Hiking and Camping in Zion
Trip Code: SKXZ
Why we love it
Zion National Park is a natural playground for adventure lovers where you can explore highlights and hidden wonders like Scout Lookout and the Virgin River Narrows hike., Take a stroll down the paved Riverside Walk Trail, buttressed by tumbling water on your left and a 3,000-foot cliff face on your right., Experience the iconic Virgin River Narrows hike as you walk through moving water with your leader who will help you get your “stream legs” on your way to Orderville Canyon., Take in the beauty of the serene Emerald Pools, named for their glorious green tones, then descend to the lawn of the historic Zion Lodge and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch., Explore Snow Canyon which is like a mini Zion and cuts impressive walls from the lava-covered country above the rim through the slickrock country below.
Is this trip right for me?
This is a hiking trip so a good fitness level will help you enjoying all included hikes and activities.
This trip involves hiking from 5 to 7.5 miles (8 to 12 km) per day with a total trip distance of 18 miles (29 km). The maximum daily elevation gain/loss is 2100 feet (640 m). Please check the trip itinerary for more details.
On this trip, you’ll be required to carry a daypack weighing approximately 8-12 lb (3.5- 5.5 kg).
In the event of high water, the Virgin River Narrows hike will be rerouted to a different trail in Zion. The Park is full of unforgettable hiking and scenery, so it’s easy to find an excellent substitute.
On our final day we will reach St. George in the late afternoon or early evening. This night’s accommodation is not included so please plan your departure accordingly, or pre-book a post-tour night.
Important information
1. Please note this trip requires a minimum number of booked customers to guarantee the departure. Your Booking Agent will advise at time of booking if the departure has met minimum numbers. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be advised no later than 30 days out from departure. We recommend arranging flights and related travel services once your departure is guaranteed. In the event that your departure is cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met, a full refund will be provided of monies paid.
2. A completed registration form is required to join these trips. You will not be confirmed for the trip until your form has been received and reviewed. We may ask for a medical release signed by your physician for medical conditions or circumstances which could possibly compromise your safety or the safety of others on this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.
3. A signed disclaimer (Acknowledgement of Risks Form) is required at the time of booking for this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.
4. To help ensure this trip is right for you, this trip is subject to additional ‘Essential Eligibility Requirements’ – see the ‘Itinerary Disclaimer’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
5.This trip is operated and run by Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Wildland Trekking customers and Intrepid customers.
6. You will rendezvous with the guide and group in St. George, Utah for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip starts to specify the orientation location. The guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead. This trip will conclude at approximately 5:00 PM on the last day in St. George.
7. A single tent is provided to all solo travellers at no extra cost.
What to bring/pack
LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
All luggage is carried in trailers or inside the vehicle so please don't bring more than one medium-sized bag, backpack or suitcase (20kg maximum) per person. Your suitcase/rucksack may get some rough handling, so make sure it's a tough one. A small daypack and camera may also be carried inside the vehicle.
As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip.
Our thorough packing list considers diverse weather conditions, but we suggest refining it based on the weather forecast 10 days before departure. Before your trip, our guides will reach out to review the list with you, addressing any questions. For newly purchased items, we suggest you keep receipts and tags attached until use, as our guides can provide real-time advice on their necessity. This approach ensures that you are well-equipped for your adventure, no matter what conditions you may encounter.
INCLUDED GEAR
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Camp pillow
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
- Bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear (where applicable)
ESSENTIAL ITEMS
- Trekking clothing: A mixture covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers is recommended. Your activities will take place in the outdoors, where weather may change quickly. Lightweight, comfortable, and quick drying clothes for the activities are best. Laundry facilities may not be available on every day basis, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes.
- Hiking boots with a good grip, ankle support and waterproof membrane that are comfortable to walk for an entire day
- Comfortable shoes for shorter beach walks or evenings spent around camp
- Sport sandals
- Light jacket, fleece and base layers
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Breathable, non-cotton hiking t-shirts
- Long hiking pants or zip-offs
- Nylon hiking shorts
- Water bottle or bladder: you will need water during activities and it’s best to avoid buying unnecessary plastic.
- Sun protection: sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, sunhat or bandana
- Torch/flashlight/headtorch
- Walking Poles if you would prefer to use your own
- Quick Dry Towel
RECOMMENDED ITEMS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BRINGING
- Personal medical kit. A larger kit will be on hand with your leader, but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, antihistamine tablets and any personal medication you may need
- Gaiters or waterproof pants – recommended for wet or snowy conditions
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- Camera with spare batteries/power bank
- Travel eco-friendly wipes/hand sanitizer
- Stuff Sacks – various sizes for better organization of clothing & gear
- Bug Repellent
OPTIONAL ITEMS
- Swimwear
- A good book, a journal and music player
VALUABLES
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. It’s also recommended to bring a copy of all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
HYDRATION SYSTEM
Please bring your own hydration system of 2 or 3 liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle to refill along the way.
Physical rating
This trip involves hiking from 5 to 7.5 miles (8 to 12 km) per day with a total trip distance of 18 miles (29 km). The maximum daily elevation gain/loss is 2100 feet (640 m). Please check the trip itinerary for more details.
This trip includes mostly moderate hiking distances and elevation gains/losses with some heights exposure where drop-offs are 2-3 feet (0.6-1 m) from the trail.
You can expect to hike uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) backpack for 6-8 hours while maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain. The terrain on the Narrows hike is rugged and over slippery rocks. Special water hiking shoes and a walking stick will be provided for this hike.
You’re in for a walking trip and a good level of fitness is essential. Please read through the trip notes carefully to ensure that this trip is the right trip for you.
If you’re already a regular exerciser, it might be an idea to up your game a little. Run those extra laps, or take few longer walks, ideally with a day pack on your back. If you’re not exercising so regularly (2-3 times a week), it’s important to start in the weeks leading up to your departure (4-6 weeks prior at least). Your best choice would be to start walking regularly 2-3 times a week including at least one longer walk (up to 15 km). It’s important to not only walk on flat surface, so if you cannot access a hilly terrain easily, walking up and down the stairs is a good replacement. Top that up with some general fitness exercises and any other cardio related classes and you will see a huge progress in your fitness levels.
Joining your group
Best Western Coral Hills, 125 E Saint George Boulevard, St George, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Finishing your trip
Best Western Coral Hills, 125 E Saint George Boulevard, St George, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Alternate Finish Point
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 3
Lunches included: 3
Dinners included: 2
On a basecamp trip, you’ll tuck into tasty, flavour-packed meals to fuel your outdoor adventures. Along with foods that are ideal for camping like pastas, lentils, packaged meats, breads, and granola, you’ll also be offered snacks like trail mix and dried fruits. Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, non-gluten diets, and food allergies can usually be accommodated at the same cost or for an additional fee. All meals on your trip are included and prepared by your experienced outdoor guide.
Climate & seasonal information
Southern Utah is a high desert where the weather can vary significantly based on elevation and season. The ideal time to be in the Canyon Country is Spring and Fall.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
POLICE AND AMBULANCE
In case of an emergency, local authorities can be contacted by calling 911 – this is the toll free phone number for the police, fire department and the ambulance in the USA and Canada. In case of doubt, call the operator on 0.
Intrepid's Local Operator: You may hear music or silence instead of a ring: – please continue to wait on the line until your call is answered : +1 928 224 0699
Accommodations
You’ll stay in a campground with convenient access to exceptional hiking opportunities. These may be national park, state park, or private campgrounds and can vary by trip date, depending on availability and seasonality. You’ll find everything for a comfortable camping holiday here, from cold and hot drinks to campfires (where permitted), camp chairs, showers, fresh food, roomy tents, sleeping bags, camp pillows, and more. Bring your sense of adventure and let us take care of the rest.
Transportation
AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.