Canyons of The Escalante Llama Trek

• Drive time: 3.5 hours

This guided Utah llama 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.)

• Drive Time: 3 hours
• Hiking Distance: 7.4 miles
• Elevation Loss: 524 feet

After a quick but tasty breakfast, our adventure begins. We enter the rising walls of Wingate Sandstone that will grow progressively taller, in turn making the canyon floor narrower, as we make our way toward the Escalante River. Massive alcoves, boulders, rock formations and ecologically sensitive habitat above the flood zone pave the way for us. We have a long day of hiking today in what’s considered “off trail” trekking within the bottom of the canyon wash, but it’s all down hill. We’ll keep a steady but relaxed pace and make sure we soak up the magic of the breathtaking landscapes surrounding us as we hike. We conclude the day by establishing a base camp near the shores of the Escalante River, which we’ll use for the next three nights. We’ll cap off the day with our first delicious, backcountry dinner prepared by your guides.

• Hiking Distance: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 660 feet

Sunrise in Utah’s Canyon Country is a special experience as we watch the desert slowly come to life on our first morning. Today is our first layover day for exploring the majesty of the Escalante canyons. We may take the llamas with us on day hikes, depending on conditions and desires of the group. After breakfast we will cross the Escalante River and enter the sinuous, breathtaking world of a very special, historic side canyon. There is a perennial flow of spring-fed water in this canyon, which we will cross throughout the hike. Today is a wonderful canyon experience, as we are immersed in a very special desert riparian ecosystem enhanced by gorgeous walls of Navajo Sandstone, spectacular hanging gardens and a chance to see remnants of the earliest inhabitants of the area. Eventually we’ll return to camp for another rejuvenating backcountry evening.

• Hiking Distance: Up to 6 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal

Today we’ll set off along the gorgeous Escalante River to explore the river corridor and several side canyons. Flowing for nearly 90 miles, the river is a tributary to the Mighty Colorado and ends at Lake Powell. The section of the river we explore today is walled in by shear sandstone cliffs and lined with high benches populated by towering cottonwood trees and fields of desert sage. We will go as far as 6 miles roundtrip, soaking up the grandeur of our surroundings, watching for wildlife, exploring side canyons and enjoying a picnic lunch along the way.

Once back at camp, we’ll settle in for our final evening in the backcountry. Your guide(s) will prepare a delicious meal to celebrate our final night, and we’ll drift off to sleep with the sound of the river as our backdrop.

• Hiking Distance: 7.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 524 feet
• Drive Time: 3 hours

On the final day of this trek, we’ll pack up our llama friends for the last time and make our way to the trailhead. Although this is the same route we followed on Day 1, our experience of the hike will be quite different. We’re hiking in the opposite direction, which provides us with a completely different perspective of the canyon. Also, the last 3 days in Escalante have given us a much greater context with which to appreciate where we are, and how unique and special these canyons are, so in many ways we’re seeing it with fresh eyes.

Once back at the trailhead, we will unload the gear and say goodbye to our llama friends. Then we’ll enjoy a very scenic drive back to St. George, stopping for a restaurant meal (included) in the charming Canyon Country town of Escalante. In St. George we will say our final goodbyes and start dreaming about our next adventure. What a week it’s been!