Tour Summary

Thanks for the trip of a lifetime! Last week was the best - the scenery, new friends made & riding a bike......how can it get any better?!! .
- Gavin Davies, UK

Photo Gallery

Duration

7 Days / 6 Nights

Meals

5 Dinners
5 Breakfasts

Distance

435 miles

Elevation Gain

29,000 feet

2013 Dates

May 19 - 25
Sept 15 - 21
Sept 29 - Oct 5

2013 Price

$2,295.00

Single Room

$300.00

Rider Limit

13 Rider Limit

Bike Rental

$245.00

Start / Finish

Springdale, UT

Airport / Shuttle

Las Vegas Int
Shuttle: 11:00am

Meet at Best Western McCarran Inn
1 mile from Airport

After Tour Shuttle:
St George Shuttle

Waking up this morning, still with a smile on my face from this past week's experience, I jumped on your website to find my next challenge.
- Monique Swanson
* Sept 2008

I want to take a minute to express my sincere grattitude for another great trip. I know there are a lot of operators out there, and it must be overwhelming to you considering what you have to compete with, but for me, Cycling Escapes is EXACTLY what I want in a trip - great, well designed rides in exciting locales.
- Bruce Tranen
* Sept 2008

Amy and I thoroughly enjoyed spending such a wonderful week with this group of amazing people. We will long remember you all and the fun times we had with you. Thanks for the memories!
- Alan Henry
* 2010

We rode with Cycling Escapes on the Utah 5 Parks tour in 2011. Definitely the best bicycle tour we have ever taken. Challenging routes and great support made it a tremendous experience. We booked a tour for 2012 immediately after.
- Tom A, Maryland

I went on my first trip with Cycling Escapes in September 2011, the Utah 5 Parks tour. I've been on cycling tours with several tour operators and this was really great. These tours are designed for people that like to ride. Many tour companies only cover 35 - 45 miles per day. There was good ride support and I felt that I was always in good hands. The lodging and dinning were all very good and we had a great group of riders on our tour.

I'm signed up for the Crater Lake tour in August 2012 and am very exited about it and have no doubt it will be another great trip.

If you like to ride and have an adventurous spirit, I would definitely recommend a trip with Cycling Escapes
- Stan O, NE
* Sept 2011

I've ridden two tours with Cycling Escapes - Utah 5 Parks and Arizona Cactus to Ghost Towns. Great rides, great support, and met great people to ride with. I'll be back!!!!
- Jim G, TX
* Oct 2011
* Arizona 2007

I have participated in two Cycling Escapes tours; Utah 5 Parks & Arches/Canyonlands. Both trips were outstanding; challenging but safe routes, spectacular scenery, great support, fine loding & dining. They are well organized and run a very professional program.
- Alan S
* Oct 2011

I've been on 3 different tours - Utah, San Juan Mountain Loop & Yellowstone Beartooth Byway. Each route takes you off the beaten track & through stunning scenery - you choose the pace you want to ride at & the SAG van stops at regular intervals to ensure you always have the snacks & drinks you need. You'll get to ride with like-minded cycling enthusiasts & will end up making long term friendships. If you want the cycling adventure of a lifetime, look no further than Cycling Escapes.
- Gavin D, Britain
* May 2009

Have been on two tours (Death Valley Nov '09) and Utah ((Oct '10) and have signed up for a third (Crater Lake- August 2012). Even invited 3 others who will be joining.

These tours provide exactly as promised, great riding that challenged me each day while providing breathtaking scenery and a truly memorable experience.

Accomodations and food all included as promised (no hidden fees or charges). Cycling Escapes provides great support. If you are looking for a week of serious riding with others who are like minded this is the ride for you. Only advice is to make sure that you train adequately for the hills and long riding over 6 days so as to experience all these tours have to offer.
- David E, NJ
* Crater Lake 2012
* Utah 2010
* Death Valley 2009

I have done 8 trips with Cycling Escapes.Two of those trips were riding a tandem with my spouse. We are already signed up for a tour this summer, and I'll probably be doing the Eastern Sierra trip this fall. If you like lots of miles through beautiful places, considerable climbing, great ride support, very nice accomodations and meals, you will not be disappointed.
- Rich F, CA
* 11 tour rider

I've been on several of Cycling Escapes tours, namely, Utah, Volcanic Byways, Santa Monica climbing camp, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Lake Mead and the Valley of Fire. Every one was very well organized, with accurate route sheets, excellent accommodations, great food, etc. The routes chosen, were low traffic and smooth pavement. Great support and sag vehicle available for those who needed it. Highly recommended!
- Doug D, CA
* 6 tour rider

Bike 5 Utah National Parks!

7 Days • 435 Mi • 29,000' • $2,295

Where else but in southern Utah can you create a bicycle tour through 5 National Parks and Scenic Byways in 6 days! Starting in Zion National Park in southern Utah, on this spring and fall cycling vacation we'll bike from Zion National Park to the red rock hoodoos of Bryce National Park, then onward to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Lake Powell, and then up the little known Burr Trail.

Day	Weekday	Ride Day	Route	Elevation Gain	Miles
1	Sunday	...	Shuttle / Check-in & Orientation	---	---
		1	Zion Canyon Scenic Drive	1,500'	23
2	Monday	2	Zion to Bryce	6,500'	89
3	Tuesday	3	Bryce to Grand Staircase Escalante	2,500'	50
4	Wednesday	4	Escalante to Capitol Reef	6,500'	66
5	Thursday	5	Capitol Reef to Lake Powell	4,600'	112
6	Friday	6	Burr Trail	4,300'	55
7	Saturday	7	Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive	2,800'	40
		...	Shuttle to St George	---	---
...	.	...	Total	29,000'	435

Utah Route Map - Zion, Bryce, Grand Staircase

Utah Route - Capitol Reef, Lake Powell, Burr Trail

Day 1 - Shuttle / Meet in Utah / Zion National Park

For this bicycle tour we meet in Springdale, Utah, the gateway to Zion National Park. We suggest you Fly into Las Vegas on Saturday, so you will be ready to go Sunday morning when our shuttle picks you up at the Best Western McCarran Inn at 11:00am. The hotel is 1 mile from the Airport and has an airport shuttle. It is a two hour drive to Springdale, Utah.

After checking into our hotel, the Majestic View Lodge in Utah, we'll have a brief orientation, set up bikes and still have time for a short 23 mile bike ride down Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

23 miles / 1,500 ft. elevation gain

Utah Day 2 - Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park

Today marks the biggest climbing day of the tour. We start by cycling through Zion National Park up a series of switchbacks with amazing views to the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel, where we'll shuttle through to the east entrance. This begins a beautiful bike ride through the upper east portion of the park, where we'll pass geological wonders such as Checkerboard Mesa. Don't forget your camera!

After biking Zion National Park we cycle north, meandering through sleepy towns and eventually meeting Scenic Byway 12. Cycling through the geological wonders of Red Canyon on a gently sloping bike path, we'll cycle toward Bryce National Park and it's historic lodge, our hotel for the evening. Take a stroll to the park rim and watch the patterns of light flow across the hoodoos in the setting sun!

89 miles / 6,500 ft. elevation gain

Utah Day 3 - Bryce to Grand Staircase Escalante

Prepare to be amazed. Riiders always name today's route as one of their best days on a bike. We leave Bryce cycling on Scenic Byway 12 toward Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and it's amazing Canyon Country. This is one of Utah's most scenic rides, with panoramas of vast slickrock and scenic canyons cut by the Escalante River.

We start the morning with a short walk into the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. It's a must see and a good warmup before we get on the bike. We end the day in Escalante, Utah - gateway to the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

50 miles / 2,500 ft. elevation gain

Utah Day 4 - Grand Staircase to Capitol Reef

Today we climb! The highlight of today's bike ride is a 14 mile, 4,000 foot ascent straight up Boulder Mountain. Continuing along Scenic Byway 12, we'll bike through forests of fir, giving way to aspen, as we climb toward the 9,200' summit. Here we are rewarded with fantastic views of the Grand Staircase from above, and a 10 mile descent on the other side!

But first we have to scale the canyon wall of Hells Backbone, a canyon road like no other. After the bike ride we shuttle into Capitol Reef National Park for an optional hike on the slickrock domes and walls of indian petroglyphs.

66 miles / 6,500 ft. elevation gain

Day 5 - Capitol Reef National Park to Lake Powell

Today's 112 mile bike ride marks the longest ride of the tour. But don't worry, the first 35 miles is a gradual downhill. We start by cycling through the incredible narrow canyons of Capitol Reef National Park on our way out into the vast expanse of Canyon Country.

After a brief ride through the badlands between the park and Hanksville, we'll cast out into 100 mile vistas along the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway. We then cycle through red rock country, on our way to Lake Powell National Rec Area which borders Utah and Arizona. We'll be staying at Defiance House Lodge, which overlooks spectacular Lake Powell, arguably the most unique lake in the world.

112 miles / 4,600 ft. elevation gain

Utah Tour Day 6 - Burr Trail

Today we will be cycling the Burr Trail, a serpentine road that snakes through sheer canyon walls as it slowly climbs from Lake Powell up to Scenic Byway 12. Along the way there are fantastic views of the Waterpocket Fold, Boulder Mountain, Capitol Reef, and a gripping ride up the switchbacks of Burr Canyon.

You have an option today. Those feeling strong after the long ride yesterday may start out from Lake Powell for a 55 mile ride. Those a little leg weary may shuttle to the far boundary of Capitol Reef for a 35 mile ride into Boulder. Either way, both rides require a short, very scenic shuttle over a 16 mile section of dirt road. The ride through Long Canyon will leave you breathless.

After the ride we will shuttle back to Bryce, Utah. Dinner is on your own tonight, with 3 Restaurants within walking distance.

55 miles / 4,300 ft. elevation gain

Utah Day 7 - Bryce National Park: Rim Scenic Byway

On the last day of our cycling vacation we bike along the Bryce Canyon Rim Drive. This is our second ride where we top out at over 9,000' at Rainbow Point. Stop at all the pullouts along the way for views into the canyon and its famous hoodoos. If you didn't hike into the canyon on Tuesday now is your chance. After the ride we shuttle back to Zion National Park and eventually St George, Utah.

40 miles / 2,800 ft. elevation gain

Return Shuttle to St George, Utah

After the last day of cycling we shuttle to St George, Utah, where you may stay overnight or catch a shuttle back to Las Vegas with St. George Shuttle.

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