Overview

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Join us for a week long spring break road trip in Southern Utah! This experience will start with a flight to Salt Lake City, UT, which is where we will officially kick off our adventure and finish outfitting our trip. After a night in Salt Lake City, we will travel down to Southern Utah and visit the endless red cliffs of Capitol Reef National Park. From here we will continue to drive south on the very scenic Highway 12 from Torrey, over a high mountain pass filled with aspens and pines, and finally, dip down into the labyrinth of sandstone canyons, cliffs and domes that make up Escalante National Monument. We will camp, hike and explore the Escalante area for the next two days before making our way westward towards Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Two of the most iconic national parks in the world, Bryce and Zion feature towering hoodoos, scenic views in all directions, waterfalls, slot canyons and an improbable amount of biodiversity not expected to be found in such an arid climate. One could spend a lifetime exploring this region of Southern Utah. After three nights of camping and lodging in this area, we will make our way back to Salt Lake City for one final night before we fly back to the East Coast.

 

Spring is a special time in the high elevation desert of Southern Utah. In the lower elevations the shrubs, cacti, grasses, cottonwood and juniper trees are blooming, while up higher over some of the mountain passes and near Bryce Canyon, the red rock may still be covered with snow. Temperatures can range greatly during this time of the year between 30F and 75F, with relatively low precipitation and humidity. Due to this area’s geography and lack of major population centers, Southern Utah is also considered one of the greatest places in the world to view the night sky. This trip will include 4 nights of tented camping, 3 nights of lodging in hotels or cabins, lots of hiking and exploration, and a 700 mile road trip through the heart of Southern Utah. Participants should prepare to come ready for adventure and the nourishment that tends to come from spending time in this open, wild desert country.

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Location

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Southern Utah

• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 

• Bryce Canyon National Park

• Zion National Park

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*GoogleMap links shared

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Schedule

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Day 0, Fri 03/06/2020:

• Final pre-trip meeting and dinner at Bucknell University

 

Day 1, Sat 03/07/2020:

• Early morning bus ride from Bucknell University to JFK International Airport

• Fly from JFK Int’l to SLC Int’l

• Arrive in Salt Lake City, UT early afternoon, pick up vehicles and drive to the University of Utah (UofU). Check into hotel and pick up camping equipment from the UofU Outdoor Adventures.

• Overnight at hotel in Salt Lake City

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Day 2, Sun 03/08/2020:

• Early morning wake up. Breakfast and check out of hotel

• Drive to Capitol Reef National Park, visit park, lunch

• Drive to Escalante Nat’l Monument

• Overnight and dinner in campground near Escalante Nat’l Monument

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Day 3, Mon 03/09/2020:

• Wake up, breakfast, pack lunch, prep for hike

• Full day hike (approx. 8-12 miles) in Escalante Nat’l Monument

• Hang out at camp, dinner, relax

 

Day 4, Tue 03/10/2020:

• Wake up, breakfast, pack lunch, break down/pack up camp

• Short (approx. 1-3 miles) hike/site seeing in Escalante Nat’l Monument

• Drive to Bryce Canyon Nat’l Park

• Overnight at lodging site near Bryce Canyon Nat’l Park

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Day 5, Wed 03/11/2020:

• Wake up, breakfast, pack lunch, check out of lodging site

• Half day (approx. 3-6 miles) hike/site seeing in Bryce Canyon Nat’l Park

• Drive to Zion Nat’l Park

• Overnight in campground near Zion Nat’l Park

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Day 6, Thu 03/12/2020:

• Wake up, breakfast, pack lunch, prep for hike

• Full or half day hike (approx. 4-12 miles depending on interest) in Zion Nat’l Park

• Hang out at camp, dinner, relax

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Day 7, Fri 03/13/2020:

• Wake up, breakfast, pack lunch, break down/pack up camp

• Drive from Zion Nat’l Park to Salt Lake City

• Return gear to UofU Outdoor Adventures, clean up

• Check into hotel in Salt Lake City

• Final evening dinner in Salt Lake City

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Day 8, Sat 3/14/2020:

• Wake up, breakfast, check out of hotel

• Drive to SLC Int’l Airport, check in for flights

• Fly SLC Int’l to JFK Int’l

• Bus pickup at JFK Int’l and return to Bucknell University

• Arrive at Bucknell University, return gear, dinner provided

• End of trip!

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Inclusions

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• Transportation to/from Bucknell University and JFK International Airport

• Roundtrip airfare from JFK Int’l and SLC Int’l with 1 50lb checked bag

• All vehicle transportation while in Utah

• 7 nights of lodging

  • 2 nights of lodging in Salt Lake City, UT

  • 1 night of lodging near Bryce Canyon

  • 4 nights of campgrounds in Escalante and Zion

• 3 main meals and snacks per day during main trip, excluding airport travel

  • 7 breakfasts

  • 7 lunches

  • 7 dinners

• Pre-trip (Friday, 3/6) dinner and end of trip (Saturday, 3/15) dinner at Bucknell

• All group camping gear (e.g. tents, sleeping bags, food storage & cookware, etc.)

• National Park fees & permit expenses

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Exclusions

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• Excess baggage charges and airport taxes

• Personal gear & items

• Alcoholic beverages

• Meals during travel between Bucknell University and Salt Lake City, UT

• Any food purchased separately from group meals (e.g. gas station snacks, additional meals beyond pre-planned group meals, ice cream, etc.)

• Any souvenirs, shopping, or optional, non-predetermined experiences (e.g. entrance to a tour, etc.)

• Trip cancellation insurance

• Additional travel insurance

• Medical and/or evacuation insurance

• All expenses incurred in the event of early or late departure (evac fees, transport, extra hotel nights, etc.)