Summary
Utah Trekking Canyonlands - 4x4 access Maze
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Prices From
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USD$ $943.00
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1st Departure
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01.01.0001
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Provider
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Tag-a-long Expeditions
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Destination
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Moab
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Duration
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4 days
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Challenge
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Easy
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Avg Rating
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Not Rated
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A trek into the Maze leads to the very heart of the pristine wilderness for which Canyonlands National Park is so well known. On this trip you are the adventurer, walking in the footsteps of the ancient Anasazi or in the boots of Butch Cassidy. Distant 4 wheel drive trails beget one of the least visited parks in the United States. Enter and feel blessed by your ability to experience it for yourself. The adventure will include visits to some of the world’s finest, undisturbed rock art panels left by ancient American Indian cultures. The Great Gallery rock art panel, famous for its "Holy Ghost" image and other points of interests - the advantages of an outfitter 4x4 expedition - are on the agenda. From the Doll House visit another world-famous archeological site, the Harvest Scene. Ponder the mystery of their disappearance as your guide helps you unravel their story. Hikers in the labyrinth of canyons leave feeling strong and confident and maybe a little unwilling to return to civilization. While the hikes are designed for people in relatively good condition, there are no technical climbs or skills required.
Itinerary
Day 1
This itinerary may vary due to conditions of the 4 wheel drive roads and campsite availability.
Day 1
Your 4x4 tour begins in Moab at Tag-A-Long’s office at 7:00 a.m. with your friendly, competent guide, board a 4wd vehicle and travel across the high desert to Green River, Utah, to the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead. Today is one of the highlights of the trek: a hike deep into the canyon to see The Great Gallery, the mysterious, world renown rock art panel left by ancient American Indian cultures in the Southwest near Moab. The guide will explain the difference between petroglyphs and pictographs and will discuss various rock art styles including the ghostly Barrier Canyon style, displayed at the Great Gallery. There is time to sit quietly with the powerful images that tower above you. The hike to the panel descends about 600 feet. Bring a day pack for lunch and water. Upon return to the rim, we will drive over trails to our first camp nestled in the pinion and juniper trees. The campsite overlooks the true cowboy country in the Maze. Twisting, colorful canyons stretch for miles into the horizon. As evening approaches, your guide turns into a chef as he or she prepares a delicious dinner following the traditional cowboy style using a set of cast iron Dutch ovens. When night falls, the number of stars in the sky is awesome, tempting one to sleep outside of the tent instead of in it!
Day 2
After breakfast we’ll hit Utah 4 wheel drive roads of Canyonlands for the Doll House. The route takes us over the perilous Flint Trail switchbacks to the Golden Staircase. While your guide drives around it, we recommend you take the delightful, three mile hike over the Golden Staircase Trail. You are meet at the bottom. Only a limited number of people can visit this pristine area overnight. Plan to spend this day in the solitude of an uninhabited land while walking with others who value it as much as you do. At the Doll House, enjoy wonderful privacy in our enchanting campsite where you can wander away to nearby overlooks. We settle here for two nights. More great food fills us happy and satisfied before you fall asleep among the silent rocks.
Day 3
Eat that hearty breakfast this morning because we’re off to explore the trails near the Doll House. From Standing Rock to the Harvest Scene, we’ll wind our way through a maze of canyons. The Harvest Scene – viewed only by the privileged few - represents another famous Barrier Canyon style rock art panel showing human figures harvesting crops. As we continue through the canyons, be prepared to be mesmerized by the geologic formations. Stone columns, balanced rocks and the Chocolate Drops will have you using all the film in your camera, so bring plenty. This is a full day of hiking, and while it is long (8 Miles), it is not a strenuous or difficult hike. There are heights 800 ft. Your day pack will come in handy again, but at dinner time, kick back and let your guides do the cooking while you rest around the campfire. Later, listen for the yowl of coyotes!
Day 4
After a last breakfast in the wilderness, you take one more hike on the Old Spanish Trail to Spanish Bottom to meet your ride back to Moab. Your 4-wheeling ends today. By the time we hit the banks of the Colorado River, you’ll be ready to eat lunch while you await the arrival of a Tag-A-Long jet boat, the Colorado Explorer. While you settle into comfortable seats, your boat driver brings you up the 53-mile canyon of the Colorado River to Moab. On both sides of the river, colorful red rock canyon walls tower as much as 2,000 feet above. The interplay of canyon colors, the deep blue of the sky above, and the speedy ride on the Colorado River provide a wonderful impression never to be forgotten. Arrive in Moab by 6:00 p.m.
You may want to consider extending your wilderness trip and get wet in the whitewater rapids of Cataract Canyon. You have the option to meet rafts instead of a jet boat at Spanish Bottom and head downriver into the whitewater, spend an additional night on the Colorado River before ending up on Lake Powell. This option must be pre-arranged. It is our MC4.
Gear List
Travel Information