7-Day Utah and Arizona National Parks Tour: Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon & Monument Valley
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
7 days
Fitness Level
Good baseline fitness — regular walkers or weekend hikers will enjoy the trip; some exposed, steep sections require steady balance and stamina.
Overview
Drive through a shifting desert of fins, hoodoos and canyons on a compact seven-day tour from Salt Lake City. This small-group route stitches together Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Bryce with local guides, boat and jeep excursions.
7-Day Utah and Arizona National Parks Tour: Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon & Monument Valley
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The van hums onto an endless ribbon of red rock and, within minutes, the landscape seems to rearrange itself: plateaus where the horizon used to be, slot canyons cutting shadowed knives into sunlit cliffs, a river that dares you to follow it. On a seven-day loop from Salt Lake City through southern Utah and northern Arizona, each day hands you a different chapter — the sheer amphitheaters of Bryce, the carved windows of Arches, the sculpted buttes of Monument Valley — and a guide who threads them into a single continuous story.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Start early to beat heat and crowds
Plan hiking and park stops for first light; midday can be hot in summer and busy year-round at popular viewpoints.
Layer for fast elevation changes
Temperatures swing from warm days to cool nights at higher elevations — pack an insulating mid-layer and wind shell.
Protect fragile soils
Stay on signed trails to avoid damaging cryptobiotic soil crusts that take decades to recover.
Hydrate and pace yourself
Carry 1–2 liters of water for short hikes; increase intake at high elevations and during strenuous sections like Angel’s Landing.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Mule deer
- Golden eagle
History
The region preserves millennia of human history — Fremont pictographs and Navajo cultural sites appear across canyon walls and mesas, with Monument Valley remaining central to Navajo heritage.
Conservation
Trails and cryptobiotic soils are fragile; follow Leave No Trace principles and support local Navajo guides and businesses to sustain communities and places visited.
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Adventure Hotspots in Salt Lake City
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Sturdy hiking boots
Provide traction on sandstone and rocky switchbacks encountered in Arches, Zion and Bryce.
20–30L daypack
Holds water, layers, snacks and camera gear for daily hikes and excursions.
Sun protection (hat, SPF 30+ sunscreen, sunglasses)
The desert sun is intense; protection prevents burns and fatigue.
summer specific
Insulating mid-layer and wind shell
Warmth for high-elevation mornings and cool evenings, especially on the North Rim and in Bryce.
fall specific