As our name suggests, Utah Luxury Tours has its roots in Utah. So, it’s no surprise that we offer a number of tours that explore some of the state’s iconic national and state parks, as well as other outdoor attractions. While we offer tours to other states and national parks across the country, if you’re looking for stunning landscapes, beautiful hikes, and unique attractions, you can’t go wrong with one of our Utah adventures.
With tours visiting all of the Mighty 5 national parks, as well as many other National Park Service sites and Utah state parks, each of our Utah tours is unique. If you’re trying to decide which tour is right for you, keep reading as we break down four of the most incredible and iconic sites you could see on one of our tours.
Island in the Sky Mesa
One of the most incredible views that you could experience on one of our tours is the Island in the Sky mesa. This incredible mesa rests atop sheet sandstone cliffs that stretch over 1,000 feet above the surrounding red rock terrain. Standing at an overlook above this mesa, you’ll enjoy views that rival the Grand Canyon.
Island in the Sky is located in Canyonlands National Park, which is a part of our Utah 5 national park tours. Getting to the Island in the Sky mesa can actually be challenging on your own. The National Park Service even warns visitors that GPS systems often send visitors the wrong way. This is one benefit of booking luxury group tours—you’ll always have an experienced guide there to get you where you need to go!
The Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is sometimes overshadowed by its close neighbor, Zion. But this national park is worth a visit all on its own. With its massive natural amphitheater and towering hoodoos, Bryce Canyon is every bit as unique as Zion National Park, and is just another of the highlights you won’t want to miss during a tour of Utah.
The national park is home to the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. These unique rock formations look like precariously stacked rocks that rise towards the sky. But they are actually columns of rock formed by millions of years of erosion by wind and water.
The Narrows in Zion
One of the most unique spots in all of Utah is The Narrows. The Narrows is so named for being the narrowest part of the Zion Canyon. Here, towering canyon walls come together, sometimes shrinking to just 20 to 30 feet apart, as the Virgin River carves its way through the canyon.
Not only does the name apply to the narrowest section of the canyon, but it also refers to the famous trail found here. The Narrows is one of the most unique hiking trails in the country, and perhaps the world. A full hike of this incredible trail means traveling by car to Chamberlain’s Ranch, located outside of the park and providing the only upstream access to The Narrows. From there, you’ll hike downstream, sometimes wading through waist deep water, for 16 miles. Most hikers stay overnight on the trail.
Luckily, you don’t have to be up for this challenging trek to enjoy this trail. Most visitors make their way to Riverside Walk, located at the very end of the road in Zion’s Lower Canyon. After a short, paved hike, you’ll find a short set of steps leading down to the banks of the Virgin River, and the end of The Narrows. You can hike upstream a short way or just splash around and enjoy the incredible view of the entrance to this narrowing canyon.
You won’t have to worry about missing The Narrows during our Utah 5 national park tours. Ask your Utah travel guide to make sure that this Zion highlight is included in your tour itinerary.
Goblin Valley
Many of the destinations in this Utah travel guide are located in the state’s famous national parks. But while the Mighty 5 have plenty to offer, Utah is also home to state parks that rival the beauty of many of our country’s national parks.
Goblin Valley State Park is one such destination. This incredible state park is located in Green River, Utah, less than two hours from Moab and an hour and a half from Capitol Reef National Park.
The park gets its name from the otherworldly formations that it is home to. The “goblins” are hoodoos, like those found in Bryce Canyon. Most are concentrated in Goblin Valley, at the heart of the park. There are no designated trails in this massive valley full of goblins. Instead, visitors can wander among them and take pictures of these incredible formations.
Goblin Valley State Park is one of the stops on our 10 day Wonders of the West Scheduled Departure Tours. You’ll find it on the itinerary of another of our luxury groups tours, The Mighty 5 Scheduled Departure Tour, as well.
Booking a Tour With Utah Luxury Tours
Whether you want to marvel at the towering walls of The Narrows in Zion or the sweeping views at the Islands in the Sky Mesa, you can do so with one of Utah Luxury Tours’ Utah adventures. Browse our many tour options today to find the perfect one for your next vacation!
