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Utah

Off the Beaten Path: Backcountry Hiking in Southwestern Utah

Program No. 2322660MEADV-1116-60
Take on challenging hikes off the beaten path through the backcountry of Utah with a small group of fellow adventurers, learning about geological and human history of the region.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 13 - Apr 20, 2025
Starting at
2,049
Filling Fast!
Apr 27 - May 4, 2025
Starting at
2,049
Oct 5 - Oct 12, 2025
Starting at
2,049
Oct 19 - Oct 26, 2025
Starting at
2,049
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 13 - Apr 20, 2025
Starting at
2,449
Filling Fast!
Apr 27 - May 4, 2025
Starting at
2,449
Oct 5 - Oct 12, 2025
Starting at
2,449
Oct 19 - Oct 26, 2025
Starting at
2,449
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!

At a Glance

Are you ready for a challenge? Rock scramble and hike your way along the red rock backcountry of southwest Utah for a scenic learning adventure with your expert group leaders. Hike little-known paths to learn about the geological history of the swirling patterned Navajo sandstone, slot canyons, hoodoos, lava tubes and petrified forests and sand dunes, and investigate the human history of the area at Anasazi Ridge.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Challenging
Strenuous hiking up to 12 miles daily with bouldering, rock scrambles, slick-rock climbs and elevation gains up to 2300 feet. Agility, balance and stamina required. Terrain includes deep sand, loose rocks, very steep inclines and declines and some small vertical cliff faces. Elevation up to 6500 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Enjoy challenging, small-group hikes off the beaten path with expert instruction from your group leaders about geological formations, flora, fauna and human history.
  • Hike Ancestral Puebloan sites to learn about petroglyphs dating back 4,000 years, and search for ancient pottery pieces along the Santa Clara River.
  • Hike Zion's West Rim trail and climb switchbacks with sheer drop-offs to Scout Lookout.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Sherry Breitenbach
Sherry Breitenbach moved to the St. George area in 2006 and quickly became a hiking enthusiast. Following her passion for the outdoors and exploring, she signed on as a hiking instructor for two local businesses. Sherry now shares her passion of this part of the country with Road Scholar programs through Dixie State University. Before moving to St. George, Sherry worked in the field of laboratory testing for 26 years, and managed a now-consolidated branch laboratory of 14 employees.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Sherry Breitenbach
Sherry Breitenbach View biography
Sherry Breitenbach moved to the St. George area in 2006 and quickly became a hiking enthusiast. Following her passion for the outdoors and exploring, she signed on as a hiking instructor for two local businesses. Sherry now shares her passion of this part of the country with Road Scholar programs through Dixie State University. Before moving to St. George, Sherry worked in the field of laboratory testing for 26 years, and managed a now-consolidated branch laboratory of 14 employees.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
8 days
Program Begins
St. George
Program Concludes
St. George
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
20 | 7B | 6L | 7D |
Activity Level
Are you ready for a challenge? Rock scramble and hike your way along the red rock backcountry of southwest Utah for a scenic learning adventure with your expert group leaders. Hike little-known paths to learn about the geological history of the swirling patterned Navajo sandstone, slot canyons, hoodoos, lava tubes and petrified forests and sand dunes, and investigate the human history of the area at Anasazi Ridge.)
Best of all, you'll...
  • Enjoy challenging, small-group hikes off the beaten path with expert instruction from your group leaders about geological formations, flora, fauna and human history.
  • Hike Ancestral Puebloan sites to learn about petroglyphs dating back 4,000 years, and search for ancient pottery pieces along the Santa Clara River.
  • Hike Zion's West Rim trail and climb switchbacks with sheer drop-offs to Scout Lookout.
Featured Expert
Profile Image
Sherry Breitenbach
Sherry Breitenbach moved to the St. George area in 2006 and quickly became a hiking enthusiast. Following her passion for the outdoors and exploring, she signed on as a hiking instructor for two local businesses. Sherry now shares her passion of this part of the country with Road Scholar programs through Dixie State University. Before moving to St. George, Sherry worked in the field of laboratory testing for 26 years, and managed a now-consolidated branch laboratory of 14 employees.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Activity Level
Outdoor: Challenging
Strenuous hiking up to 12 miles daily with bouldering, rock scrambles, slick-rock climbs and elevation gains up to 2300 feet. Agility, balance and stamina required. Terrain includes deep sand, loose rocks, very steep inclines and declines and some small vertical cliff faces. Elevation up to 6500 feet.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
20 meals | 7B | 6L | 7D |
2 expert-led lectures
12 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Transportation will be provided primarily by passenger vans unless otherwise specified. Hikes will be led by the Group Leader and our instructor. Durations of hikes vary depending on the group. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 12 miles one way, under 1/2 hour riding time. Hiking distance for the day is 6 miles, elevation gain/loss about 1,200 feet, elevation of hiking area approximately 3,800 feet. The trail includes a steep ascent and descent with loose rocks and a section of deep sand in the dry wash on our return. The trail to the lava tubes is easy to moderate due to loose cinders and lava rock.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In the hotel meeting room, our instructor will provide an overview of the local and regional geology. After a short break, we’ll depart via passenger vans for Padre Canyon to begin our hike in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Red Mountain Wilderness Area. The trail takes us over a saddle gaining 800 feet on a rocky trail then descends into a beautiful drainage of Snow Canyon State Park that is not visible from any other trails in the park. This route, which requires a good deal of boulder hopping, will take us into the heart of the transition area of Navajo sandstone as it changes from red at the lower end of the park to the white at the upper end. This transition area creates a random lacing pattern of white and red sandstone unique to Snow Canyon State Park and adds further dimension of beauty to this area. Hikers will find the trail challenging, beautiful, and awe-inspiring as it meanders through the drainage complete with fascinating differential erosion and towering 1,400-foot cliffs of Red Mountain beside you.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have box lunches.
Afternoon:
We will continue hiking through a hidden canyon via a large wash and head over to the heart of Snow Canyon State Park. We will walk on petrified sand dunes, observe massive cross-bedding in the sandstone, and see round balls of iron concretions both free and still eroding from the sandstone. Two of the three major lava flows are visible from this area. The most recent flow happened about 27,000 years ago. Time permitting, we will enter a lava tube, a natural conduit formed by lava that flowed beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. We will return by vans to Saint George for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 10 miles, under 1/2 hour riding time from St. George to Leeds; driving 10 miles, 1/2 hour riding time from Leeds to Yant Flats. Hiking distance for the day is 8 miles, about 5 hours in full sun. Elevation gain/loss about 1,000 feet, elevation of hiking area approximately 4,500 feet. This hike is a combination of deep sand on the trail crossing Yant Flats and undulating to steep areas of bare sandstone in the Candy Cliffs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll depart via passenger vans to Leeds, Utah for a short hike to look at how quickly a slot canyon can form in sandstone. We will look at a popular canyoneering destination called Yankee Doodle Hollow on our way to the hike for the day.
Lunch:
On the trail to the Candy Cliffs.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will continue our exploration of the Candy Cliffs. After a 1.3-mile trek across Yant flat, we will arrive at the access point to three bowls of multicolored, swirling patterned Navajo sandstone that includes many unique sedimentary features. We will have time to explore and enjoy about 4 miles of sandstone in three major bowls with incredible views of the surrounding area. We will return via passenger vans to Saint George for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 43 miles one way, under 1 hour riding time. Hiking distance for the day is 9-11 miles, elevation gain/loss about 1,800 feet, elevation of hiking area approximately 5,000 feet. Today's hike requires boulder hopping, rock scrambles, ledge obstacles, steep drop offs and assisted lifts.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll travel via passenger vans to Hildale, Utah on our way to the trailhead for Water Canyon. This is a narrow canyon with beautiful cascades, pools and slot-like passageways that follow fractures in the canyon wall. This is an amazing and seemingly impossible trail that ascends to the high country of the Canaan Mountain plateau. Some places require scrambling and use of your hands.
Lunch:
On the trail.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will continue our hiking exploration of the area around Canaan Mountain, which is a plateau of Navajo sandstone, heavily fractured and eroded, forming countless hoodoos, domes, pinnacles, and small ravines. From the top, we’ll have impressive views of the peaks of Zion National Park and spectacular panoramas of the valley 2,000 feet below. This can be an in-and-back hike or a loop hike up Water Canyon, across part of Canaan Mountain and down Squirrel Canyon. We will return via passenger vans to Saint George for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 20 miles each way, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Hiking distance for the day is 6 miles, elevation gain/loss about 900 feet, elevation of hiking area approximately 4,100 feet. Afternoon hikes include a steep climb up old roadbed; colorful wash and navigate minor obstacles. Second afternoon hike involves some deep sand and steep sandstone inclines and declines.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In the hotel meeting room, we’ll be treated to an informative presentation by an expert archeologist on the prehistoric civilization of Southwest Utah. After a short break, we’ll depart via passenger vans for Anasazi Ridge and hike to ancestral Puebloan sites that overlook the Santa Clara River and include ancient home sites as well as evidence of farming on the fertile floodplains of the river. We will explore on the rim and over the uplifted ridge for petroglyphs dating back it is thought over 4,000 years. We’ll then return by vans to Saint George for lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will once again head out via passenger vans to – and continue our hiking investigations of – a little-known site upstream on the Santa Clara River where pottery pieces are commonly seen as well as rock chippings from tool making. Our last stop will be near Snow Canyon State Park in the 62,000 acres of the Desert Tortoise Preserve. Here there are multiple petroglyph panels that require hiking between each among breathtaking scenery as we navigate from site to site. One site is a slot canyon thought to be a Native American spiritual place. Another is called Newspaper Rock, a state monument. We will return by vans to Saint George for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 40 miles one way, under 1 hour riding time. Hiking distance for the day is 6-7 miles, elevation gain/loss about 950 feet, elevation of hiking area approximately 6,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll depart via passenger vans for Kanarraville, Utah. We begin our hike on a wide trail with juniper and scrub oaks trees. The trail leads us through narrow, red rock canyons with spectacular views. This area provides habitat for various birds of prey to include the bald eagle and peregrine falcon.
Lunch:
On the trail.
Afternoon:
We will continue our exploration in Spring Creek Canyon, then return by vans to Saint George for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of passenger vans; driving 45 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time to/from Zion National Park. Independent hiking in Zion National Park according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will take the vans to Zion National Park for a full-day independent exploration. Experience the park and its varied trails at your own pace.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy a box lunch on the trail.
Afternoon:
We will continue exploring Zion National Park independently. Meeting back up at a predetermined time, we will then return to Saint George by vans for dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
20 Meals
7 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
7 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025
  • Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025
  • Apr 13, 2025 - Apr 20, 2025
  • Apr 27, 2025 - May 04, 2025
  • Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 12, 2025
  • Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025
  • Apr 12, 2026 - Apr 19, 2026
  • Apr 26, 2026 - May 03, 2026
  • Oct 04, 2026 - Oct 11, 2026
  • Oct 18, 2026 - Oct 25, 2026
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
7 nights
Location: Saint George
Our 130 room hotel is 100% smoke free. Each oversized guestroom features luxurious bedding, a 42" flat screen TV and free high speed internet. Feel at home with a microwave and refrigerator in each room.
Participant Reviews
5
Based on 23 Reviews
Sort By:
Patrice – Class of 2017 | Encinitas, CA
My experience with Off the Beaten Path: Backcountry Hiking in SW Utah was everything I hoped for and more: well organized, great hiking with stunning landscape in geologically interesting areas, knowledgable and supportive leaders and expert lecturers, comfortable lodging and good food!
— Review left October 27, 2024
Edward – Class of 2024 | Cooperstown, NY
This was a terrific hiking experience and complimented by excellent staff and accommodations
— Review left October 15, 2024
Glenn – Class of 2024 | Chico, CA
I have only positive things to say about this program. The leaders, Chris and Brian, were exceptional. They were just what we needed to be albe to enjoy and complete our hikes. The hikes themselves were moderate to strenuous so make sure you're fit enough to travel several miles day after day, climb, and scramble over rocks. Be prepared to possibly go beyond your comfort zone. Be able to walk on a narrow ledge. If you can do these things then I highly recommend this program.
— Review left May 6, 2024
Joan | Yakima, WA
Southwest Utah is a beautiful geological wonder and a great way to explore and learn more about it is by experiencing it through the Off the Beaten Path: Backcountry Hiking in Southwestern Utah Road Scholar trip. You will be lead by a wonderful team, meet new friends and experience hiking through canyons, sandstone bowls, rock scrambling and elevations with glorious views. I am looking forward to my best Road Scholar adventure.
— Review left April 24, 2024
Jane | Lake Ann, MI
Push yourself and your body to new heights. Climb over and under boulders and trees of every size and color that will take your breathe away in more way than one.
— Review left November 5, 2023
Ina | San Jose, CA
Sherry, Chris and Gearard you guys' rock! I had a fabulous time! It has driven me to challenge myself for more trips like these. Thank you for the lifetime of experience.!
— Review left October 30, 2023
Dennis – Class of 2023 | Cochran, GA
If you like to hike to spectacular locations, with physically challenging days, this is for you! Sherry, Chris and Jared were always prepared, considerate and encouraging. Our group was composed of all solo travelers, which I gather was atypical, but they worked to bring us together while still respecting differences. The hikes were fun and occasionally strenuous with fantastic scenery. The educational aspects were informative but pithy, not too far "into the weeds". I would take this trip again!
— Review left October 23, 2023
Valerie – Class of 2018 | Davis, CA
Outstanding week! The hikes in the varied and beautiful landscapes of SW Utah were challenging and so much fun! Our leaders, Sherry, Chris, and Brian, were fabulous...knowledgeable, experienced, and very personable. The accommodations were very comfortable, and food was tasty and plentiful. I highly recommend this Road Scholar adventure for anyone who loves hiking.
— Review left April 27, 2023
Pam – Class of 2022 | Milwaukie, OR
Exploring this area has been on my bucket list for a long time. I'm delighted with what I learned, saw and did on this trip. I would recommend it highly to anyone fit enough to scramble over precarious rocks and with stamina to hike long distances daily.
— Review left November 16, 2022
Lynn – Class of 2022 | Chattanooga, TN
This was my first Road Scholar adventure, and it exceeded all expectations! Sherry and Chris took us to truly off-the-beaten-path trails. It felt as though we became a part of a secret club to witness the beauty of Utah. The leaders were knowledgeable, adaptive and responsive to the group. Sherry quickly earned our trust which gave us the encouragement and confidence to tackle some challenging terrain. I can’t wait for my next Road Scholar adventure!
— Review left November 10, 2022
Jody – Class of 2022 | Seattle, WA
The Off the Beaten Path: Backcountry Hiking in Southwestern Utah Trip is a fantastic trip. I highly recommend it. You do need to be an avid hiker able to complete 6-12 miles a day in sometimes steep environments with scrambling and bouldering required. The views were magnificent and the hikes varied from wide open bowls of ancient sand dunes to steep and deep canyons and everything in between. If you want a challenge with lots of eye candy in views, this one is for you.
— Review left October 17, 2022
Russel – Class of 2009 | Bend, OR
The program is listed a challenging, and it is. If you like a vigorous and educational hiking experience with great people this is for you. Our group had people from 60 to 76 years old and everyone was up for the experience.
— Review left May 5, 2022
Hugh – Class of 2006 | Sedona, AZ
Nice trip. New areas to explore. Fairly rigerous for 70 year olds. Wilderness is disappearing, see it while you still can.
— Review left May 3, 2022
Sean – Class of 2016 | Santa Ana, CA
The program was very challenging but that's was what I really like as you feel a sense of accomplishment. I feel for anyone thinking of doing this trip you need to prepare as you need upper body and length strength to effectively accomplish and enjoy the hiking. Sherrie and Chris were very good at how they led the hikes. I would definitely recommend this if you want a great challenging hiking experience
— Review left May 3, 2022
Martin – Class of 2014 | Redlands, CA
Sherry, the lead guide is very approachable, friendly, knowledgeable about the area, the plants, the fauna, and the geology. She is top class. The food was excellent and you get access to a variety of types of food. Vegetarian needs are also accomodated. The hotel was clean and well located. Everything in the room worked as intended. The hikes are as described, challenging. Do not register for this trip unless you have good balance, fair upper-body and leg strength, and have high physical endurance. The hike to Water Canyon/Squirrel Canyon started at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 5:00 p.m. We covered almost ten miles on this hike. Fourteen of the sixteen hikers were very tired the next day. Luckily an easy day is built into the schedule on the day following the tough hike. The scenery is awesome and because the trips are only scheduled for spring and fall, the weather is usually perfect for hiking. This trip is very highly recommended for those who are phsically fit and want a challenge. Oh, two of the hikes required scrambling, that is, using all four limbs to navigate/negotiate obstacles along the route. The guides were equipped with webbed ropes to help the hikers better navigate challenging areas.
— Review left May 2, 2022
Carol – Class of 2017 | Granville, OH
This is a terrific program in a breathtaking landscape. For this flatlander, it was an opportunity to push myself: it is a physically challenging program, but for me just the right amount of challenge. That being said, it's essential to read the descriptions of the hikes carefully before enrolling to make sure this trip is for you. The group leaders were wonderful and added to the experience, as did fellow travelers.
— Review left April 20, 2022
Bill | Westminster, CO
Wow, what a great and challenging trip. Amazing hikes in the St George area where there were far fewer other hikers. The location, the hotel, the food at local restaurants were all great choices. We had lunches provided every day for the long hiking days. I will observe there were a number of people on the trip that hadn't read the program descriptions or perhaps did not understood just how challenging these hikes were going to be. This was *not* just a hike down some trails, we were climbing or dropping through some challenging rock and boulder formations, going up or down some fairly steep trails with some impressive drop-offs right next to the trails. If you're ready for some great challenging hikes that will most likely to push you out of your comfort zone, this is the trip for you! The guides were there for us the whole time, and helped us overcome many many obstacles on the hikes. Great time!
— Review left April 18, 2022
This participant did not give a star rating.
Cricket – Class of 2018 | Santa Fe, NM
OMG how can I find words to describe this amazing tour?Have been my first ever RS I must say I really enjoyed. The knowledge, concerns, abilities and strength of the leaders were remarkable. We all felt like a family when we had to leave. The colors and formations were inspiring and we were guided places I would have never seen any other way.A challenge physicaly ,and a lot to learn, LOVED RS!
— Review left November 15, 2021
Dafna – Class of 2017 | Saint Louis, MO
Challenging hikes in beautiful southwest Utah’s stunning formations, canyons & cliffs. Great program for those who love challenging hikes (which are fully guided and supported by the instructors), along with in-depth explanations of the geology. Our group of like-minded enthusiastic hikers added to the fun.
— Review left November 11, 2021
Kurt – Class of 2021 | Saint Paul, MN
Awesome and strenuous hiking opportunities with significant geology and history information added in. I learned a lot and am encouraged to go back for more!
— Review left November 1, 2021
Denise – Class of 2014 | Union Dale, PA
I am getting used to it. I liked the old website. The new one seems more simplistic but it is not necessarily easier to use.
— Review left October 21, 2019
Erys "Kate" – Class of 2018 | Sequim, WA
This is an amazing program and like nothing else I have ever done. John and Sherri are a pleasure to hike with and have a wealth of information that they share with the group. The program is accurately described as challenging and the rewards are well worth the effort. We hiked in places that we saw no one outside of our group the entire day and much of the time we were not on established trails. The terrain was varied and is well described in the RS itinerary as was what you can expect for each of the daily hikes. John and Sherri were flexible and creative when hiking options were necessary. For those who may be hesitant to sign up for this program be aware that it is physically demanding but we always had alternatives for the most difficult areas. Weather was also a factor as the temperatures were in the mid-80's one day and then barely above freezing on another. Having clothing options is a must. Sherri knew the areas we hiked extremely well and was helpful to those of us who were not as experienced. This program was a personal goal and accomplishment for me and I am very grateful to RS and specifically to John who was especially supportive and encouraging. If you have the desire to learn about the area, discipline to work hard, and hike where you wouldn't otherwise go on, I highly recommend this program with John and Sherri. The experience was priceless and I look forward to more programs offered in the SW areas of Utah.
— Review left October 5, 2019
Sharon – Class of 2013 | Summerville, OR
The overview accurately describes this trip, off the beaten path and challenging, scrambling over boulders and walking along paths that were steep. The activity rating of "3" was spot on, so do get in shape before signing up, you will enjoy the hiking so much more. Be prepared for unpredictable spring weather, 80+ degrees one day and then snow and rain the next. And if you're the type of person that can't handle changes in the itinerary because of unforeseen circumstances, such as weather or trail closures, this might not be the trip for you. Did I have a good time? Absolutely!! Our guides, Sherry and John, were kind, considerate and had great senses of humor. My fellow hikers were interesting, laid back and always willing to help each other. I would highly encourage anyone interested in geology and hiking to take this trip. Another wonderful trip with Road Scholar.
— Review left April 17, 2019





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