Capitol Reef Backpacking
St. George, UT
4.7 (7 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Remote Wilderness
- Sandstone Cliffs
- Surreal Rock Formations
- The Clearest Night Sky You've Ever Seen
- Stunning Slot Canyon & Narrows Hiking
- A Rare Double Arch
- Desert Solitude
Description
Scientists have determined that sixty-five million years ago, the same compacting forces that created the Rocky Mountains formed a fold in the earth under southern Utah. Less than a century ago, that tangle of crevices, canyons and chasms became the last-mapped landscape in the lower 48. This is country that hid Mormon moonshiners, polygamist safe houses and Butch Cassidy. It held the last horsepacking town in America. And even today it feels a step from the edge of the earth.
Our Capitol Reef backpacking trip begins with a descent into Lower Muley Twist canyon. After our canyon experience, we will visit the iconographic but seldom-seen Hamburger Rocks, skirting the Waterpocket Fold to the south. We will then visit one of the only double arches in the world before traversing to the southern edge of the Park for a unique hike through a slot canyon similar to the famous Zion Narrows (but with virtually no visitors other than ourselves. Our challenging Capitol Reef Backpacking concludes at one of the most scenic byways in America before making the journey back to St. George.
$1635 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:
- 35-45 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 4-10 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 800 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 700 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Unmaintained and rugged in places
- Additional:
- This trip follows trails, off-trail terrain, and canyon narrows. Be prepared for a variety of terrain, some rugged.
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.
Learn More about our Rating SystemThis 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 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 Capitol Reef 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 Trips- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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