Are you an active yogi craving a deeper connection to the iconic adventure world of the American West? Then this 8-day Eastern Utah Adventure is perfect for you! You’ll spend your mornings meditating with breathtaking sunrises and expansive yoga practices to ease into your active day. You’ll revel in narrow slots, passing towering arches and thundering waterfalls as you trek quiet and magical deep canyons in one of the most unique and awe-inspiring places in the world. Join us as we explore expansive views high atop red sandstone cliffs, breathing in nature and letting go of everything else, finding peace and being fully present each step of the way.
Imagine standing high on the canyon rim, the rock feels firm below your feet, and sunlight warms your face in the cool morning air. Your comprehension gives way to a sense of awe gazing down to the floor below. You check your harness and lean into your rope as you move closer to the edge. Your adrenaline rushes and your grip tightens as you lower yourself over the edge and into position. You feel excited, as you take a deep breath of clear mountain air, and a wave of calm washes over you as you take your first step and begin to descend into the canyon. With each step you begin to trust the rock, trust the rope and trust yourself.
All at once you feel at home, recognizing that you belong here, feeling the embrace of the narrow canyon walls, the support of the rock that gently grips your feet and the refreshment of the water flowing from pocket to pocket as it continues to sculpt this breathtaking landscape. Your pace is slow as you move down the canyon listening as the stillness is gently broken by the sound of the wind in the trees and birds joyfully going about their day.
A sweet smile crosses your face as you begin to let go of everything you left behind and allow yourself to feel the warm embrace of this moment, in this place where nothing else matters and everything is moving in perfect harmony with the earth.
Welcome to the canyons…
…Welcome to Utah…
…Welcome Home!
Are you ready to let go of stress and find healing in glorious red rock canyons?
Of course you are!
On this adventure you will be far away from the stress and worry of daily living. With no cell signal and no place to be, you quickly lose the need to look at your watch and relax into the steady pace of mother nature. All of the sights, sounds, and smells of deserts and forests flow effortlessly through your body as the canyon walls stand guard high above making you feel small and protected. You will leave this place feeling calm, relaxed, and rejuvenated ready to bring a steady pace to daily life.
Can you imagine a place so beautiful you just stop overthinking and start living?
That sounds magical!
On this retreat, you will engage with mother nature using all your senses surrounded by soaring canyon walls, flowing streams, and hidden waterfalls. You will develop a deeper understanding of the earth, and you feel a home sitting with nature; without any desire to change a thing. You begin to recognize the incomprehensible power and vastness of the earth and understand that you belong here, and nature belongs in you. You will come away with a deep sense of gratitude for the planet we call home and a deeper understanding of your true self which is vast and strong like the earth.
To truly know a river, a mountain, or a canyon, one must be willing to lose themselves in its embrace.
-John Wesley Powell
Show Me The Itinerary!
On this active adventure you are going to experience some of the most exciting places in Eastern Utah’s Canyon Country hiking slot canyons, rappelling, and traversing water pockets. You don’t have to be an avid yogi, hiker or have any prior canyoneering experience, because this itinerary has been curated to a maximum difficulty level of moderate and with experienced guides who can teach you to safely participate in each activity.
Day 1: Arrive in Capitol Reef National Park
You will arrive in Grand Junction and meet the van around by 1pm and head for Torrey, Utah. Along the way you will have a chance to stop and shop for snacks and other provisions. We will check into the beautiful iconic Broken Spur Inn and have some time to relax.
Your first stretchy yoga class is going to feel so good to open up from a long day of travel. After practice you will head out for our delicious opening dinner and enjoy your first spectacular Utah Sunset!
Day 2: Hiking in Capitol Reef
You’ll rise early for a sunrise meditation and yoga practice before breakfast. After breakfast we will pack up and head out for our first day exploring Capitol Reef. This is the second largest national park in Utah following closely behind Canyonlands! It’s landscapes vary greatly from massive rocky cathedrals and slot canyons to arches and wide river valleys with waterfalls.
On this day we will stop by the visitors center to get oriented to the park and then head out to explore the northern rim of the valley with a hike to Navajo Knobs. This is a longer out and back rim trail hike that ends on a point breathtaking with 360-degree views of Capitol Reef. We will have our lunch up there before heading back in the afternoon.
In the evening, we will enjoy an early dinner and then travel to Gooseneck overlook for a wonderful sunset view. You’re going to marvel at the way the sun paints lines of golden color and contrasting shadows across the canyon walks and rock formations below. The bend in the river here creates one of the most iconic scenes in Capitol Reef. After sunset we dawn our headlamps for a short hike back to the trailhead.
Day 3: Peekaboo Canyon and Lower Calf Creek Falls
You’ll rise early for breakfast and head through the south end of Capitol Reef to the town of Boulder where we will stop to grab coffee and our sack lunches before heading off road deep into Grand Staircase-Escalante. Here we will hike the lower Dry Fork Narrows to Peekaboo and Spooky slot canyons.
These slot canyons are arguably the most beautiful in all of Utah and due to their extremely remote location, few people explore them. You’re going to love having the place mostly to yourself and experiencing a fun day squeezing through narrow passages and climbing around boulders in mother nature’s obstacle course.
After finishing our day in the canyons we will return to Boulder where we will stop and cool off at Lower Calf Creek Falls, Utah’s largest waterfall. This is a short hike just off of the road but well worth the visit. This night we will have dinner at the iconic Hell’s Backbone Grill and Farm. After dinner we will head back to Torrey to relax after a day filled with excitement and adventure.
The best journeys are those that take us far beyond our comfort zones, into the heart of the unknown.
-John Wesley Powell
Day 4: Capitol Reef to Moab
You’ll rise early for one last yoga and meditation practice in Capitol Reef. After breakfast we will pack up and check out of our hotel to make our way on to Moab. Along the way we stop for one last classic look at the famous Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef. This is a canyon where the legendary Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid out to avoid capture. You will hike to the Arch and enjoy lunch taking in the beauty of this place. Then we return to the trailhead and on to Moab.
Arriving in Moab you will be delighted with your accommodations at the Red Cliffs Lodge. This beautiful property is located on the banks of the Colorado River just outside of town with beautiful views of the mesas and arched in the surrounding parks. You will check in and relax for a bit before dinner. Tonight, we will grab our dinner-to-go in Moab and head for Deadhorse Point.
Reaching Deadhorse you will immediately recognize this vista from many iconic photographs of the west. We will enjoy our dinner here as the sun begins to set on the other side of the Canyon painting the surrounding walls in glowing shades of orange. Far below flows the Colorado river that carved out this magnificent spectacle. After sunset we dawn our headlamps for a hike back to the trailhead.
Day 5: Devil’s Garden in Arches National Park
While Sunsets are kind of the theme in Capitol Reef, the canyonlands offer some amazing spots to watch the sunrise. Today we get up early and drive to Mesa Arch for our first spectacular sunrise among the arches. We return to our hotel for a morning yoga practice and breakfast. Packing up our lunches we head into Arches National Park.
You are going to experience several of the iconic arch formations as you hike the Devils Garden Loop. This is a longer loop trail with stunning views of the surrounding mesas, breathtaking arches and the iconic Dark Angel spire. We will have lunch along the way at Double O Arch.
We will return to the Lodge in the afternoon for some time to relax and enjoy the river and surroundings. As evening approaches, we will head into Moab for dinner at one of their wonderful local restaurants. After dinner we will make our way back into the park to enjoy the sunset behind Delicate Arch.
Day 6: Island in the Sky
You’ll rise for breakfast at the lodge before heading out to catch our trail early. Today we explore Canyonlands National Park. There are three districts in Utah’s largest National Park and we will enjoy the Island In The Sky district.
You will hike one of the very best trails in this part of the park known as the Syncline trail. This is a difficult route but after a week of getting oriented to the challenges of the canyons it may not seem that tough. You are going to be in awe every step of the way as you hike into a crater with an upheaval dome that is considered one of the most unique geological features in Utah. There is ongoing debate and many theories for how it was even formed.
After enjoying the day in a variety of terrain including slot canyons, slick rock, and tree filled alcoves with flowing springs, we return to the trailhead. This evening we will enjoy one more amazing sunset picnic at the Green River Overlook. This area is another you will recognize from photos of the west. It rivals Deadhorse point with sweeping canyon vistas carved out by the Green.
Day 7: Canyoneering in Canyonlands
You’ll rise early for sunrise at the Lodge and a stretchy yoga practice to get ready for an amazing day of canyoneering. After breakfast we will meet our local guide to get outfitted for a day playing in the canyons! You’re going to learn new skills like rappelling, hiking through water, and various techniques to traverse narrow slot canyons on the canyon floor and along the walls! All in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Today we don’t just leave crowds behind, we leave the actual trails behind to explore canyons the way they were meant to be explored!
We return a little tired but feeling confident and inspired as we relax next to the Colorado river in the afternoon. There will be plenty of time to enjoy all that the lodge has to offer in the afternoon including optional spa services or just relaxing in the pool or hot tub.
Tonight, you are going to enjoy a mouthwatering final dinner at the Lodge prepared by their award-winning chef. After dinner we will gather for a closing circle and campfire where we can reflect on the week we’ve enjoyed and all of the amazing experiences that Mother Nature brought for us.
Day 8: Farewell and the Fiery Furnace
You’ll rise early for one last sunrise meditation and yoga practice before breakfast. After a leisurely morning and breakfast, we pack up and check out of the Lodge. Stopping one last time at Arches on our way out of Moab.
Today we will enjoy a shorter hike in the Fiery Furnace. This is a maze canyon and is very unique compared to anything else we have seen along the way. Morning or afternoon are perfect times to experience this place as the sun comes in at an angle providing a dazzling light show. After we complete the hike we will head back to the Grand Junction airport where we will say ‘till next time and bid farewell to an amazing place and a great adventure!
Note: There is a 6 day rafting and canyoneering adventure that is running in Moab after this one. Anyone who has signed up for the full 14 days will not return to Grand Junction with the group but rather will enjoy a relaxing day in Moab.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets towers into a dark primeval forest…
― Edward Abbey
Where Will We Stay?
The small adventure towns of the Southwest usually have very limited options for quality hotels and restaurants. Luxury and adventure don’t usually go hand in hand. On this trip we are fortunate to enjoy a unique inn and newly renovated lodge tucked into the stunning landscapes of Eastern Utah!
Broken Spur Inn
You are going to love the distinctly western feel of the Broken Spur Inn. This is where you will spend the first part of your trip while we are in Capitol Reef. The Inn features indoor guest rooms, but if you want a more memorable stay, perhaps consider their covered wagons! These also feature private bathrooms, but of course they are detached from the wagons by about 25 feet.
Red Cliffs Lodge
Arriving in Moab you will check into the Red Cliffs Lodge. Located just outside of town right on the banks of the Colorado River, the lodge has an upscale western feel and offers spa amenities and an onsite chef run restaurant.
You are going to love coming back here to relax each evening along the banks of the river with sweeping views toward Arches National Park!
Mouthwatering Meals
Our premium adventures are always all inclusive so you can enjoy your day without worrying about your meals. We curate dining experiences that always offer vegan and gluten free options, which is not easy in smaller adventure towns!
On this adventure you will wake up each morning to enjoy breakfast at the lodge served buffet style. This includes plenty of healthy options like oatmeal, fruit, and yogurt along with breakfast staples like eggs, potatoes, and bread. Each day your calorie burn will be higher than you expect so starting off with a good breakfast is essential to your enjoyment of your adventure.
Lunches will be packed into your backpack each morning to have on the trail. We always find a great place to stop along the way to enjoy lunches and snacks and soak in the view. After a day of adventure you are going to love sitting down to mouthwatering dinners served in local restaurants. Every adventure town in the west has its local favorites and we have selected a wonderful variety of unique places to enjoy. On two nights we will be packing a picnic dinner to enjoy at sunset.
-Transportation to and from Grand Junction CO and all activities in itinerary -7 nights hotel accommodations -21 meals from dinner on the first day through lunch on the final day -Non-Alcoholic beverages with meals -All activities listed in the itinerary -Gear rental hiking: Hydration Pack, Hiking Poles, and Canyoneering gear -Daily yoga and/or meditation practices -Daily guided hiking -National and State Park fees -A lasting sense of triumph and peace
What’s NOT Included
-Transportation between your home and the Grand Junction Airport -Trip Insurance -Water, snacks, or personal items from the shops and markets -Meals not specifically included in the trip details and any pre or post trip meals -Alcoholic Beverages -Also not included are items of a personal nature such as, gifts, toll calls, medical costs, the costs of hospitalization and evacuation from remote areas, and additional expenses arising from the delay or extension of a trip due to weather, sickness, failure of transportation, or other causes beyond our control.
When we retreat, we offer ourselves the opportunity to press the pause button on life for a time and give ourselves some much needed selfcare. It’s hard to think of anything more relaxing and grounding than spending a few days in nature, practicing yoga and meditation with a group of fun and interesting people.
This adventure combines all of that with the astounding beauty and deep canyons of Eastern Utah. We will be hiking in some of the most beautiful slot canyons Utah has to offer, crossing through water pockets and rappelling down dry falls. We will experience views from arches and natural bridges, relaxing next to the mighty Colorado, and truly majestic canyon sunsets overlooking the Green and Colorado rivers as they snake through the red sandstone terrain.
I truly enjoy leading retreats, teaching yoga, and finding community with new people in new and always interesting places. I love to see the transformation that takes place between our opening dinners and our closing campfire, and the lasting memories that are created in between.
I look forward to sharing this adventure with you!
Anna Orbison
Anna approaches yoga with a curious mind and playful attitude. While fun and mindful, her classes are physically demanding. She is passionate about encouraging students through advances in their physical practice, managing stress, and moving beyond perceived limitations. She is excited to bring 20 years of studying and teaching yoga, meditation, and Somatic Psychology, out of the Red Diamond Yoga classroom and into the deep and rugged canyons of Utah.
As an experienced international retreat leader, Anna will keep you moving on your journey with the perfect practice to compliment the activities of the day. Whether you are just starting out or an experienced yogi, this adventure will bring growth in your practice and approach to living. Voted one of the top teachers in LA by ClassPass, Anna is passionate about music, eating delicious vegan food, her two pups Cash and June, and going on adventures across the world.
Relax in confidence: All of our leaders are trained and experienced yoga professionals and retreat leaders with CPR, AED, Airway and First Aid certifications. Kevin also maintains his Wilderness First Responder certification and epinephrine license through the National Outdoor Leadership School. We are experienced adventure guides and instructors who will handle all of the logistics, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey.
Sometimes we are lucky enough to know that our lives have been changed, to discard the old, embrace the new, and run headlong down an immutable course ― Jacques Cousteau
Do you long to close your eyes and feel embraced in the arms the earth?
I need this so much!
Practicing yoga and meditation you will feel relaxed and centered as you head out into the canyons each day. Spending time hiking in narrow slot canyons you begin to feel literally embraced by mother earth, your mind begins to calm, you notice things you may have otherwise overlooked in the rush of life.
Each day you feel the warmth of the sun and the wind enveloping your body as your senses immerse in the subtle sounds and beautiful vistas of the desert. You’ll find a peaceful, safe place where all of nature is there to welcome and support you. You’ll wish each moment to ever end!
Are you an active person looking to get out and explore remote places and make new friends?
Yes! That sounds amazing.
On this adventure you will leave behind the comforts of home, your busy schedule, demands to maintain your roles or status, and join a group of like-minded people to experience this journey without any preconceived notions. You are free to be just you, to experience each place and moment as it is, and to get to know your fellow travelers as just people coming together to explore. You’ll revel in childlike wonder as you discover new places for the first time and make new friends sharing only the common thread of adventure.
You will come away with beautiful memories, deep gratitude for all the things we receive from our planet, and true lifelong friends with stories to share.
