Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport
Family Trip: Bike & Walk A National Park Triple Crown
Discover three of the nation’s most colorful natural parks by bike and on foot with your family, taking your time to enjoy the high-desert landscape, otherworldly rock formations and jaw-dropping vistas. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Grand Canyon, where scenic treks - and perhaps even a mule ride! - await, and hike among the spindly spires and pinnacles of Bryce. Venture along one of many trails that zigzag through Zion Canyon. At campsites perched on canyon rims and under the cool canopy of towering pines, Backroads puts you in touch with the majesty and awesome power of these spectacular settings. With plenty of options, opportunities to explore at your leisure and leaders who know the native flora and fauna inside and out, this is a fantastic journey for the whole family!
Trip Planning Links
- Astonishing and beautiful geologic formations
- Enjoy the starry night sky far from the city lights
- Kids make like early pioneers,exploring the Grand Canyon's rim by mule
- Pedal among crimson rocks and desert wildflowers toward Red Canyon
- Splash your way through The Narrows in Zion
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Grand Canyon
Meet in St. George 
Get your first good look at one of the world's seven natural wonders as you hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon Kids join local cowpokes to check out the canyon from the back of a mule, while adults descend by foot into the gorge's depths If you're up for more, follow the secluded Widforss Trail for wide-open vistas across the canyon or take the scenic drive to Cape Royal, where you can see superb views of the Colorado River as it slices through the Earth.
Days 3-4 Bryce Canyon
En route to Bryce Canyon National Park, admire sweeping views of the Grand Staircase, stop for a picnic and walk to the remarkable Vermillion Cliffs Hike along the rim of Bryce Canyon On a trek to Queen’s Garden, discover pink hoodoos and vivid rock formations sprouting from the canyon floor Adults and older kids with strong legs can opt to bike a hilly route to Rainbow Point, the highest spot in Bryce Keep your eyes open for desert creatures, like lizards and chipmunks, as they dart playfully across the landscape Relax at our campsite nestled amid the pines.
Days 5-6 Zion
Savor a breezy descent out of Bryce and along a quiet bike path through red rocks and spires toward Zion National Park Venture into the Virgin River on one of Zion’s most famous hikes, the Narrows Kids learn canyoneering basics from experienced guides and instructors, while adults cap off the trip with an easygoing walk past Emerald Pools, a thrilling climb to Angels Landing or a rewarding hike on the West Rim Trail - all with spectacular views Return to St. George.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
Yellowstone Multisport Glacier Multisport Yosemite MultisportOther National Park Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
Every member of our family loved the trip. The scenery was incredible, our leaders were amazing, and we thoroughly enjoyed our fellow campers. I could not have imagined the uniqueness of hoodoos in Bryce, the awesome expanse of the Grand Canyon or the rugged beauty of Zion. Backroads provided the perfect way to see them.- Fort Myers, FL More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For multisport tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here.
Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport
CANYON VIEWS: Deluxe Camping
North Rim Campground
Grand Canyon (2 nights) Our home near the edge of the North Rim offers breathtaking views.
Sunset Campground
Bryce Canyon (2 nights) Set in a pine forest, just a short hike from the rim of Bryce Canyon.
Watchman Campground
Zion (1 night) Nestled along the Virgin River with Zion's soaring cliffs all around.
Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. | ||
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 1.5 miles
- 50 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2 - 10.2 miles
- 100 - 1500 feet elevation gain
- Mule Ride (Kids) 1 hour
Day 3
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Walking 1.4, 1.5, 3 miles
- 100 - 600 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 3 4 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3.4, 7.2 miles
- 500 - 800 feet elevation gain
- Biking 16, 33 miles
- 550 - 1000+ feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
- Biking 8, 16, 49 miles
- 100 - 900 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 5 miles
- 250 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 1 to 2 4 Route Options Available
- Hiking (Adults) 2, 4, 5, 5.1 miles
- 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
- Canyoneering (Kids) 6 hours
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.