Boulder Rim Llama Trek
St. George, UT
5.0 (2 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Remote Wilderness
- Canyon Country Views
- Amazing Highline Trail
- Stunningly Vivid Night Skies
- Pristine Lakes, Meadows & Forests
- Opportunities to See Wildlife
- Cooler Summer Temps
Description
This Utah llama trek heads up into the mountains that tower above Capitol Reef National Park and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. An amazing summer alternative to the hotter, drier canyon country of the lower elevations, this trip is a fantastic mountain excursion into pine-forested peaks, trout lakes, meadows, wildflowers and wildlife. We follow old cattle trails into the mountains where we earn breathtaking views of the Henry Mountains, Capitol Reef and the Grand Staircase. We will set up camp not far from the shore of a pristine lake and spend 1 or 2 days exploring these remote and beautiful mountains. The highlight of the trip is a traverse of the “highline” section of the Boulder Rim, which takes us across basalt outcroppings for an unforgettable high country experience!
Please note that this trip takes place in Dixie National Forest outside the boundaries of Capitol Reef National Park. It provides amazing views down into Capitol Reef, but does not take place inside the national park.
Operated by Wildland Llamas
This trip is operated by Wildland Llamas, an authorized guide company and llama outfitter in the Dixie National Forest. Wildland Llamas is a separate, partner company of Wildland Trekking with partially shared ownership, guide teams, and infrastructure.
$1935 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 10 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 5-7 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 1800 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 1800 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Rugged on- and off-trail hiking
- Additional:
- This trip follows seldom used trails in the mountains above Capitol Reef National Park. We literally brought these trails back to life after decades of non-use. Be prepared for rugged hiking on faint trails with some off-trail hiking.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- regularly exercise vigorously
- be comfortable hiking, biking, running, or swimming for several hours without many breaks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 5
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Utah hike a solitude 5. You can expect to see a couple other groups of hikers over the duration of your trip.
ST. GEORGE, UT TRAVEL
This Utah trip originates in St. George, Utah where you’ll meet your guide and group during our pre-trip meeting the night before your trip starts.
Alternatively, you may choose to forfeit the pre-trip meeting and meet us in the town of Escalante, UT on the first morning of our trip. This can be more convenient if you are traveling overland from points North or East, but not recommended if you are a novice backpacker.
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) to St. George. This is often your cheapest option. It is a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas to St. George on good roads.
UTAH SALES TAX
Utah is the only state we are based in that charges sales tax to outfitters and guides. The sales tax is based on the St. George, UT municipality rates, which are adjusted occasionally but are in the 6-7% range. For all of our hiking and backpacking tours that originate from our St. George, Utah base (Utah trips and Death Valley trips), the sales tax will be applied automatically to your payments. Feel free to call us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to Capitol Reef: 3.75 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Loss: 1560 feet
On this unique Utah hiking adventure, we pick you up at your hotel in St. George and head off for the trailhead. The drive is beautiful through iconic Utah Canyon Country. We will load up the llamas and make sure everyone’s ready to go, then begin our first day’s hike. We start off on an old cattle trail, which takes us to the top of “the Rim” where we get to soak up views of Capitol Reef National Park, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the Henry Mountains. From this vantage we can appreciate a staggering diversity of scenery from the spruce and fir forests of the mountains around us to the rocky, high desert landscapes below. We’ll set up camp near the shores of a pristine lake and settle in for a relaxing evening, roaring campfire and feast of a dinner!
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 895 feet
- Elevation Loss: 895 feet
Today we’ll enjoy a relaxing morning and hearty breakfast with plenty of hot coffee and tea for the morning junkies. If you’d like to get up early and catch the sunrise though, this a fantastic place to do it! After breakfast we’ll leave camp set up and set out to explore the natural odyssey that surrounds us. Today’s hike is a relatively relaxing one that takes us through forests and meadows to lakes and views. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch near one of the lakes, and for the fisherman in the group there will be time to wet a line. Eventually we’ll head back to camp and enjoy another amazing evening around the campfire.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
- Elevation Loss: 1800 feet
Today is the highlight of the trip for many guests and is a day to remember! After breakfast we will break camp and begin hiking, making our way to the “highline” section of the Boulder Rim. The Highline is an extended length of trail following a basalt fault line around 10,000 feet elevation with phenomenal views. We will keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, particularly in the morning when we leave camp. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch up high, while your guide points out all there is to see from our vantage point. In the afternoon we descend to another pristine mountain lake and set up camp in the trees not far from the shores of the lake, at the edge of a lush meadow. We’ll settle in for our last night around the campfire and a final celebratory backcountry dinner.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Loss: 2200 feet
- Shuttle to St. George: 4 hours
We’ll get a brisk start this morning and enjoy some hot coffee and/or tea with breakfast before breaking camp and beginning our descent. Our trail out completes our loop hike on extremely seldom used trails. In fact, our trail was abandoned for years and we carved it out of the wilderness one season, bringing this ancient path back to life. We’ll take our time hiking out so we can soak up the magic of of being on Boulder Mountain and the fresh air of 10,000 feet. Eventually we’ll make our way back to the trailhead and begin our journey back to St. George where we’ll say our goodbyes and start planning our next adventure!
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary park restrictions, campsite availability, weather, road closures, guest ability/injury, and natural events like fires and flooding.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Pack llamas to transport the majority of gear and food
- One or more professional, knowledgeable, certified Utah hiking guides / llama handlers
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in St. George, UT to the trailhead and back
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and your kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Waterbottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-15% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs or Mountain Hardware tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Mountain Safety Research cooking stoves
- Mountain Safety Research cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear to Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter waterbottles per person, either a headlamp or flashlight per person, and a lightweight waterproof stuff sac for your clothes and belongings. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
NOTE: See the Packing Lists page for more detailed information on what clothes and gear to bring on your hiking tour. The trip packet you receive when you contact us will have the most accurate clothing and gear list for the tour you’re interested in.
Trip Logistics
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, and we are more than happy to pick you up if the meeting if you are staying at one of our recommended hotels but the orientation is taking place elsewhere. 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.
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 Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional Wyoming hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, training in llama-handling, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Group Size
The standard ratio of guests to guides on llama trips is 1 guide for 1-4 guests; 2 guides for 5-8 guests; and 3 guides for 9-10 guests. Private trips can have can have up to 12 guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Weather in The Utah Mountains
Weather in Utah’s Mountains
This trip takes place in the mountains of Utah, which have very different weather than the desert and high desert areas. These mountains’ climate is more similar to that of the Rockies. You can expect warm days, chilly evenings, possible afternoon thundersorms and the potential for sudden weather shifts and dramatic temperature swings. The average highs and lows for this area are below:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | |||
|
Month
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
June
|
65°
|
35°
|
|
|
July
|
72°
|
43°
|
|
|
August
|
70°
|
42°
|
|
|
September
|
61°
|
34°
|
|
|
October
|
48°
|
24°
|
|
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on llama treks 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 trekking 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
Of course campsites vary tremendously 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 llama trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
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Blake G.
would do it again!
I Can't say enough good things about the two guides. They seemed to work together very well. Excellent backcountry knowledge re Flora and fauna. I would do it again!
Jeffrey L.
The hiking was spectacular
The hiking was spectacular and our guides were top-flight - attentive, super-competent, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to be with.
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