Boulder Mountain Backpacking Adventure
Guided Backpacking Trips
6 Days, 5 Nights 27MI / 43KM
Trip Highlights
On its journey from Canada to Mexico, the Great Western Trail slices through a scenic, quiet mountain range towering above Capitol Reef National Park and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Our Boulder Mountain Backpacking Adventure provides guests with a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere else – a mountain backpacking trip (great in summer!) that provides breathtaking views down into Utah’s famous Canyon Country. We’ll earn bird’s eye views of Capitol Reef, the Grand Staircase-Escalante Region, the Henry Mountains, and the Water Pocket Fold, a unique geologic feature.
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Hike the Great Western Trail
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Subalpine Meadows & Wildflowers
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Waterfalls & Mountain Lakes
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Great Summer Temps
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Views of Utah Canyon Country
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Unique Natural & Cultural History
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Wonderful Solitude
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
6 Days, 5 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-7 mi -
Group Size
4-10 Guests
Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:
- 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 moderate distances and elevation gains, but rugged hiking on terrain that is or feels off trail. It is a steep 2,500 ft climb to reach the Boulder Rim, which is split on the first two days. The majority of this trip is spent above 10,000 feet, which also increases difficulty.
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
Drive Time: 3.5 hours
This guided Utah backpacking trip begins with pickup at your hotel in St.George, UT. We’ll enjoy a scenic drive through stunning Utah Canyon Country to the edge of Capitol Reef National Park. We’ll conduct an orientation meeting and enjoy dinner together, after which we’ll get settled in our tent accommodations a stone’s throw away from the canyon country of Capitol Reef. You can also book a room at the resort if you’d prefer (upgrade to a room not included.)
Day 2
Shuttle time to Trailhead: 15-20 minutes
Hiking Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2200 feet
Our hike today begins as we ascend through Doug Fir and Aspen forests for 2 miles to a series of beautiful meadows. After the meadows, the route becomes rocky and climbs more steeply through mixed forests and up to a ridge line. Gradually the sound of a nearby mountain creek becomes louder and our views more expansive. The Boulder Rim towers above us at this point, and we can see the following day’s route, which helps orient us to the immensity and grandeur of the terrain. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and some relaxation in this area before continuing on.
Soon after lunch the trail descends from the ridge line, we cross a rushing mountain creek and soon after come to our junction with the Great Western Trail (GWT). The GWT winds us through dense forests to a meadow and stream, and then a shallow lake. We will make camp tonight in a secluded forest near the lake, with views of the Boulder Rim above us and the purring sound of the creek tumbling away below us.
Day 4
Hiking Distance: 7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet
Elevation Loss: 1200 feet
Our fourth day will include a visit to a mountain lake along our hike and historic overlooks that allow us incredible views of the Henry Mountains and the southern extent of the Water Pocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park. The Boulder Rim is surrounded by gorgeous, young Aspen forests, a feature that becomes a central highlight with the autumn colors if you’re doing a later season trip. Day 4 also offers views of a cascade from the Rim cliffs, after which we will arrive at our camp below a lake and above a small waterfall.
Day 5
Hiking Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Elevation Loss: 600 feet
Today we move camp again, so we’ll get a brisk start and fuel up before hitting the trail. Our hike takes us off trail deeper into the heart of Boulder Mountain and over Boulder Peak to a series of lakes along the Rim. There is also an airplane wreckage visible from one point on today’s trek. Getting away from roads and development is one level of solitude; getting away from trails is another experience all together. We’ll soak up the natural beauty, solitude and wildness of our surroundings today while we crest the peak and descend to camp on the other side on the shores of a small lake.
Day 6
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Elevation Loss: 500 feet
Today is another relaxing one to soak up our surroundings and recuperate from our days of hiking. We’ll enjoy a big breakfast before heading off on a wonderful day hike. We leave camp set up and hike to two scenic lakes: Spectacle Lake and Rim Lake, passing many other small lakes along the way. Another day of solitude, hiking and natural beauty is capped off with our final backcountry dinner and a roaring campfire if permitted.
Day 7
Hiking Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Loss: 1900 feet
Shuttle to St. George: 4 hours
Our trip ends with a descent off Boulder Mountain, down to the valley where Utah’s signature Canyon Country mixes with grass pastures and big open skies. Our hike drops us almost 2,000 feet through multiple changes in the species of trees and plants that surround us. We’ll reach our finishing trailhead and enjoy a long, scenic, relaxing drive back to St. George for the conclusion of our adventure.
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, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from dinner 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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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation to the trailhead from St. George, UT
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All necessary entrance fees and permits
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite 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 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 on the morning of Day 1 with pick up at your hotel in St. George, UT. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip starts to coordinate the rendezvous. You can also meet your guide and group in Torrey, Utah the evening of Day 1 at 5:00 PM.
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
This trip originates in the morning on Day 1 in St. George, UT. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks prior to the trip start date to coordinate the rendezvous. 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
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