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Impressive red rock geological formations with two natural arches under a blue sky with white clouds in Utah's Grand Circle.
Utah/Arizona

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

Program No. 2814RJ
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
St. George
Program Concludes
St. George
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
27 ( 10B, 9L, 8D )
Activity Level
From
4,149
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Explore the corner of the world with landscapes and cultures unlike any other. This greatest concentration of national parks and monuments is known as the "Grand Circle" and includes the wonders of Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as Dead Horse Point State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Recreation Area and Monument Valley Tribal Park. Learn about the amazing geology up close, and uncover the story of the Indigenous Peoples history through a visit with the Navajo. This is truly a monumental adventure!
Best of all, you'll...
  • Discover five national parks, three state parks and one national monument, 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.
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National ParksOn the RoadSmall GroupMost PopularNature & Environment
General Notes
Due to remote locations, only vegetarian and gluten-free diets can be accommodated, with limited meal variety. For a less active, slower pace version of this program that is one day shorter, please see program, "The Best of Utah's Grand Circle of Parks and Monuments at a Slower Pace" (#25738).
Featured Expert
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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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Julie Floyd holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from the University of Kentucky. Julie’s interests also include the history and culture of Utah and the Southwest. Her ancestors were among the first pioneers to settle in the Utah Territory, dating back to 1847. Off-roading and hiking are among her favorite backcountry adventures, and she works with various nonprofit organizations to help preserve public lands. Julie is currently a part-time geology instructor at Utah Tech University.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Learn About Activity Levels
Walking up to 3 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over varied terrain including sand, rocks and stream beds. (approximately 12 miles over 9 days) Activities include standing up to 1 hour daily, 128 steps with handrails, and a 3.5 hour float trip. Travel includes motorcoach rides up to 4.5 hours (280 miles) with breaks. Elevations up to 9,100 feet and trail gains of 350 feet. Mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters are not suitable for the terrain; participants must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
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?
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Sustainable Travel

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

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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.

    An illustration of a hand using a pen to check off the final item on a clipboard checklist
  • 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.

    An illustration of an elderly man sitting at a computer with a pair of binoculars beside him
  • 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.

    An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
  • Sustainable Travel

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

    An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it
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