SW ADVENTURE TOURS

Day 0 - I arrive in Las Vegas the evening before the tour to make sure that my Mercedes Sprinter van is cleaned, fueled and ready to go! Oh, and don't forget lots of ice for the cooler! It can get hot out here!

Day 1 - After picking up my guests at two hotels, we set out for Zion National Park. We grab lunch-to-go at a store in Springdale, park the van, and take the shuttle to the park's historic lodge. We can either eat at the benches or just sit out on the lawn... surrounded by incredible cliffs. We hop on the shuttle to the Riverside Walk where we stroll along the Virgin River to a spot called the Narrows. Eventually we make our way back to the van and drive to another section of Zion called Kolob Canyons. Here we enjoy more spectacular views. We spend the night in Cedar City.

Day 2 - We get on the road early. After enjoying the Salt Wash View Area and the Spotted Wolf Canyon View Area (with views of the San Rafael Swell), we arrive in Green River to give our greetings to the Sinclair dinosaur. After lunch, we continue on to Canyonlands, where we hike to Mesa Arch, stroll along the rim at Grand View Point, and get one last scenic look at the Green River Overlook. We stop at the Potash Petroglyphs on the way to our hotel in Moab.

Day 3 - Today is a big day at Arches! We start with a walk up the Delicate Arch Overlook path then visit the Wolfe homestead and nearby petroglyphs. We go on short hikes to Double Arch, North Window and Turret Arch. It's another short walk around Balanced Rock, then we end our adventure with the Park Avenue Overlook. We then grab lunch in Moab. No tour would be complete without a stop at Jackass Joe's! In Goblin Valley State Park, we have time to wander and explore the formations. After taking a photo in front of a giant wanted poster of the Wild Bunch in Hanksville, we enjoy a night in Torrey.

Day 4 - When we arrive in Capitol Reef, we first take a walk along the Grand Wash. After a visit to the historic Behunin cabin, we each grab a personal pie at the Gifford House. My favorite was always the strawberry rhubarb. One can often see deer wandering in the old orchards. We make quick stops at the old schoolhouse, some more petroglyphs and Panorama Point. Then we take Highway 12 over Boulder Mountain and across the narrow hog's back (overlooking Calf Creek Canyon), grabbing lunch along the way. Just outside the town of Escalante is the Hole-in-the-Rock Heritage Center which tells of some harrowing pioneer adventures. We stop briefly at Powell Point for views of the Grand Staircase (a series of wide plateaus). We briefly pop into Bryce Canyon National Park for some previews of tomorrow. We spend the night in the historic Ruby's Inn in Bryce Canyon City.

Day 5 - We're up before dawn in order to watch the sun rise at Bryce Point. We return to the hotel for breakfast then head back out to Sunrise Point where we hike down (and then back up) the Queen's Garden Trail. We then begin the long drive back to Las Vegas... but it certainly isn't boring! We get to have lunch at the Thunderbird restaurant in Mt. Carmel, see a herd of bison, and drive through the east entrance of Zion. If we're lucky, some bighorn sheep might make an appearance! After I have returned everyone safely to the hotels, I clean and prep the van for the next tour. I then fly home the next day.