Bryce & Zion National Parks Bike Tour
Bicycling Magazine’s editor called it “the most awe-inspiring and unique landscape I’ve ever pedaled through.” Bryce and Zion National Parks are a marvel. Mega-boulders of orange sandstone balance on razor-thin needles; arches glow with unearthly fire; slot canyons unspool between cliffs of gold and rose. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cyclist, this biking and hiking tour gives you an intimate encounter with the canyonlands – from curving roads to labyrinths, aspen forests and breathtaking panoramas.
ZION HIKING UPDATE: In 2022, due to overcrowding at Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park implemented an advanced permitting lottery system to hike the “chains” to the Landing. Our standard hike is the same as it has always been. We ascend “Walter’s Wiggles” and take in the view from “Scouts Lookout” (next to the Landing). In 2023, due to changes in the permitting system, Bicycle Adventures can no longer guarantee Angels Landing permits for guests. If you are interested in doing the “chain hike” to Angels Landing, you can enter the public lottery for permits , and our guide will accompany you. Contact Bicycle Adventures’ office for more information. NOTE: The chain hike is NOT recommended for anyone with a fear of heights or exposure! This tour is operated under special use permit/s with Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Dixie National Forest and the Utah Dept. of Transportation. Bicycle Adventures is an equal opportunity provider.Itinerary
Day 01
Meet in St. George. Ride from the giant Cedar Breaks amphitheater to Panguitch, then (if you wish) to the hotel near the entrance to Bryce Canyon.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel or the Main Lodge at Ruby’s InnDistance
56 miles (mostly downhill – the 15 mi. / +1200 ft afternoon climb into Bryce is optional)Elevation
+2,148 ft / -4,942 ftDay 02
Ride from panoramic Rainbow Point in the morning and hike the Navajo / Queens Garden loop in the afternoon.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel or the Main Lodge at Ruby’s InnDistance
21 milesElevation
+926 ft / -2,372 ftDay 03
Watch the sun rise over Bryce's hoodoos. Ride into Zion and up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - no cars are allowed.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Springhill SuitesDistance
35 milesElevation
+2038 ft / -3966 ft (NOTE: tunnel significantly skews these elevation gain/loss stats)Start off with a sunrise hike to our favorite Bryce Canyon overlook. The statue-like hoodoos of the canyon appear to glow from within as the sun’s rays creep down the canyon walls. After breakfast, bicycle through ranch lands along the Sevier and Virgin Rivers into Zion National Park. Bicycling Magazine calls Zion “one of the world’s most beautiful places to ride.” Red cliffs tower beside the road as you descend the east side of the canyon; at the bottom, the six-mile cruise along the flat valley floor can take all afternoon as you stop to gaze up at the massive, multicolored heights. Zion doesn’t allow cars in this section of the park, making for an incredible bicycle ride. Spend the next three nights at .
Day 04
Hike past "Walters Wiggles" to "Scouts Lookout" atop the canyon walls.
Meals
– BreakfastLodging
Springhill SuitesDistance
Hike: 3.6 milesElevation
+1.115 ft / -1,115 ftDay 05
Hike into the Narrows – a stunningly scenic slot canyon hailed as the ‘best hike in all the National Park System’.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Springhill SuitesDistance
5.1 mile maximum round-trip. This is a wet-hike over uneven terrain with little or no elevation gain.Day 06
One last ride in Zion Canyon before we head downriver to Virgin for a celebratory lunch.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance
32 milesElevation
+1,549 ft / -1,915 ftRide the Canyon one last time before turning west along the Virgin River into open range land flanked by yet more fascinating geological features. The tour ends after lunch with a 45-minute shuttle back to St. George.
*Bicycle Adventures operates under special use permits while on Federal Lands managed by the National Forest Service (USDA), National Parks and Bureau of Land Management. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.