Southwest National Parks including Grand Canyon 2026

SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARKS AND THE GRAND CANYON

Tuesday, July 14: Today is a travel day as we look forward to the adventures ahead, reconnecting with familiar faces, and welcoming new ones.  Our travel plans today will take us to Douglas, WY.  Prior to checking in to our hotel for the night, we will visit the POW Camp Douglas Officer’s Club State Historic Site.  During World War II, Douglas had the primary prisoner of war (POW) camp for Wyoming. The camp was over a square mile in size, comprised of 180 buildings and housed up to 2000 Italian and 3000 German POWs and 500 army personnel from the spring of 1943 to the winter of 1946.  At that time, the camp was larger than the town of Douglas.  The only building standing today is the Officer’s Club, which is now the Camp Douglas Officers’ Club State Historic Site.          After checking in to our hotel, we will enjoy a group dinner.

 Wednesday, July 15: Continuing west, we will make a stop at the Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center.  Towering 502 feet above the Green River and completed in 1964, The Flaming Gorge Dam was built to provide water storage and hydroelectric power. Then our journey continues to Salt Lake City where we will stay overnight for the next two nights at the Little America Hotel.  We will enjoy the buffet dinner at the hotel and the remainder of the evening is free—relax at the hotel or venture out and explore the surroundings.

Thursday, July 16: After breakfast, a local step-on guide will provide us with an all-day guided tour of Salt Lake City.  With our step-on-guide, we’ll see some of Salt Lake City’s most iconic landmarks, including Utah State Capitol, 2002 Olympic Cauldon, Historic Fort Douglas, Historic Brigham Street, Brigham Young home, This is the Place State Historic Place and the Great Salt Lake overlook.  We’ll get to experience the renowned noon recital at the Tabernacle—an unforgettable musical performance and following our evening dinner we will have the opportunity to listen to the rehearsal of the Morman Tabernacle Choir.

Friday, July 17:  This morning we will depart Salt Lake City and pick up our step-on-guide that will join us for the next  2 ½ days.  We will travel to Canyonlands National Park and visit overviews of Upheaval Dome, the Colorado River, and the Green River.  Canyonlands National Park is a vast and rugged wilderness in southeastern Utah, known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers.  Towering mesas, sheer red-rock cliffs, deep canyons, and sculpted arches define this stunning landscape.  From the high vantage point of Island in the Sky, visitors will enjoy sweeping panoramic views that stretch for over 100 miles on a clear day. The day would not be complete without a stop at Dead Horse Point State Park which is often described as a smaller, more accessible version of the Grand Canyon—with scenery just as unforgettable. Evening plans include an overnight stay at Hyatt Place in Moab, UT and a group dinner to conclude the day.

 Saturday, July 18:  Our travel plans for today include a scenic drive from Moab to Bryce Canyon.  We will stop at Goblin Valley State Park, a strange and colorful valley, which is unlike any other in Utah!  The landscape, covered with sandstone goblins and formations, is often compared to Mars. Following a lunch break, we will explore Capitol Reef National Park.  Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. We will now embark on a breathtaking drive along Scenic Byway 12, making our way toward Bryce Canyon.  Utah Scenic Byway 12 is one of the 10 most scenic highways in the nation!  As we travel toward Bryce Canyon, this route offers a visual feat of towering red rock formations, lush forests, and sweeping desert vistas. We will finish the night with dinner and a live Western performance at Ebenezer’s.

Sunday, July 19: This morning we will rise early to view the sunrise in Bryce Canyon.  As the sun begins to rise, it illuminates the amphitheater, revealing a stunning array of colors.  The geological formations, known as hoodoos, are the main attraction here.

We will continue our drive from Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park along scenic Highway 12 and Highway 89, which zips past red-rock mountains and yawning slot canyons.  Arriving at Zion National Park, we will explore sites like the Great White Throne, Emerald Pools, Scouts Lookout, the Court of Patriarchs, or the Narrows.   We will have lunch in Zion before departing for Lake Powell.

This evening, we will set sail aboard the Canyon Princess and enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience on Lake Powell.  As the sun sets over Wahweap Bay, indulge in a delightful dinner and sit back and relax for a two-hour cruise that offers the perfect blend of scenic beauty and culinary delight.  We will overnight at Lake Powell Resorts.

Monday, July 20: Today promises more excitement as we travel to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon South Rim is one of the most iconic natural wonders in the world! It spans approximately 277 miles in length, up to 18 miles in width, and reaches a depth of over a mile.  It is renowned for its stunning vistas, unique geological formations, and vibrant colors, offering visitors a glimpse into the Earth’s geological history that dates back millions of years. During our tour of the Grand Canyon, our knowledgeable guide will share fascinating insights into the canyon’s history, geology, and cultural significance, making our visit both informative and memorable.  Following our tour, the rest of the day and evening is yours to experience the Canyon at your leisure.  We will overnight at the Maswik Lodge inside the Park.

Tuesday, July 21: Our journey continues to the breathtaking beauty of Monument Valley.  Monument Valley lies within the Navajo Nation and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Dine’(Navajo) people, who have lived in the region for generations. Before the tour begins, we will sit down for a delicious lunch featuring Navajo tacos and hearty beef Stew. Our adventure continues aboard open-air vehicles led by experienced guides.  The geological history has left behind many stories of the Navajo ancestry and traditions that are still practiced today. For a night to remember and the finishing touch on a perfect day, we will enjoy a Cowboy-style Dutch Oven dinner and a slow-moving evening boat ride on the Colorado River.  This is by far one of the most unique sound and light shows in the world! Once the boat has reached the turn-around spot, the formal part of the evening begins with 40,000 watts of light illuminating the canyon walls and bringing them to life!  Stories about the formation, creation and history of the area are illustrated with cowboy and Indian tales.  The show is choreographed with lights, sounds, music and narration as we drift back to the dock.  We will overnight at the Hyatt Place in Moab, UT.

Wednesday, July 22: On our final day exploring the national parks, we will visit the stunning Arches National Park, located in eastern Utah near the town of Moab.  It is a geological wonderland home to over 2,000 natural stone arches—the highest concentration anywhere in the world.  These striking formations, sculpted by millions of years of erosion, create a surreal and awe-inspiring landscape of red rock, towering pinnacles, balanced rocks, and massive sandstone fins.  Following our tour of Arches National Park, we’ll begin making our way home. We’ll spend the night at the Denver Marriott West.

Thursday, July 23 After enjoying breakfast, we will depart for home! With memories made and miles traveled, we return home this evening.

July 14-23, 2026

TOUR INCLUDES

• POW Camp Douglas Officer’s Club State Historic Site
• Flaming Gorge Dam
• Guided Tour of Salt Lake City
• Noon Recital at the Tabernacle
• Morman Tabernacle Choir Rehearsal
• Canyonlands National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Ebenezer’s Dinner & Show
• Bryce National Park
• Zion National Park
• Lake Powell Dinner Cruise
• South Rim of Grand Canyon
• Monument Valley
• Canyonlands by Night Dinner and Light Show
• Arches National Park
• 9 Breakfasts/ 5 Lunches /               9 Dinners
• Overnight Accommodations
• Luggage Handling
• Roundtrip motor coach transportation
• Tour Director

$4400 per person

Based on double occupancy

Single-$5460 per person

Triple-$4090 per person

Quad-$3930 per person

Deposit-$1000.00 per person

Final payment is due by

April 30, 2026

Cancellations received prior to April 30 will receive a full refund.

Cancellations made after April 30, will not receive any refund.

Credit Cards payments are subject to a 4.5 % processing fee.

Travel Guard Insurance available.

Call for more information

Call 605-366-8777 or 800-310-2708 to make your reservation today!

Mail payments to: PO Box 351, Miller, SD  57362