Guided Utah Backpacking Tours

Utah lies in the geologic and physiographic province known as the Colorado Plateau. It is a largely undeformed, uplifted region of oxidized sediments that have been shaped by wind and water over the last 200 million years.

The Grand Staircase and Bears Ears National Monuments contain some of the most stunning scenery, high concentrations of wild canyons, and tremendously important cultural resources.

Geologically speaking, this is one of the most unique and spectacular places on the face of the planet. The powers of water and time, acting largely without the forces of tectonics that has severely affected the surrounding regions, are on full display here.

Our explorations of this area include two threatened monuments: Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears.

Utah Backpacking Tours

Utah is an adventure traveler’s (and a geologist’s) mystical dream.  Here, you will be confronted with some of the most outrageous scenery on the face of the Earth, and some of the greatest outdoor adventure one could see in that dream.  We tour the wonderful and whimsical geology of Utah’s high plateaus and slickrock country, both of which include dramatic sunsets, remote wilderness, and adventure of a lifetime.  Feel free to ​contact us with any questions, or to create your own Utah BackPack adventure. 

The Boulder Mail Trail

One of the most spectacular and interesting spots in all of Utah is, lucky for you, one of the least known (or visited).  Follow an historic pioneer trail into Death Hollow, a wild and watery canyon filled with wildflowers, waterfalls, narrows, and solitude.  We kid you not, this just might be the most rockin’ trip we offer.

Duration: 4 Days

Skill Level: Graduate +

Cost: $1250/guest

Coyote Gulch

Coyote Gulch is one of the most spectacular and special canyons in Utah’s world famous canyon country.  Soaring natural arches, pleasant riparian areas, sheer canyon walls, all without the crowds.  An adventure into this fantastic area is one that will not soon be forgotten.

Duration: 4 Days

Skill Level: Undergraduate +

Cost: $1250/guest

Paria Canyon via Buckskin Gulch

The Paria Canyon and its tributary The Buckskin Gulch (the longest, deepest slot canyon in Canyon Country) is quite possibly the finest canyon hike on the planet.  Surrounded by sheer, humbling 1000ft walls of beautifully cross-bedded Navajo Sandstone, Paria Canyon and its Paria River, is a main tributary to the mighty Colorado.  This adventure’s grandeur is dwarfed only by its spectacle.

Duration: 5 Days

Skill Level: Undergraduate +

Cost: $1350/guest

Dark Canyon

The Dark Canyon Complex and its wilderness is some of the most remote, spectacular, unspoiled, and rugged canyon country not only in Utah, but in North America. Our hiking adventure down the Sundance Trail into the dpeths of Dark Canyon is puncutuated by fabulous geology, outstanding solitude, and a rewarding challenge. This is truly some of the last untouched wilderness in the Utah.

Duration: 5 Days

Skill Level: PhD

Cost: $1350/guest

Utah Adventure and Tour Information

The wildlands of Utah are bucket-list destinations.  Trips to this area are breathtaking, mind-bending, inspiring, and spectacular.  It is also a land of extremes with hot summers, cold winters, and very little precipitation.  Good physical condition is required, and smart packing is a must (see our ​​​​​​​blog for training and packing tips).  
 
 

What is included?

Trip price includes certified guide, gear (backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad), meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), water, permits and camp fees, transportation to and from trails/campsites. 

Trip price does not include: extra gear rental (water bladder, first aid kits, luxury items, etc.), airfare, transportation to and from host city, pre or post-trip hotel accomodations, personal health/liability insurance

Reservations

Tours of Utah’s lands, particularly the National Parks, are very popular and advanced planning is often necessary. We strongly recommend making your reservations at least 3 to 5 months in advance. We can accommodate last-minute bookings provided space is available, so please call our office to check. 

Why reserve early?

Each trip requires a minimum number of participants for departure. Blue Marble Adventure GeoTourism reserves the right to cancel scheduled trips that do not meet minimum sign-up requirements (usually 4 guests).
For more details please see our comprehensive Trip Policies and Payments page.

To make a reservation, visit our Reservation Request page. Or call our office at +1(602) 904-2536, Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm AZ time.

Meeting Time & place

Blue Marble can grab you from your hotel in Flagstaff, or you may choose to meet at the designated meeting place, which will be included in your pre-trip information packet. Our meeting time will be arranged upon booking your reservation and is largely dependent on time of year.

Cancellations

To guarantee your reservation we require a 50% deposit. We collect the remaining balance 30 days prior to the hike departing. Any cancellation made more than 15 days prior to departure will receive a full refund less a $30 processing fee. Cancellations made within 15 days will receive a 50% refund and any cancellation made within 72 hours of the hike departing will receive no refunds or credits. There are no refunds for guests who arrive late or depart early from the trip. There are no refunds for late arrivals.

Why Go Guided?

So much of the true wilderness experience comes from being able to understand and interpret what you are seeing.  Why are those rocks red?  How did this canyon form?  What is that tree?  What cultural significance are those petroglyphs?  Our expert guides will not only keep you safe, relaxed, and intrigued, they will also be able to answer almost any question you have about the landscape you are seeing.

A trained geologist is a person who can interpret millions of years of Earth’s history simply by staring at a rock outcrop for a few minutes.  Anyone can read a book about The Grand Canyon, Zion, The Painted Desert, or Death Valley, but seeing it up close and personal is a completely different and extraordinary experience. Our guides will give you knowledge and the intimate experience of truly knowing where you came from.  ​

In addition to our geologic knowledge, our trips also give you the fundamental ability to immerse yourself in the landscape without worrying about food, water, camping arrangements, transportation, driving directions, or any logistical issues that invariably accompany adventure.  Let us handle the details, all you need to do is enjoy the ride.

Explore Further, Be Wild, See Through Time.