Golden Cathedral
Guided Backpacking Trips
4 Days, 3 Nights 10-16MI / 16-26KM
Trip Highlights
We’ll head into the heart of the Escalante Canyons, within the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, to an unforgettable view. From a remote trailhead we have a short, but steep, off trail descent down in to the canyons of the Escalante River. View scapes narrow as we descend in to the sinuous world of sandstone walls. We will establish a basecamp along the river, putting us in the perfect place to hike and explore the maze of canyons in search of beautiful views, fascinating geology and lush desert oases. Our main goal is the Golden Cathedral, a canyon phenomenon beyond the description of words. If you can stay longer to make this a 4 day tour, you will see other secrets of the area to make your time here even more memorable.
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Sinuous Canyons
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Amazing Golden Cathedral
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Lush Desert Oases
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Amazing Native American History
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Pristine, Majestic Camps
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Stunningly Clear Night Skies
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
4 Days, 3 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
3-4 mi -
Group Size
1-10 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip has low mileage days with a layover day and ample time to explore side canyons. It is between Level 2 and 3, tending slightly toward Level 2.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to Trailhead: 5.5 hours
Hiking Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Loss: 1100 feet
Day 2
Hiking Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: minimal
Elevation Loss: minimal
Day 3
Hiking Distance: 3-5 miles
Elevation Gain: minimal
Elevation Loss: minimal
Day 4
Hiking Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
Shuttle to St. George: 5.5 hours
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in St. George, Utah to the trailhead and back
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National park entrance fees
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
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. For Private Utah Tours your guide can meet you at your hotel in St. George or Cedar City, Utah at an agreed upon time.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to St. George, Utah
This Utah trip originates in St. George, Utah where you’ll meet your guide and group. St. George has a small airport served by Delta Connection and United Express. From the St. George Airport one can take a taxi into town or some hotels offer a complimentary airport shuttle. The more popular method of travel though is to fly into Las Vegas, NV and take a shuttle (www.stgshuttle.com or https://saltlakeexpress.com/destination/las-vegas-airport-nv/) to St. George. This is often your cheapest option. It is a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas to St. George on good roads.
Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in St. George, Utah as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 7 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Susan B
6 months ago10 out of 10 experience!
Amazing experience with friendly, supportive, expert guides who helped me do new things and see new things while feeling safe and well fed!10 out of 10 experience!
Susan L
6 months agoTrip was Amazing
The trip was amazing and our guides, Connor and Connie, really exceeded my expectations. They were friendly, helpful and very informative. It was really convenient to be able to use the Wildland equipment and the food provided during the trip was delicious.
Emily A
1 year agoIt was so worth it.
This was my first trip with Wildland and it won’t be my last! Casey and Sean were such great guides. They were full of knowledge not just of the area we were in but other places they have guided as well. I was a bit concerned about the heat for this trip but they both made sure to check in during the days to make sure I was staying hydrated and not getting too hot. The food was fantastic, gear borrowed was in great condition. Initially when booking I was hesitant with the price but it was so worth it.
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