Description
Glen Canyon is a living heart of the southwest—carrying life from the top of countless watersheds from all directions down to the sea. This extraordinary journey will immerse you in a landscape steeped in cultural traditions as we boat and hike through delicate formations seemingly frozen in time with perspective changing rapidly under modern influences. Gain insights about how humans have connected to these landscapes since time immemorial through the centering of Indigenous worldviews. Camp along the shores and under the star-studded nightscapes of Lake Powell and learn why Glen Canyon is considered the lifeforce of canyon country.
Highlights
- Travel through red rock canyons and gaze out over miles of unique formations to discover hidden springs, seasonal watercourses, rock imagery, and wild creatures.
- "Being on the water and experiencing the vastness and remoteness of Lake Powell with the scholars and participants was a life experience I will never forget.” — 2024 traveler
Itinerary
Registration limited to 12 participants.Meals, lodging, and transportation provided.
*(B, L, D) indicates meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Itinerary subject to change.
Sunday, September 7: Opening Night at Crow Canyon’s Campus
Gather in the late afternoon on the Crow Canyon Campus to meet, greet, and eat while we learn important details of the week to come. This first night will set the stage as we center our hearts and minds and prepare for our collective journey of learning. Overnight: Hotel in Cortez, CO (D)
Monday, September 8: Bullfrog, Utah
We will enjoy scenic landscapes as we travel from Cortez, Colorado to Bullfrog, Utah. We will have lunch together overlooking a creek and discuss the many cultures of people that have lived in the area since time immemorial. Employing Visit With Respect principles, we will view several petroglyph panels along our route. Overnight: Hotel in Bullfrog, UT (B, L, D)
Tuesday, September 9: Lake Powell | Water Day #1
Step aboard a boat and take in views of Glen Canyon above the dam, launching from Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell. We will ride, talk, camp, and gawk on the waves and shores of this massive human-made body of water. Overnight: Camping, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (B, L, D)
Wednesday, September 10: Lake Powell | Water Day #2
We will take our time plying through flooded canyons that reveal and inspire stories from our scholars as we follow our curiosities, alternating between brief stops ashore and optional swims. Overnight: Camping, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (B, L, D)
Thursday, September 11: Lake Powell | Water Day #3
After packing up our camp, we will take our time getting back to Bullfrog, where you will visit the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA) Visitor Center while staff prepare us for another scenic drive over to Escalante, Utah. We cover a lot of ground this day and learn even more about human histories while visiting some very interesting off-the-beaten path places. Overnight: Hotel in Escalante, UT (B, L, D)
Friday, September 12: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument stewards a vast watershed that precipitates into Glen Canyon from the north, with rich histories of cultural significance. We will follow the path of water up and down the Escalante River Canyon to gather a big picture story of how a raindrop becomes a river. We traverse miles of sandy terrain, while getting our feet wet hiking through lush canyons framed by epic sandstone, colored by minerals and time. Overnight: Hotel in Escalante, UT (B, L, D)
Saturday, September 13: Capitol Reef National Park
Our journey back to Cortez routes us through a remarkably scenic landscape of red rock canyons and sage-covered plains. We take an alternate route on the way home to allow us to gather more of a sense of place and to stop and hike into a canyon stewarded by Capitol Reef National Park. We will see another impressive petroglyph panel or two before driving through Bears Ears National Monument on our way to our special farewell dinner in Cortez. Overnight: Cortez, CO (B, L, D)
Sunday, September 14: Departures
Warm goodbyes, then air-conditioned transportation modes carry us towards our homes after breakfast. Shuttles to Cortez and Durango airports will be provided. (B)
This program requires special permission from the National Park Service’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Capitol Reef National Park; the BLM-Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as well as Utah state SITLA lands.
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California CST 2059347-50
Is this program right for me?
WHAT TO EXPECT The theme of this program is largely focused on a cultural landscape that holds great significance for many descendant communities. While there will be ancestral places to visit throughout the week, these destinations are not the emphasis. Expect a boating and hiking intensive program consisting of several days of sitting and looking up or out, with hiking adventures interspersed. Be prepared for hikes across rugged and remote canyonlands for several miles on uneven, and sometimes rocky, trails. These trails are not well maintained and will have hazardous footing. Some routes will be steep with loose rock and no shade. While staff members are available for assistance, you should be comfortable using your hands to steady yourself and be able to take steps higher than a standard staircase step to navigate boulders and bedrock. We expect the weather this time of year to be warm and windy. In fact, inclement weather could change our itinerary completely, so please be ready for change and flexibility.
This program involves van travel and hiking to access both front country and backcountry sites. One day will include a van ride totaling six hours with a little hiking in the middle, while other van rides may last less than 30 minutes with multiple stops. Be prepared to cover a lot of ground in vehicles (boats and vans).
ACCOMMODATIONS
The program involves at least three different hotels in Colorado and Utah and two nights of camping on the shores of Lake Powell. The view from your room or tent is likely to be different most evenings so please be prepared to stay on the move and pack all but two of the mornings.
Camp gear (tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag) can be rented from our outfitter for an additional fee.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What camping gear is provided? You may bring your own gear (tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag) if you wish, or you may rent sleeping bags through our outfitter if you do not have your own. Crow Canyon will provide tents, air mattresses, camp chairs, eating utensils, restroom facilities, etc. A full gear list can be provided upon request.
How strenuous is the program? This program includes extended periods of sitting for boat rides, the likelihood of much sun, and possibly several short, but steep and technical hikes ashore. We will travel great distances in vehicles each day and take in a lot of information and new ideas, so we will be tired every evening from all we have seen and done.
How long are the hikes on the trip? We like to keep our options open for opportunities and our plans could change as we watch the weather, but we are planning for our hiking days to be from one to eight miles. These hikes could be steep and technical so each one will be presented as a challenge by choice. Some of the terrain is guaranteed to be rugged, steep, and rocky, with little or no shade. Our hikes may begin and end by stepping off and back on a rocking boat so having good balance and strength in your stride will be important. If you choose to opt out of a hike, your options will likely be spending time on the boat, in the shade of a van, or on shore nearby.
How much elevation gain do the hikes have? Interestingly, the elevation gain largely depends on the level of the lake. Most hikes will only gain several hundred feet or less but will likely do so in a few steps.
Will we be backpacking? No. We will have a base camp where we depart and return each day. You will need a day pack however to carry your personal belongings and items of comfort.
Will there be opportunities for swimming? Yes, very much so! The water temperatures fluctuate and can be cold, but on average, the time of year we will be visiting the water should be perfect. We will have lots of time for swimming if you are so inclined.
What time does the program start on the first day? We will gather at 2:00 p.m. on Crow Canyon’s campus in Cortez, Colorado on the first day.
What time does the program end on the last day? Our trip ends after dinner in Cortez on Saturday, September 13th. You are welcome to depart at that time, but most people prefer to depart the next morning (Sunday the 14th ) after a good night’s rest and continental breakfast.
What airports will transportation be provided from? Airport shuttles will be provided on the first and last days of the trip (Sunday the 7th and Sunday the 14th) to local airports (Durango and Cortez). We are also happy to get you to a local location to pick up a rental car or catch a bus.
Can I drive myself during the program? Can I bring an RV to stay in instead? No, we prefer to travel as a group in Crow Canyon vehicles each day and we will have a place to park your vehicle for the week while we are adventuring. We will not have a place to park RVs, nor will the logistics be conducive for RV travel.
What if I have a dietary restriction? Please fill out your medical form and check with your Program Manager well in advance. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions to your satisfaction.
WHAT NEXT?
Register online or contact us at travel@crowcanyon.org. Prior to the program start date, we will provide trip details, a packing list, and forms for you to complete. Please direct specific questions and concerns to the Program Manager, Adam Kackstetter at akackstetter@crowcanyon.org.
Crow Canyon is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and contributions from supporters like you help fund our unique and important mission. Program tuitions cover only a portion of the cost to operate the Cultural Explorations travel programs. Generous donations support the remaining costs of designing highly customized programming such as this and enable us to provide scholarships for additional cultural advisors to attend the program and enhance the quality of your experience. DONATE HERE
