UTAH, THREE PARK SPECTACULAR - USA
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On this adventurous trek through northern Arizona and southern Utah, riders will have an opportunity to view three of the Southwest's most amazing geological formations: the pink and orange hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, the red and buff labyrinth of Zion Canyon, and the multicoloured depths of the Grand Canyon. The beginning of this riding holiday proceeds through the Pariah River Canyon, part of the nation's new Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument. The terrain and scenery is constantly changing. One day the trail will wind through the cool shadows of narrow sandstone canyons and the next day riders will climb into ponderosa pine forests with a view across hundreds of miles of the Colorado Plateau. It is extremely sparsely populated country, and riders are unlikely to encounter many people during the course of the trip.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - UTAH, THREE PARK SPECTACULAR
Day 1
Pickup in St George, Utah at 2:00pm and transfer to the first camp. This camp is located in the Pariah River Canyon near an old movie set where westerns were filmed.
Day 2
Ride north through Red Rock Canyon. Take a break at an old wagon stop where the early pioneers wrote their names on the cliff face with axle grease. After a cold drink from Crack Springs, ride on to camp in the Sheep Creek Canyon.
Day 3
Follow Willis Creek toward Bryce Canyon National Park. At some points, the canyon is only 6-10 feet wide. Leave the canyon behind, and follow the old ranger trail along the boundary of the National Park (horses are not allowed in the Park). The trail winds through stands of pinon pine and juniper. Camp in a small meadow with the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon in the background.
Day 4
Ride up onto the Bryce Plateau, where you can canter through meadows and stands of ponderosa pine. The trail continues to climb through aspen and fir forests to elevations of 9,500 ft where there are spectacular views. Ride down to meet up with the trucks and trailers and transport to the next camp along the Virgin River.
Day 5
Ride along the Zion formation through deep sand and sagebrush, surrounded by white cliffs. Pass through Elephant Cove. In the late afternoon, transport the horses again to a "cow camp." In ranching terminology, a "cow camp" is a permanent camp where cowboys live while herding cattle in that area.
Day 6
The terrain today is flat as far as the eye can see. You can either ride your saddle horse, or take a turn driving a team of mules hitched to an authentic covered wagon. The elevation here is about 4,500 ft. Ride off the Yellowstone Mesa, through Antelope Valley to Hat Knoll. Camp in a stand of ponderosa pines, which is like an oasis at the base of an extinct volcano known as Mt. Trumbell. The sunsets and sunrises in this wide-open country are spectacular.
Day 7
Ride to the top of Mt. Trumbell, from where you can see over a hundred miles in every direction. Previous riders have described this as "a place where you can look two days into the future, and one day into the past." Follow a trail south along ancient lava beds to Tuweep Valley. Take one last canter down the valley to Toroweep Point, an overlook of the Grand Canyon. This seldom-visited area is a spectacular location for viewing the most famous of all canyons. Here one has a sense of how the early Spanish explorers must have felt when they first rode to the edge and look into the chasm. Turn the horses back and ride about a quarter of a mile to where the final camp is located where your horse riding holiday begins to wind down.
Day 8
After one last spectacular sunrise and breakfast from the cook wagon, transfer back to St. George. Arrival time in St. George will be no later than noon. And to arrive in Page by 4:00pm.
**THE ITINERARY ON THIS RIDING HOLIDAY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER AND OTHER UNFORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. **
Please note that this itinerary is the 2008 itinerary - please enquire for the 2009 itinerary which is 1 night shorter.
The weight limit for this ride is 14st 2lbs/198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
The price of the ride includes all lodging, food, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), horses, tack, guide, and transfers to and from St. George, Utah.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
The price does not include liquor or gratuities to staff members.
FURTHER DETAILS
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