold cereals, pancakes, eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes, coffee, assorted teas, juice, milk, and water.

Morning: In keeping with current park group protocols, today will be dedicated to independent exploration. We will gather in the hotel lobby with our Group Leader to be sure everyone is properly outfitted with the essentials of being out in the field for the day including water, sunscreen, hat, and other weather-related gear. The Group Leaders will review how the park shuttle operates; discuss the many viewpoints and features in the park available to explore; how to return to the hotel using the shuttle system; and answer any questions. We will also have sack lunches distributed. Using our vehicle(s), we will transport as a group from the hotel to the Zion Visitor Center where the Group Leader will confirm our group entry into the National Park. From the Visitor Center, we’ll then stroll across the plaza to the free Zion Canyon shuttle bus terminal where our park exploration and access into Zion Canyon will begin.

Lunch: Sack lunches in the field at your leisure at a location of our choice.

Afternoon: Continue independent explorations in Zion National Park. Return to the hotel according to personal choice by utilizing the National Park Shuttle and Springdale town shuttle bus system.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own in the quaint town of Springdale, where you can enjoy a variety of restaurants, bars, gift shops, art galleries, and more. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
4
Zion Tunnel & East Zion, Bryce Canyon Hoodoos, Rodeo
Bryce Canyon National Park
B,L,D
Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles total; paved and hard-packed dirt trails at a leisurely pace. Elevation at Bryce Canyon is over 8,000 feet above sea level. Driving approximately 85 miles; about 2 hours. Be sure to bring your water bottle and stay hydrated.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll travel via motorcoach on the historic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Just six miles past the park entrance we’ll ascend nearly 1,000 vertical feet and go through a 1-mile long tunnel to Zion’s breathtaking upper east side. We’ll make a quick stop to photograph astounding Checkerboard Mesa before continuing our picturesque journey toward Bryce Canyon National Park. Our Instructor will talk about the area’s geology and history along the way.

Lunch: At a local restaurant near the entrance to Bryce Canyon, we’ll enjoy a tasty buffet with soft drinks, coffee, tea and juice.

Afternoon: Bryce Canyon is famous for “hoodoos” – tall, skinny, irregularly shaped spires of rock. They are more abundant at Bryce Canyon than anywhere in the world. Our first stop via motorcoach will be Bryce Point where we’ll walk together to the viewpoint. Our instructor will point out spectacular hoodoos and eroded grottos in the pink limestone below and other geologic formations in the distance including the sacred Navajo Mountain and desolate plateaus that make up the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We’ll then drive the short way to Sunset Point and walk along the rim to Sunrise Point and back before transferring to the hotel for check-in.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated dinner with soft drinks, juice, coffee, tea and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: We’ll walk from our hotel to the rodeo grounds for the Byrce Canyon Country Rodeo where we’ll watch cowboys and cowgirls display their skills as they compete in bronco riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping and barrel racing. For the main event, courageous cowboys will mount 2,000-pound bulls with the objective of staying atop the bucking bull for as long as possible. The exciting atmosphere and beautiful setting make for a wonderful evening for all ages.

DAY
5
Bryce National Park, Horseback Riding, Scenic Viewpoints
Bryce Canyon National Park
B,L,D
Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; paved and hard-packed dirt trails. Horse ride (about 2 hours) restrictions include 7 years of age minimum and 220-pound weight limit; long pants recommended. Elevation at Bryce is from approximately 8,000 feet to over 9,000 feet above sea level. Afternoon thunderstorms and lightning are common at this elevation in summer months. Minimal driving for the day.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of choices including fresh fruit, yogurt, assorted baked goods, hot and cold cereals, pancakes, eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes, coffee, assorted teas, juice, milk and water.

Morning: Our first stop of the day will be at the stables where we’ll saddle up for a horseback ride among the fabulous red rocks. Local wranglers (cowboys) will give us instructions and assign horses or mules that best suit each person. The wranglers will accompany and lead us on a 2-hour loop into the canyon on a winding trail amongst the hoodoos. Cameras are allowed, but no backpacks. Long pants are generally preferred over shorts. We’ll stop occasionally for pictures and informative stories from our wranglers. Once we finish our ride back at the stables, we’ll transfer by motorcoach to Sunset Point.

Lunch: At Sunset Point, we’ll have our boxed lunch that includes a sandwich, chips, fruit and cookie.

Afternoon: Afterwards, we’ll drive to other viewpoints in the park including the spectacular Rainbow and Yovimpa Points. Yovimpa point (elevation 9,115 feet) is one of the best places to observe the sequence of rock called the Grand Staircase, where the layers are described by the predominant color of each step of the staircase. This viewpoint is located on the Pink Cliffs, the top step of the Staircase, and looks across over 100 million years in geologic time. Our last stop of the day will be at the Bryce Canyon visitor center where we will see the official Bryce National Park film and enjoy some time to explore informative displays. We’ll then return via motorcoach to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a buffet dinner with soft drinks, juice, coffee, tea and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. You may wish to take advantage of the amenities of the hotel including the pool for a swim, or just relax. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
6
Grand Staircase Escalante Nat'l Mon., Grand Canyon North Rim
North Rim, Grand Canyon
B,L,D
Grand Canyon National Park North Rim Cabins

Activity note: Walking about 1 mile total for the day; paved trails. Driving approximately 165 miles total for the day; about 3.5 hours with stops for field trips.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a breakfast buffet that will feature a variety of choices including fresh fruit, yogurt, assorted baked goods, hot and cold cereals, pancakes, eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes, coffee, assorted teas, juice, milk and water.

Morning: We’ll travel via motorcoach through part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument en route to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is 1.9 million acres of sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, isolated badlands and vast wilderness. The monument stretches east and south from Bryce Canyon to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It is so large that it includes four visitor centers. Numerous world-class dinosaur fossils have been uncovered within its boundaries. We’ll stop at the historic Jacob Lake Inn for lunch.

Lunch: At the historic Jacob Lake Inn, we’ll have a plated lunch with coffee, tea, soda and water.

Afternoon: We’ll then drive through the Kaibab National Forest to the lodge at the Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim where our Instructor will point out geologic features of the Grand Canyon and lead the group on a steep, paved one-half mile round trip hike to Bright Angel Point, a promontory at an elevation of 8,148 feet. Here you will have panoramic views of Roaring Springs, Bright Angel and Transept Canyons, as well as the inner gorge of the Grand Canyon. The South Rim is visible about 10 miles away. We’ll then check into our cabins.

Dinner: At the lodge restaurant, we’ll enjoy a buffet dinner, with coffee, tea, lemonade, ice tea and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. The remainder of the evening will be free time for you to enjoy a variety of free programs at the lodge led by park rangers including a geology talk and a lecture about condors.

DAY
7
Grand Canyon, Transept Trail
Kanab, UT
B,L,D
Hampton Inn & Suites - Kanab

Activity note: Walking about 1-3 miles total for the day; well-maintained trail over rolling hills, hard-packed dirt, some uneven rocky surfaces and steps. Driving approximately 80 miles total; about 1.5 hours.

Breakfast: At the lodge, the breakfast buffet will feature a full assortment of hot and cold items including eggs, assorted breakfast meats, seasoned potatoes, biscuits, gravy, French toast, pastries, fruits, yogurt, plus milk, soft drinks, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: We’ll gather at the lodge and begin our hike along the rim of Transept Canyon. The Transept Trail allows magnificent glimpses of the canyon as it winds through rolling hills of mixed pine, aspen and oak forest. About midway we’ll pass an Ancestral Puebloan ruin and watch for Mule deer as well as the elusive Kaibab squirrel, which is unique to the North Rim. Our Instructor will offer geology tips and information about the plants and animals along the way.

Lunch: Somewhere on the eastern side of the Grand Canyon along our walk, we’ll find a nice spot to rest and have our box lunch that includes a sandwich, chips, fruit and cookie.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our exploration Grand Canyon's North Rim. After returning to the lodge we'll depart for Kanab, stopping along the way at LeFevre Overlook, a scenic viewpoint where we'll climb a few stairs on a short path to see magnificent views of the Vermillion Cliffs of northern Arizona and the entire cliff/rock sequence of the Grand Staircase. Arrive in Kanab and check into our hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant enjoy your choice of a a plated meal or buffet of local favorites. Coffee, iced tea, soda and water are included. Other beverages are available for purchase.

Evening: Explore the quaint town and shops or enjoy a nice swim. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
8
Transfer to Las Vegas, Program Concludes
Kanab, UT
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 7:30 a.m. Morning drive to Las Vegas is approximately 180 miles; about 3 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet will feature a full assortment of hot and cold items including eggs, assorted breakfast meats, seasoned potatoes, biscuits, gravy, French toast, pastries, fruits, yogurt, plus milk, soft drinks, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: We will depart by motorcoach from Kanab by 8:00 a.m. for our return to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.

Afternoon: We’ll then continue our transfer via motorcoach to Las Vegas where we will make drop-off stops at McCarran International Airport and the starting hotel at about 11:30 a.m. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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