Five days.
Deep canyon
country.
From ancient rock art to sculpted sandstone towers — a private guided journey through the most extraordinary landscapes in Utah, with a Moab local who knows every hidden corner.
Utah's canyon country,
the way it deserves to be seen.
This isn't a checklist tour. Over five days, your private Clapper Adventures guide takes you deep into the red rock landscape of eastern Utah — not just to the famous overlooks, but into the canyons themselves. You'll hike to towering walls of ancient rock art, descend into twisted slot canyons, wander among hoodoos, and walk routes in Canyonlands and Arches that most visitors never find.
Every day is built around your group: your pace, your curiosity, your fitness level. All trail lunches, three group dinners, and complete ground transportation are included — from pickup at Grand Junction Airport through your final transfer back. You focus on the geology, the history, and the beauty. We handle everything else.
Accommodations are at welcoming local properties: a cozy bed & breakfast in Green River and a suite-style hotel in Moab, putting you right in the heart of canyon country.
Five of Utah's most
remarkable wild places.
Sego Canyon Rock Art
Start with a sense of deep time. Sego Canyon shelters panels of rock art from three distinct cultures spanning thousands of years — hauntingly large Barrier Canyon style figures alongside Fremont and historic Ute petroglyphs. A memorable way to begin.
Horseshoe Canyon & The Great Gallery
The most ambitious day of the trip — and one of the most extraordinary hikes in North America. An 8-mile round trip into a remote canyon to see the Great Gallery: towering, ghostly figures painted in the Barrier Canyon style, considered among the finest rock art on the continent.
Goblin Valley & The Swell
Mushroom-capped hoodoos carpeting a wide valley floor — Goblin Valley is genuinely other-worldly. We explore the formations with options for nearby slot canyons in the San Rafael Swell before heading to Moab for the final nights of the trip.
Canyonlands Needles District
Tower spires striped in red and white, canyon labyrinths, sweeping views — the Needles District rewards the extra drive with landscapes that feel genuinely remote. Multiple loop options let us match the day's hiking to your group's energy and interests.
Arches & Colorado River Canyon
The iconic finale. Morning in Arches National Park hitting the classic highlights — or, if the group prefers, a quieter hike through a hidden side canyon along the Colorado River corridor. Scenic grandeur as a send-off, then transfer to Grand Junction.
Tailored to your crew
Every route decision, every rest stop, every detour — made with your group in mind. This is how canyon country is meant to be explored: at your own pace, with a guide who's done this for decades.
Five days
fully guided.
Each day is crafted — but never rigid. Your guide reads the conditions, the group energy, and the trail, and builds the best version of the day in real time.
Arrival, Sego Canyon Rock Art & Welcome Dinner
Your guide meets you at Grand Junction Airport in the early afternoon and the canyon country adventure begins immediately — with a stop at Sego Canyon on the drive west. Here, three distinct cultures left their marks on sandstone walls spanning thousands of years. Towering anthropomorphic figures in the Barrier Canyon style, Fremont-era animal forms, and historic Ute images create one of the most concentrated and accessible rock art galleries in the region. By late afternoon you're checked into the River Rock Inn in Green River — a comfortable bed & breakfast with real local character — for a group dinner together and a look ahead at the days to come.
Horseshoe Canyon & the Great Gallery
The most ambitious day of the trip, and the one guests remember longest. We head into the remote Maze District of Canyonlands National Park and descend into Horseshoe Canyon — a wide, ancient wash flanked by towering sandstone walls. The trail is rated moderate and covers about 8 miles round trip over roughly 5 hours. Along the canyon floor you'll encounter seasonal springs, desert wildlife, and multiple rock art panels before arriving at the Great Gallery: a 200-foot wall bearing one of the finest examples of Barrier Canyon Style rock art in existence. Figures stand up to seven feet tall, painted in rich ochre and dark pigment, utterly silent and permanent. Trail lunch in the canyon. Group dinner back in Green River.
Goblin Valley, Slot Canyons & the Road to Moab
After breakfast we head into Goblin Valley State Park — a wide, flat basin crowded with hundreds of mushroom-capped sandstone hoodoos that feel genuinely alien. Scramble freely among the formations, peer into shallow alcoves, and take in one of Utah's most unique landscapes. We have options for a short additional slot canyon hike in the surrounding San Rafael Swell — narrow, sculpted passages carved by millennia of water. Trail lunch before making the scenic drive south to Moab, where you'll check in at a comfortable suite-style hotel. The evening is yours to explore Moab's excellent local restaurant scene.
Tower Spires, Canyon Labyrinths & Big Views
The Needles District is the lesser-visited, deeper side of Canyonlands — and arguably the more rewarding one for hikers. We choose from several loop options based on the group's goals: routes that wind between towering red-and-white striped spires, through hidden canyon passages, and out onto open viewpoints over the park's vast landscape. Your guide selects the best combination for the day. Trail lunch in the backcountry. Return to Moab in the late afternoon, with the evening free to explore local restaurants at your own pace.
Arches National Park & Colorado River Canyon Finale
The final morning is yours — and we make it count. If the group wants to walk among the iconic arches and fins of Arches National Park, we head there for the best light of the day. Alternatively, if you'd rather save the crowds and experience something rawer, your guide will take you into a lesser-visited side canyon along the Colorado River corridor — dramatic scenery, peaceful trails, a more fitting end to a week of real canyon country. After the hike, we transfer back to Grand Junction, where afternoon flights depart on Day 5, or you can stay overnight in downtown Grand Junction and catch a Saturday morning flight at your leisure.
This trip is built
for your kind.
Honest, plain-English
fitness guide.
Overall: Moderate. You should be comfortable walking 5–8 miles on uneven terrain and spending a full day on your feet. No technical skills required. Previous hiking experience is helpful but not essential — your guide sets the pace around your group. Summer dates require early starts; spring and fall are ideal for all-day comfort.
What's included,
what to know.
- Private certified guide for all 5 days
- All ground transportation (GJT pickup through final transfer)
- Trail lunches every hiking day
- Group dinners: Days 1, 2, and one additional evening
- 2 nights lodging at River Rock Inn, Green River
- National park and state park entry fees
- Route planning, permits, and real-time adjustments
- Flights to/from Grand Junction Airport
- Moab hotel (Homewood Suites or similar — reservation arranged but not in trip price)
- Days 3 & 4 dinners in Moab (explore local restaurants)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal gear and clothing
- Grand Junction overnight stay if flying Saturday (your cost)
- Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the best seasons — comfortable temperatures, wildflowers or fall color
- Summer is possible with early starts and proper hydration — heat is a real factor, especially in canyon bottoms
- Trip is fully customizable — tell us your group's interests and fitness and we'll tailor each day
- Ages 10+ recommended; younger groups considered case-by-case
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended for multi-day trips
What to
pack.
This is a solid starting point. Once your trip is confirmed, we send a complete gear list tailored to your specific dates and conditions.
Ask About Gear- Sturdy hiking boots or trail runners (broken in)
- Moisture-wicking base layer
- Warm mid-layer (spring/fall mornings are cold)
- Wind/rain shell
- Sun hat with brim
- Gaiters (optional, nice for sandy trails)
- Camp/dinner shoes for evenings
- High-SPF sunscreen (reapply often)
- Sunglasses — quality polarized
- 3-liter water capacity (pack or bottles)
- Electrolyte powder or tablets
- Personal snacks for between meals
- Trekking poles (optional but appreciated)
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- 20–30L daypack
- Personal first aid kit
- Lip balm with SPF
- Camera or extra phone battery
- Light gloves (spring mornings)
- Blister prevention
- Travel insurance documentation
- National Park Annual Pass (if you have one)
- Casual clothes for Moab evenings
- Any personal medications
- Book or journal — canyon country deserves it
Reserve your
canyon country
adventure.
Spring and fall dates fill up weeks in advance. The sooner you reach out, the more date flexibility you'll have. Send a quick inquiry and we'll confirm availability, answer questions, and walk you through next steps within 24 hours.
Prefer to talk? Call us directly. We like that too.
Call 435.260.7066
Real answers
for this trip.
Something not covered here? Just ask us directly — we prefer a real conversation.
Ask a QuestionYou should be comfortable walking 5–8 miles on uneven, rocky terrain and spending a full day on your feet. Day 2 (Horseshoe Canyon, ~8 miles) is the most demanding. No technical skills or prior backcountry experience is needed. We set the pace around your group — tell us your fitness level when you inquire and we'll be straight with you about whether this is a good fit.
Spring (late March through May) and fall (September through early November) are ideal. Temperatures are comfortable for full-day hiking, wildflowers or fall color add to the scenery, and the light is exceptional. Summer is possible but requires early starts and careful hydration given the desert heat. Winter can work for some sections but requires more flexibility — ask us about conditions.
Yes — that's one of the main benefits of a private trip. The itinerary above is our proven framework, but it's a starting point. If your group is more interested in archaeology than summits, we lean into rock art. If you'd rather hike more and drive less, we adjust. If the Needles District doesn't excite you but a river canyon does, we swap it. Tell us what you're after and we'll build the right trip.
People who haven't done any walking in a while may find Day 2 challenging — it's nearly a half-marathon distance over canyon terrain. Very young children (under 10) aren't a great fit for the multi-day format; younger families may prefer a customized single-day or two-day introduction. Anyone who needs to be in air conditioning by midday every day will struggle in peak summer. We're honest about this — reach out and we'll tell you directly if it's the right fit.
Your guide monitors weather and trail conditions daily. If a planned route isn't safe or conditions deteriorate, we adapt — finding an equally compelling alternative that fits the day's conditions and your group's energy. This region is vast and your guide knows it well. A changed plan is almost never a downgrade.
A 50% deposit confirms your trip, with the balance due 45 days before departure. Cancellations and reschedules require at least 14 days notice — we'll work with you to find a new date or provide a partial refund. Cancellations inside 48 hours or no-shows are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance for any multi-day trip.
Clear, simple terms.
A 50% deposit is required to confirm your trip dates. The remaining balance is due 45 days before the trip begins. We'll send you payment instructions when you confirm.
At least 14 days notice required for cancellations or rescheduling. We'll work to find a new date or issue a partial refund. Cancellations inside 48 hours or no-shows are not eligible for refunds.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for all multi-day trips. It protects your deposit in the event of illness, travel disruption, or unexpected circumstances beyond anyone's control.
Five days in
wild canyon country
awaits.
Private, fully guided, tailored to your group. Spring and fall dates fill fast — the sooner you reach out, the better your options.
📞 Call 435.260.7066Fully permitted · Certified guides · Private tours only · Moab, Utah