Zion Basecamp Tour
St. George, UT
5.0 (7 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Zion Narrows
- Spectacular Zion Canyon
- Premier Camping
- Fresh-Cooked Meals
- Evening Campfires
- "Mini Zion" at Snow Canyon
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
Description
Our Zion Basecamp Tour is an opportunity to experience Utah’s most famous national park as a standalone canyon country experience or as an easy add-on to a longer trip. Our iconographic hikes will take you to the rim of Zion Canyon, through the cool waters of the Virgin River Narrows and through incredible, lesser-known red rock surroundings.
The environment we’ll explore throughout our three days sits on the border of an incredible physiographic region called the Colorado Plateau. This Utah hiking tour starts with pick you up at your hotel in St. George, Utah, where we will make the short drive for our first hike in red rock country though Snow Canyon. From there, we will continue to Zion National Park where we will camp for 2 nights.
$1335 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
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:
- 4-8 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 2000 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 2000 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Mix of maintained and unmaintained
- Additional:
- This trip requires significant elevation gain and loss on maintained and unmaintained trails. The Virgin River Narrows hike is on water-polished rocks and in the water. The Observation Point and Lamb’s Knoll days (2 and 3) require significant elevation gain and loss and, at times, significant heights exposure.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain taking occasional breaks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Utah basecamp tour a Level 2 for solitude. In Zion and Bryce we’ll be around other hikers much of the time. In the Grand Staircase-Escalante you can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
TRAVEL TO ST. GEORGE
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) 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
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4-5 People: Rate x 1.5
- 6-8 People: Rate x 1.25
- 9-12 People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to trailhead: 1.5-hour drive from St. George, Utah
- Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
On this Utah hiking adventure we start the first day with pick up in St George and shuttle to Snow Canyon State Park. Like a mini Zion, Snow Canyon (named after the man, not the precipitation) is in the same Navajo Sandstone layer as Zion, and cuts impressive walls from the lava-covered country above the rim through the slickrock country below. We will have a break for breakfast in the lower canyon, and continue along to the rim to start our hike from the bleached white rock cap through the red rocks and down to the base of the canyon. Along the way we’ll visit (and perhaps explore) young lava tubes and get a great introduction to canyon country. We’ll eat lunch on the trail. Our vehicle is shuttled to the bottom of the canyon; from there, it’s a 1 hr drive to Zion, while we’ll setup camp and cook dinner.
Please note: in the event of high water, the Virgin River Narrows hike will be rerouted to a different trail in Zion. The Park is full of unforgettable hiking and scenery, so it’s easy to find an excellent substitute. To learn how seasonal river flows can affect your hike of the Virgin River Narrows, please review this article.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Our second day’s hike is arguably the most iconographic in Zion — the Virgin River Narrows. Our hike starts with a stroll down the paved River Trail. Buttressed by water on our left and a 3,000-foot cliff face on the right, the River Trail gives us an up-close appreciation for the powerful hydrological forces that carved this incredible canyon.
After a mile of walking along hanging gardens and under the dappled shade of majestic cottonwoods, the sidewalk ends. Wearing seasonally appropriate water gear, we’ll enter the river. Hiking in moving water can be a new and exciting experience for many. We’ll take time to get our “stream legs” before walking another 1.5 miles upriver to our turnaround point at Orderville Canyon.
Before descending back downstream, we’ll be certain to get a few more photos of the Narrows’ majestic beauty and, of course, stop-off for a relaxing shoreline lunch before returning to the trailhead.
Please note: in the event of high water, the Virgin River Narrows hike will be rerouted to a different trail in Zion. The Park is full of unforgettable hiking and scenery, so it’s easy to find an excellent substitute. To learn how seasonal river flows can affect your hike of the Virgin River Narrows, please review this article.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 8-11 miles
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Shuttle to St. George
This final morning, we’ll eat breakfast, breakdown camp, and embark on an exciting exploration of Zion Canyon. Beginning our day’s hike near the Park Visitors Center, we’ll enjoy the start of the morning in relative solitude with a lesser-traveled hike through the lower canyon.
After a quick break, we’ll board the Zion shuttle bus and travel up-canyon to our next trailhead. Here, we’ll hike up to Scout Lookout where we’ll relish in stimulating views of the surrounding canyon system. From our vantage point above the canyon floor, we’ll traverse along the canyon walls on well maintained trails to the Emerald Pools complex where we’ll marvel at the majestic pools before descending to the lawn of the historic Zion Lodge for a late lunch and a quick respite.
Our bellies content and our spirits filled, we’ll head back to St. George, where we’ll say our goodbyes and start scheming about 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 access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes.
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
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Utah hiking guide
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in St. George, Utah
- National park entrance fees
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and 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
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% 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 outdoors – 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, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and 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 water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
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.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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 no later than 7 PM.
Safety Considerations
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. 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, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The standard group size on this hiking tour is 6 guests and 1 guide, with a maximum of 12 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions 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
Weather in Southern Utah
Weather in Southern Utah
Southern Utah is a high desert where the weather can vary significantly based on elevation and season. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). The ideal time to be in the Canyon Country is Spring and Fall.
Read below for sample average high and low temperatures in Zion National Park:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | |||
|
Month
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
January
|
54°
|
30°
|
|
|
February
|
59°
|
34°
|
|
|
March
|
66°
|
39°
|
|
|
April
|
75°
|
45°
|
|
|
May
|
86°
|
54°
|
|
|
June
|
95°
|
63°
|
|
|
July
|
100°
|
70°
|
|
|
August
|
99°
|
68°
|
|
|
September
|
91°
|
61°
|
|
|
October
|
79°
|
48°
|
|
|
November
|
64°
|
37°
|
|
|
December
|
54°
|
30°
|
|
Accommodations
Premier Campgrounds
2 NIGHTS
On our signature camping tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.
Fantastic Meals
8 MEALS
Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.
Comfortable Camping
CAMPING AMENITIES
What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, access to showers, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!
Trip Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Stephanie H.
Amazing Experience!
My second trip with Wildland did not disappoint. Jennie was very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area and provided interesting information during our hikes. Our meals on the trail and at camp were fantastic. Could not have asked for a better experience!
Shelley S
First Wildland Trip and It Was Perfect
We have been extremely pleased with our Wildland trip! We chose the 3 days Zion/Bryce base camp tour. This was our first. We feel so grateful we chose to do it this way. We were able to see more and do more due to it being planned out for us. I had no worries or stress about packing food/snacks/tents. It was so nice to have all that done for us! Jennie was so knowledgeable and a great leader. She made fantastic meals and way able to help us navigate a busy holiday weekend. Would totally recommend this trip, and will book again!
Melinda L.
Fun, Fantastic Experience!
I just went online and found Wildland Trekking...first of all, I have to say they went above and beyond to get us booked. There were 6 in my party and they were pretty booked up, but they managed to make a way for us to go to Zion for a 3 day 2 night basecamp trip. Our guide, Kelsi was AMAZING!!! I just had no idea what a difference she would make! She was so knowledgeable, so considerate, so attentive, so patient, and SO FUN!! We loved that we did not wait in a single line. Every meal Kelsi made was special and delicious! She carried our lunch on her back every day and then spread out her table cloth and whipped up a mouth watering, healthy meal!! SOOOO yummy! . She gave us lots of freedom too. My kids wanted to do angles landing which was not on the itinerary, and so WE DID ANGLES LANDING! It was awesome! I really can not say enough about Wildland Trekking. If all of their guides are like Kelsi, you will no go wrong!
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