Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport
Family Trip: Explore the Natural Wonders of the Southwest on Bike & Foot
Big fun on a big scale is yours for the taking in the spectacular playgrounds of Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. Your family will enjoy discovering the high-desert landscape, otherworldly rock formations and jaw-dropping vistas of three of the nation’s most colorful natural parks. Immerse yourselves in the beauty of the Grand Canyon following scenic trails on foot (and perhaps even on the back of a mule!), and hike among the spindly spires and pinnacles of Bryce. Venture along one of the many footpaths that zigzag through Zion Canyon. Plenty of options, time to explore at your leisure and Backroads leaders who know the native flora and fauna inside and out make this a fantastic journey for the whole family!
Trip Planning Links
- Astonishing and beautiful geologic formations
- Kids make like early pioneers, exploring the Grand Canyon's rim by mule
- Hike through an impressive slot canyon in Bryce, whose walls are only ten feet apart in places
- 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 
Journey to the Grand Canyon across the high-desert landscape with spectacular views of the Kaibab Plateau Revel in the vastness of the canyon as you walk to our historic lodge, perched right on the North Rim While kids discover the canyon the way early explorers did - on the back of a mule! - adults hike into its 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 expansive high-desert 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 lodge set 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 challenging hike to Observation Point - 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 Yosemite Multisport San Juan Islands MultisportOther National Park Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
This was the best trip ever—it combined the right amount of adult time with family time, exercise and leisure. Given the five-year difference in our kids' ages, combined with our younger son's endless energy, we wanted to find the family vacation that satisfied all our needs and goals, and Backroads fulfilled this in every way. Additionally, our leaders' willingness to be flexible with regard to our itinerary made the trip even more tailored to us. A perfect blend of activity, downtime, family, new friends. We are new fans!- Menlo Park, CA 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
WILD WEST: Casual Inns
Grand Canyon Lodge-North Rim
Grand Canyon (2 nights) Perched above the grandeur of the North Rim, this rustic stone-and-wood lodge is conveniently located near numerous hiking trails.
Bryce Canyon Lodge
Bryce Canyon (2 nights) Listed on the National Historic Register, this simple park lodge is nestled in a pine forest just steps from the canyon rim.
Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens
Zion (1 night) A riverside oasis in the Southwest, featuring lush gardens, an inviting pool and hot tub, play areas and a riverside beach.
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, 3.7 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, 8.2 miles
- 500 - 2200 feet elevation gain
- Canyoneering (Kids) 5 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.