Capitol Reef and Escalante Canyons is a landscape where thousands of feet of layered, multi-colored sediments have been thrust skyward by faulting of the earth's crust (the Circle Cliff anticline). Once you see this kaleidoscopic, jagged geologic spectacle, you'll understand why the Ute Indians called it the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow. It was the last explored and named region of the continental United States. It is a countryside of slickrock mountains punctured by deep, narrow canyons so rugged and remote that the tiny village of Boulder, Utah, which lies within it's midst, could not be reached by automobile until 1938.
To trailride this terrain and to take in panoramas of the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow breaking from the lush, alpine plateaus which loom high above, is indisputably an opportunity of a lifetime. The topography of the rides is dynamic and elevation may change from below 4,000ft. to above 11,000ft., with higher elevations visited in the heat of the summer and lower environs visited earlier or later in the season.
You'll cover new trails each day which were established by Native Americans, pioneer herdsmen and outlaws. An elegant lodge will serve as your home for the daily forays deep into the wilderness. You'll experience ancient petroglyphs, slickrock mountains, slot-canyons, rock arches, buttes and spires such as Cathedral Valley, The Mummy Cliffs and Circle Cliffs, Paradise, Hell's Hole, The Velvet Ridge, The Golden Throne, Pleasant Creek Falls and Gorge, Deep Creek Gorge, Tantalus Canyon, and more.
Gateway City: Torrey, Utah for drive and fly/drive guests; and, St. George, Utah for fly only travelers booking our transfer package.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive scenic Torrey, Utah and check into Muley Twist Inn, Sky Ridge B & B or the Lodge at Red River. Torrey is a town of a little over 200 population which is located at the junction of highways 12 and 24 near the west entrance of Capitol Reef National Park.
At 8:00pm meet with your trip leader and the trip's interpretative specialist in the Great Room for an orientation and to outline details, destinations, and scheduling particulars.
Day 2: Your guide will meet you after breakfast and you'll depart for a short vehicle ride to the trailhead where you'll meet the remainder of the crew and your horse. After becoming familiar with your mount, you'll hit The Sand Creek Trail for The Mummy Cliffs and Fremont River Overlook, Velvet Ridge, Hell's Hole, Sand Creek Falls and Paradise Overlook; or, The Slickrock Trail, Devil's Slide, Golden Throne Overlook, The Dunes, Happy Valley and Wildcat Gorge. (B/L/D).
Day 3: From your Lodge you'll visit Courthouse Butte, Cook Mesa, The Petrified Forest, Lone Pine pictograph and petroglyph panels, Sulfur Creek Gorge and The Goosenecks; or you'll ride the Keller Trail to Capitol Reef Overlook on Chokecherry Point, The Terrace, Pleasant Creek Waterfall and Upper Bowns Lake. (B/L/D).
Day 4: Today your accommodations will shift to The Boulder Mountain Lodge. After breakfast, you'll load your luggage into a van for transfer thirty-five miles south on highway 12 to The Boulder Mountain Lodge in Boulder, Utah.
You'll go to today's trailhead, then ride The Slickrock Trail to Devil's Slide, Golden Throne Overlook, The Dunes, Happy Valley and Wildcat Gorge; or, you'll ride The Great Western Trail to Meek's Lake, Pleasant Creek Meadows, Deer Lakes Overlook, Behunin Point Overlook and The Park Pasture. You'll arrive at your new accommodations at The Boulder Mountain Lodge with plenty of time to unpack, relax and enjoy a distinctive dining experience before bedding down. (B/L/D).
Day 5: From The Boulder Mountain Lodge you'll continue on The Slickrock Trail into Oak Creek Canyon, then to Con's Hole and Con's Knoll Overlook, The Windmill, Turkey Track, and Steep Creek Lakes where you'll take The Indian Trail over The Stairs to Indian Gulch; or you'll ride The Elderberry Trail to Long Lake, Scout Lake, Sunflower Flat, Bown's Point Overlook and Deer Creek Lakes. (B/L/D).
Day 6: You'll depart The Boulder Mountain Lodge for the final day of riding where you'll join your mount in Indian Gulch, then journey to The Lamp Stand, Lamanite Natural Bridge, Water Canyon and Egg Canyon before ending the ride at a point where Indian Gulch, Steep Creek, Long Canyon and the Burr Trail converge; or venture from The Boulder Mountain Lodge to explore Edmund's Hole, Steep Creek Lakes, Frisky Canyon, The Long Neck, The Short Neck and Deer Creek. In the evening, we'll enjoy a group dinner before your final night's stay at this splendid, picturesque lodge.
Day 7: Depart Boulder, Utah (or St. George, Utah) at your convenience, or complete your transfer as arranged.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Optional Transfer Package for fly only guest is available.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Utah
Ecotourism
Horse Riding
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