The fact that Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch used the canyons of southern Utah as their hideouts tells you a lot about the remoteness of this area. You’ll get to follow in their footsteps (literally, please, not metaphorically), escape the usual crowds of the state’s national parks, and revel in Canyon Country’s gems. The 5-day hiking tour takes you through some surreal slot canyons, slickrock domes, and otherworldly structures carved by wind and water—with an occasional scramble, wading, and possibly spotting free-roaming bison herds! At the end of the day, spend your night stargazing and relaxing in a luxury cabin. Gather your own Wild Bunch and experience an unforgettable adventure in the unreal landscapes of southern Utah!
If you’re looking to dodge the crowds that usually occupy Utah’s spectacular national parks, this is the tour. This 5-day hiking tour in Canyon Country takes you through the remote wilderness of southern Utah, letting you explore and uncover surreal landscapes and rock formations. An expert guide is by your side to tell you about the historic significance of this place, all the while hiking through dreamlike structures and marveling at sweeping panoramas. All meals are included, as well as all transportation, and every night you’ll retreat back to your cozy, luxury cabins for a good night’s rest.
Meet your guide and your team in Hanksville, UT. From there, they’ll take you to one of North America’s undiscovered gems in the heart of the Colorado Plateau—the Dirty Devil River winding over 90 miles through a maze of red rock canyons. Over the millennia, this desert stream has carved a wilderness paradise of undulating slickrock. Retrace the steps of previous inhabitants (including the Fremont Native Americans as well as Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch) on your 6.5-mile hiking route over sweeping slickrock waves and domes. Enjoy a delicious lunch while relishing the remoteness and solitude of Robbers Roost—the infamous hideout of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. You’ll even have the chance to scramble up a slot canyon today! Continue hiking along the banks of the Dirty Devil River before making your ascent along the route used by outlaws to evade the law on their way into Robbers Roost.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Hiking: 6.5 miles / 10.5 km
Accommodation: Luxury cabins
Today you’ll explore far off the grid into Robbers Roost country—one of the most spectacular and remote wilderness areas in the United States. Today’s 6-mile hike brings you to the warm glow of a slot canyon in the newly designated Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness area. This part requires a small amount of scrambling, but don’t let that intimidate you on this family-friendly adventure! Once you return from the canyon, enjoy panoramic views of this seemingly endless playground of remote mountain ranges and hidden canyons. From here, drive to a nearby 2.9-mile hike that leads you through a rare series of arches and views of the Canyonlands region. After a full day of explorations, enjoy dinner along the banks of the Green River.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 9 miles / 14.5 km
Accommodation: Luxury cabins
Head to the Henry Mountains, previously known as the Unknown Mountains as it was the last mountain range to be mapped in the lower 48 United States. On your way to the summit of the tallest peak, Mt. Ellen, stop to explore signs of prehistoric residents, relics of a once-booming gold town, and if you’re lucky, one of the few free roaming bison herds in the country. This hike to 11,522-foot summit leads to grand views across the Colorado plateau and a great vantage point for your canyon explorations.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 5.6 miles / 9.7 km
Accommodation: Luxury cabins
On your fourth day, you’ll explore one of the scenic slot canyons which have been formed by the tributaries that ultimately feed into Lake Powell. Follow the twists and turns carved by water and wind, and admire the beauty and wonder of nature’s artwork. This hike contains the possibility of shallow wading, only adding to the adventure! Trek across slickrock domes while enjoying expansive views of the landscape on your return. Marvel at the everchanging sunset colors on water. Return to your accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 6 miles / 9 km
Accommodation: Luxury cabins
Your last day’s journey begins with a short scramble through a wild and serene slot canyon. Hike along towering canyon walls decorated with multi-hued desert varnish and one of the most spectacular barrier-style pictograph panels in Southern Utah. Towards the head of the canyon, you will encounter a variety of dramatic potholes, natural bridges, and hanging gardens. At the top of the canyon, reach the high point with magnificent panoramic views of Robbers Roost, Canyonlands, Bears Ears, and the Henry Mountains. From there, begin your descent with a stop at an awe-inspiring natural arch and alcove once used by ancestral Puebloans.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 2.5 miles / 4 km
As you have a full day of hiking on Day 1 of the tour, please make sure to arrive a day prior to the adventure. If you need any help with accommodation, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Itinerary is subject to change at the guide’s discretion to ensure safety of the group and to comply with local regulations.
Amazing time! Super beautiful and unique experience. Austin our guide was awesome. Very knowledgeable. Trusting and kind. 2 families with older kids/teens. Private experience, that we all really enjoyed. Looking forward to trying it again!
Expertise and friendliness of guides, Melissa and Christopher. Well versed in history, culture, geology, and botany.
Such an amazing adventure with kind and thoughtful guides! Austin and Tyler could not have done a better job making sure my adventure was wonderful and safe.
What you get on this adventure:
Dietary needs or restrictions (including vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free diets) can be accommodated, provided that you let us know at least six weeks in advance.
What’s not included:
While this Canyon Country tour is beginner-friendly, you still need to have good fitness levels. Depending on the day, you’ll hike up to 9 miles (14 km) with up to 1,200 ft (365 ft) of elevation gain per day. You can expect flat, rolling, and mountainous terrain with some steep ascents and descents, as well as uneven trails. We recommend that you prepare for the trip with conditioning hikes of 4-6 miles (6.5-10 km) over varied terrain while carrying a 5-10 lb (2-5 kg) backpack if you do not already have a consistent hiking routine.
Keep in mind that this is a family-friendly tour, so as long as you’re all ready for these miles and elevation gains, don’t hesitate to join the trip!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Canyon Country tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Hanksville in Utah, the starting point of your Canyon Country tour, most people fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Once there, rent a car and drive to Hanksville, it’s less than 4 hours away. Another option is the Grand Junction Airport (GJT), which is a 2-hour drive away from Hanksville—though the flight schedule is more limited.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet in Hanksville, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A non-refundable $500 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
If a Client cancels the Booking…
It is possible to transfer from one trip to another, or one date to another with Get In The Wild guiding company. If a Client wishes to do so…
Amazing time! Super beautiful and unique experience. Austin our guide was awesome. Very knowledgeable. Trusting and kind. 2 families with older kids/teens. Private experience, that we all really enjoyed. Looking forward to trying it again!