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Zion & Bryce National Park

Saturday, May 3, 2025 - Sunday, May 11, 2025 -- $TBD ★


Fitpacking is going to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park consecutively as part of a full week trip. For those who would like to join only one of these parks, we are offering them as stand alone half-week trips.


Zion is the home of Angel's Landing, an incredible view atop a sometimes-scary trail that has chains to hold onto in order to make sure you don't fall. Bryce is the quintessential home of the hoodoo. Bryce has the largest concentration of hoodoos anywhere on Earth. On our trip, we will be day-hiking the major established trails open to commercial entities in both popular and colorful parks. Colossal monolithic rock faces, spires, windows, natural bridges, canyons and of course hoodoos are found almost everywhere in this landscape.


During our trip, we will spend the first 3 days in Zion and the 2nd 3 days in Bryce. Expect to see Angel's Landing, Zion Narrows and Patriarchs in Zion as well as the Ampitheater and Peekaboo Trail in Bryce.


The days begin to get warmer in Mayl Expect great sunsets and amazing star-gazing, as both destinations are International Dark Sky Parks. Why not join us for an unforgettable excursion?



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map

Here is the Bryce proposed route.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect temperatures to be 10-15 degrees warmer in Zion than in Bryce. You may be very hot during the day in Zion but freeze at night in Bryce. Here is the historical Bryce weather. Here is the historical Zion weather. Bring with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 4 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


Our mileage will be kept under 10 miles and we will be carrying day packs only, so most days will be less strenous than a backpacking trip.


The trails through Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are often easy to navigate and enjoyable to hike, but not always. There will be some sandy patches, occasional slickrock with dramatic dropoffs and a few places where scrambling (using hands and butt) is necessary. And we will be walking in often cold ankle-deep water in Zion Narrows.



Cost

$TBD per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 1 hotel night. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Las Vegas (LAS), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, round-trip transportation from Las Vegas to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits, campground fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes

Day-Hiking / Base Camping only


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Saturday, May 3, 2025

Fly into Las Vegas Airport (LAS). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-1PM. However, if you have completed your online shakedown and can be ready to go by around 4PM, you can arrive later.

Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel to gather up with the group

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Mini equipment shakedown, we'll verbally go through a few checklist items to make sure you have what you need.

Make Your Own Trail Mix bar from our surfeit of ingredients

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Watchman Campground, Zion National Park, UT-9, Springdale, UT 84767, (877) 444-6777. Site(s) TBD Elevation: 3925'

Shuttling will take about 3 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Watchman Campground, Zion National Park, UT-9, Springdale, UT 84767, (877) 444-6777. Site(s) TBD Elevation: 3925'


Sunday, May 4, 2025

Take an early shuttle bus up-canyon to the Temple of Sinewawa, elevation 4370'

Hike 8.0 miles on the Riverside Walk down canyon to the Watchman Campground, elevation 3925'

Time permitting, Day-Hike 3.1 miles on the Watchman Trail completing a loop that tops out at elevation 4425'

We will have views of Zion Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon and the town of Springdale

Base camp at the Watchman Campground, sites TBD, elevation 3925'

Miles today: 11.1. Total miles: 11.1


Monday, May 5, 2025

Zion Narrows

Take an early shuttle bus up-canyon to the Temple of Sinewawa, elevation 4370'

Start Day-Hiking the Riverside Walk, elevation 4420'

Day-Hike 2.0 miles on the Riverside Walk to the trail register, elevation 4550'

Begin Day-Hike up the Narrow Trail for 0.5 miles until we reach Orderville Canyon, elevation 4825'

Day-Hike 2.5 miles back to the Temple of Sinewawa

Take a park shuttle bus back to camp

Base camp at the Watchman Campground, sites TBD, elevation 3925'

Miles today: 5.0. Total miles: 16.1


Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Today we will hike Angel's Landing, one of Zion's iconic destinations. It is a long, steady climb to get to the top so perseverance will be rewarded.

Board the park shuttle bus to the Grotto stop, elevation 4300'

Day-Hike 4.3 round-trip miles to Angel's Landing, elevation 5760'

Miles today: 4.3. Total miles: 20.4

Say goodbye to departing half-week participants

Base camp at the Watchman Campground, sites TBD, elevation 3925'


Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Pack up camp

Drive through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.

Hike 1.0 miles on the Canyon Overlook Trail

Miles today: 1.0. Total miles: 21.4

Shuttle 2 hours to Bryce Canyon National Park

Set up base camp at the North Campground, sites TBD, elevation 8000'

We are joined by Bryce Canyon half-week participants


Thursday, May 8, 2025

Walk from North Campground to Sunrise Point, elevation 8000'

Day-Hike 1.6 miles on the Queens Garden Trail to the Navajo Loop Trail, elevation 7475'

Day-Hike 0.6 uphill miles on the Navajo Loop Trail that tops out at elevation 8000'

Day-Hike 0.5 miles on the Rim trail to Sunrise point, elevation 8000'.

Day-Hike 3.3 miles on the Rim trail to Bryce point, elevation 8300'.

Take park shuttle back to campground

Base camp at the North Campground, sites TBD, elevation 8000'

Miles today: 6.0. Total miles: 27.4


Friday, May 9, 2025

Get an extremely early start today to hike the Fairyland Loop

Walk from North Campground to the rim, elevation 8000'

Day-Hike 7.9 miles around the Fairlyland Loop, minimum elevation 7160'

Return to North Campground for lunch

Car shuttle to Rainbow Point, elevation 9110'

Day-Hike 1.0 relatively flat miles on the Bristlecone Loop Trail to see ancient Bristlecone Pines.

Car shuttle back to camp

Miles today: 8.9. Total miles: 36.3


Saturday, May 10, 2025

Take an early park shuttle bus to Bryce Point, elevation 8300'

Day-Hike 5.1 miles on the Peekaboo Loop, lowest elevation 7440'

Return to North Campground via shuttle bus for lunch

Miles today: 5.1. Total miles: 41.4

Shuttle 4 hours back to Las Vegas

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, May 11, 2025

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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