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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, and join a falconer for a meeting with some of his closest feathered friends. 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 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 on the Pa’rus trail, which runs 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.

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

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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.

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.

Heidi Loveland

Heidi Loveland is a native of St. George, Utah. A graduate of Weber State University, she has worked as a wildland firefighter with the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. She loves traveling the world and has visited every continent except Antarctica. She is passionate about the outdoors, and loves yoga and kayaking with her German Shepard.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Hiking up to 2-3 miles; optional activities include rock climbing, paint ball, skeet shooting, horse back riding. Elevations of 5,500 feet.

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 Reading List

View Full List (6 Books)

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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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's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

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's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.
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.