Van Dirt Road

Southern Utah Scenic Tours Has a National Parks Tour for Everyone

By Brian Higgins
June 16, 2023

With five stunning national parks and an endless number of scenic destinations surrounding them, Utah is one of the most popular destinations in the country for folks who love the outdoors. And between road trippin’ retirement getaways, family vacations and bucket list BFF trips, there are a million ways to see the sights. But no matter what kind of trip you’re taking, Southern Utah Scenic Tours has a tour that’s right for you and your crew. 

Want to see the best that Utah’s parks have to offer in less than a week? You got it. Want to see all of that plus the world-famous national parks and natural areas in our neighboring states? No problemo. And if luxury is the name of the game for you, there’s a custom 11-day luxury national parks experience with your name on it. Each tour is different, but they all have the right things in common — amazing scenery and a first rate guide leading the way.

Because even though you can go it yourself, why should you? These tours are planned out by local experts every step of the way to ensure that you make the most of every moment. Your breath will be taken away so often, you’ll have to bring a dang oxygen mask. You’ll say “Wow!” so much, they’ll have to call you Owen Wilson. You’ll be so struck with amazement, you’ll be able to sue amazement for damages.

You get the point. The pros at Southern Utah Scenic Tours know what they’re doing, and if you want to turn your trip into the adventure of a lifetime, there’s no better way to do it than by handing them the reins. Just pick the tour that’s right for you and giddy-up! 

Utah Mighty Five Tour: The Most Bang For Your Buck 

Five parks in five days — talk about efficiency. This may be the shortest tour, but it’s filled with the best that each park has to offer. After all, the classics are the classics for a reason, and the condensed timeline just means a higher rate of CWPS (Childlike Wonder Per Second). 

Starting in Las Vegas and ending in Salt Lake City, the Mighty Five tour has become one of Southern Utah Scenic Tours’s most popular offerings in the past few years, probably because of the sheer amount of scenery packed in. Not only will you see all of Utah’s national parks — Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands — but you’ll also be treated to the views at lesser known destinations like Goblin Valley State Park, Dead Horse Point State Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Over the five days, you’ll get to experience the most iconic sites and picture-worthy vistas that each park has to offer. And with a blistering park-per-day pace, you’ll be able to appreciate the uniqueness of our state even more. The jaw-dropping scale of Zion one day, the mind-boggling geology of Bryce Canyon the next, followed by the quiet, otherworldly scenes at Goblin Valley. Since your brain has less time to process it all, it's the tour most likely to make you say “How is this place even real?”. It’s a phenomenon called Acute Utah Syndrome, and it’s best treated by visiting again as soon as possible.

The Adventure Mighty Five Tour: A Bit More to Explore

Looking to get out and stretch your legs a bit more? The adventure version of the Mighty Five tour adds an extra day and a whole lot of fun. In this tour, you’ll get to explore deeper the scenery around you by foot, horseback and Hummer (as nature intended). 

Southern Utah Scenic Tours describes this tour as a “soft adventure” tour, which requires more fitness than their standard Mighty Five tours. In addition to a few other excursions, there are three hikes throughout the six-day tour, each about five miles and with a moderate to strenuous rating. Guides will set a gentle pace, but even the most accommodating guide can’t change the terrain. The good news? Each of these hikes will be absolutely unforgettable, and are certainly worth some extra time on the StairMaster.

The adventure Utah national parks itinerary is pretty similar to the standard Mighty Five package. The main difference is that you might miss out on a viewpoint or two in exchange for the chance to explore the park a bit more. Take Zion for example. You might not see the whole park like in the standard package, but as you hike through The Narrows, with your feet in the cold waters of the Virgin River and canyon walls dwarfing you on either side, you won’t really mind. 

Other adventures on the tour include an optional sunrise viewing and horseback ride at Bryce Canyon, a hike at Capitol Reef, a slot canyon excursion near Goblin Valley and a Hummer tour of Moab. Oh and in between all of that, you’re still on a tour of the most incredible national parks in the world. Not too shabby. 

The Grand Circle National Parks Tour: The Whole Southwest Shebang

Look, we’re the biggest Utah fans out there, but even we have to admit that our neighboring states have some exciting stuff going on. So even though the best parts of your 10-day tour of Utah, Arizona and Colorado will obviously be in Utah, your out of state excursions will be pretty dang breathtaking too.

Southern Utah Scenic Tours’ most popular tour, the Grand Circle Tour, not only includes all five of Utah’s national parks, but also the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake PowellMonument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon and Mesa Verde National Park. And you won’t just be staring out the window or stopping to snap some pics. This tour has some adventurous activities too, including a float down the Colorado River and an authentic steam train ride through the Rocky Mountains.

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing the sites of the Southwest to their fullest, this is the tour for you. Over these 10 incredible days, you’ll see America’s most unique region transform from vast desert to alpine forest right before your eyes. And before you know it, you’ll be back among towering red-rock spires. 

Along the way, you’ll see everything from iconic movie sites to the world’s most Instagramed slot canyon and one of the largest archaeological preserves in the world. You’ll be such an expert at sightseeing by the end of this tour, they’ll call you “The Fastest Eyes in the West.” 

Custom Luxury National Parks Tour: Scenery With Style

While all of these tours are incredible, Southern Utah Scenic Tours’ luxury national parks tour takes the cake — the Michelin-starred cake. This once-in-a-lifetime getaway is the ultimate experience for those wanting to see Utah’s incredible sights while enjoying the finest accommodations and amenities available. 

What makes this luxury tour package so unique? You do! Although the tour has a basic outline — Utah’s five national parks along with Grand Staircase-Escalante, Goblin Valley and Dead Horse Point — it can be customized to suit your every need. Your guide will work with you to plan out all the stops and side adventures beforehand, and will also be handy with suggestions throughout the entire trip. 

Some optional activities include seeing Zion by horseback or helicopter, fly fishing in Capitol Reef and off-roading and/or mountain biking in Moab. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Your guide is an encyclopedia of local knowledge, and they’ll be willing and able to arrange activities for you throughout your tour. 

You’ll be staying at exclusive three- and four-star hotels. These renowned resorts have all kinds of unique luxury offerings, including riverside rooms, private villas and bungalows, modern tree houses and rustic cabins. After a long day of exploring the unforgettable sights of southern Utah, there’s nothing more inviting than an ultra-soft bed or a steaming hot tub to rest your weary bones. And with incredible scenery of their own, these resorts keep the sightseeing going even after you’ve turned in for the night.

You might have guessed that the price of these luxury tours can be as steep as a Zion switchback, but if you’ve got the funds, there may not be a better trip out there to spend it on. Call or email to get an estimate and start building your luxury tour today.

No matter which tour you choose, you’ll be experiencing some of the most spectacular scenery in the country on the vacation of your dreams. And you’ll be doing it all with an expert guide to enhance the experience at every bend in the trail. Just like when someone asks you which of Utah’s national parks is your favorite, there’s no wrong answer. 

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