Tour Code: 358-289

7-Day Yellowstone, Grand Canyon tour from San Francisco

Our trip begins out of the San Francisco Bay Area, heading from the coast toward the breadth of the desert, but before we make our escape, we’ll take a stop in Sacramento, California’s capital city, to tour this pioneer town, once the heart of the Gold Rush, Pony Express, and Continental Railroad. In the afternoon we’ll head through the infamous Denver Pass on our way over the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the town of Elko in northeast Nevada.

In the morning, we’ll set out on the trail from Elko through Twin Falls, Idaho, following the Snake River as it winds its way toward the Wyoming ranges. When we arrive at Jackson, we’ll tour the town center, where arches made of elk antlers decorate the four entrances into the square. In this quaint town made famous for natural arts and crafts, there will be plenty to do and see. In the afternoon, we’ll hit the road again, setting our sights on the snow-capped peaks of Grand Teton National Park. The splendor of nine mountain tops cresting over 12,000 feet above sea level is dwarfed only by Grand Teton, at the heart of the range, soaring to over 13,775 feet. Following this spectacle, we’ll make our way to West Yellowstone to spend the evening.

Today, we’ll visit Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s oldest national park. Here, you will be captivated by the beauty of the Yellowstone Canyon, punctuated at either end by waterfalls fed by the Yellowstone River. We’ll see rumbling mud volcanoes barely containing the energy below, as well as the geothermal pools at Mammoth Hot Springs. All the while, the finest preserved ecosystem of the lower 48 states will play out around us as it has done for centuries, giving us the opportunity to see wildlife such as elk, bears, moose, and even rare buffalo.
Heading out from Yellowstone, we’ll stay the night in Pocatello, Idaho.

This morning we’ll explore the Utah State Capitol Building and the center of Salt Lake City, Temple Square. Seated within the 10 acre compound are the Salt Lake Temple, Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, and the Seagull Monument, each a historic symbol of the society founded here by Brigham Young and his Mormon pioneers. We’ll leave Salt Lake City to arrive in Bryce Canyon, which is a magnificent natural “amphitheater” of red rock formations high in the Colorado Plateau. Created by erosion, these dense columns – known as “hoodoos” – create a landscape that is almost alien. After a full day out among the rocks, we’ll return to stay Overnight stay in Bryce Canyon City.

From Bryce Canyon City, we head out to Zion National Park. This pristine landscape is colored with reddish and tan sandstone, and features soaring cliffs and great basins. Throughout the day, the beautiful scenery of Zion National Park changes color gently in the migrating sun. Passing through, we’ll reach Las Vegas, spending the night at the Excalibur Resort and Casino on the Strip.

Grand Canyon (South Rim) National Park:

Today we will make our way to the Grand Canyon, one of the most spectacular examples of water’s erosive power. Carved by the Colorado River beginning as much 17 million years ago (according to recent studies), this stunning natural wonder is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep. The Grand Canyon National Park is a designated World Heritage Site and is incomparable with its vistas of sheer drops and cliffs marked with different geological strata dating back billions of years. We’ll spend the day along the South Rim of the Canyon, stopping at various viewpoints along the way and admiring this glorious work of art that could only have been sculpted by nature and time.

OR: Grand Canyon West Rim "The Skywalk":

This day will begin with a trek through the desert to the magnificent and massive Hoover Dam and then on to the Hualapai Indian Reservation, located on the West Rim of the Grand Canyon*. Walking along the rim of the majestic canyon will take us around to the newly built Skywalk*. Created by David Jin of the Hualapai Tribe, the Skywalk extends a U-shaped platform 70 feet over the edge and about 4,000 feet above the canyon basin. With a 10 foot solid glass floor, you’ll have a view of the canyon below like nothing you’ve ever seen – the closest thing to floating in thin air. You may also elect to take a helicopter flight* into the Grand Canyon and cruise along the Colorado River aboard a pontoon boat*.

OR: Free time on your own in Las Vegas

*Optional activity; fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.

After breakfast, we’ll drive back to the Bay Area with beautiful memories of this wonderful tour, or you can take a flight from here to your next destination (air-ticket purchased separately).