Grand Circle Road Trip

Choose Your Own Adventure

With our newest camp, Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, you can now road-trip through the Southwest’s most epic national parks and monuments via the Grand Circle—stopping at all five sister properties along the way: Grand Canyon, Moab, Zion, Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, and Bryce Canyon.

Our suggested 1,100-mile itinerary allows you to choose your own adventure as you travel through spectacular vistas, colors, and sunsets of the American Southwest. Whether you want to see rock arches at Arches National Park, hoodoos at Bryce, Zion’s slot canyons, rugged Grand Staircase-Escalante, or the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, you can spend nights at Under Canvas camps beneath some of the darkest star-filled skies in the country.

Start the circle wherever is most convenient for you, and then take a week or more to explore the national parks and all the natural wonders and adventures in and around our camps along the way. Explore our Under Canvas Grand Circle road-trip route and get inspired to craft your own. 1ARCHES

NATIONAL PARK

You can see the park’s rock formations from your tent at Under Canvas Moab. The iconic Delicate Arch is a mustsee, but so is Landscape Arch, the world’s longest rock span.

The GRAND CIRCLE

2. Capitol

Reef



4. Under Canvas Zion 

3. Under Canvas Bryce Canyon

5. Under Canvas Lake Powell Grand Staircase

6. 

Under Canvas Grand Canyon START



1. Under Canvas Moab END

 7.

Monument

Valley

3

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

A visit to this national park (Utah’s smallest but tallest) is complete with a stay at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, new for 2022—only 15 minutes from the world’s highest concentrations of crimson-colored hoodoos.

2

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

Take the drive to Capitol Reef National Park, a hidden treasure filled with rugged back-country and scenic overlooks, before embarking on the famous Highway 12 journey—which is arguably the most scenic section of the 122-mile All-American Road known as the “Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.”

4 5

ZION NATIONAL PARK

Appreciate the scale of the sheer red cliffs formed by the Virgin River from the Canyon Overlook Trail along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.

5

LAKE POWELL-GRAND STAIRCASE AND HORESHOE BEND

From the tents at our camp you can see Lake Powell, soaring cliffs, buttes, towers, and other desert rock geology. Sights you don’t want to miss here are the Vermilion Cliffs, Horseshoe Bend, and Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase’s on-site Elephant Slot Canyon.

6

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

More than 6,000 feet deep and up to 18 miles wide, the canyon is truly grand. From the South Rim side, you can drop down into it from several trailheads, going from the piñon and juniper forest on the rim to other, ancient worlds of rock—stepping further back in geologic time with every foot you descend.

TRAVIS BURKE (3); DREAMTOWN (ZION); BAILEY MADE; SWISSMEDIAVISION (BRYCE); LARABELOVA/ISTOCK (CAPITOL REEF) 7

MONUMENT VALLEY

S A T R

Lake PowellGrand Staircase

P O W E R Nighttime at Under Canvas brings out a sight few of us see anymore: the Milky Way and a sky bursting with billions of stars. The dark skies at our camps are the perfect spots to learn the art of stargazing.

DDid you know that 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way from where they live? Light pollution from cities causes “sky glow” and can extend great distances. Erasing our view of the stars, a high level of light pollution also harms wildlife, wastes energy, and disrupts our sleep. When you stay at Under Canvas, you’re granted the opportunity to see the dark night sky in a different light. At our Bryce Canyon, Moab, Grand Canyon, and Zion locations—Bryce Canyon, Arches, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks are all certified Dark Sky Parks—you don’t need a telescope to spot constellations and revel in the sky’s brightest stars. Under Canvas is committed to doing our part to reduce light pollution by following guidance from the International Dark-Sky Association, protecting the night from light pollution since 1988. By pointing lights down, eliminating glare, dimming and turning lights off when not needed, and choosing warmer color light, we are protecting the nighttime environment, ensuring the safety of our guests, and helping you reconnect with the night. Follow these steps when you return home to continue doing your part to turn down light pollution and turn up the stars. Learn more at DarkSky.org.

ROOTED IN NATURE:

Every Full Moon has a name that’s rooted in nature. The moon phase names we use today often reflect the changing seasons and surrounding environment, including the Harvest Moon in September/October, Strawberry Moon in June, or April’s Pink Moon—inspired by the pink flowers that bloom in the early spring season. Insider tip: The Full Moon is great for night hiking while the New Moon is great for stargazing!

TRAVIS BURKE (PREVIOUS AND RIGHT)

 LUNAR ECLIPSE

MAY 16

Visible across much of

North America, with a total lunar eclipse visible in the eastern USA.

 BRYCE CANYON

NATIONAL PARK

ASTRONOMY FESTIVAL

JUNE 22-25

The 21st annual festival will feature several ranger programs, constellation tours, and family-oriented crafts. Celebrate the night sky at Bryce Canyon!

 PERSEID METEOR

SHOWER

AUGUST 11-12

The Perseids are always popular, but the peak is around the full moon.

This year, we expect to see 83 meteors per hour in dark sky conditions.

OUTSIDE

TAKE IT

OUTSIDE From our camps, you’ll find a natural world begging to be explored. Pick an adventure and get started.

Bryce Canyon:

Stargazing in Bryce Canyon National Park

A certified International Dark-Sky Park, Bryce Canyon is the ultimate place to stargaze and enjoy the splendor of the night sky. Far from any light pollution and protected by Astronomy Rangers, you’ll find yourself in a sanctuary for natural darkness. No visit is complete without joining the Astronomy Rangers for an educational and entertaining astronomy experience at their observatory outside the western boundary of Bryce Canyon National Park.

Adventure Option:

Fairyland Loop Trail

Explore the grandeur of Utah’s natural beauty and national parks with expert guides. Choose an adventurous trail option like the Fairyland Loop for a long, strenuous excursion that takes you below the rim, through the canyon. See the amazing red rock spires (known as hoodoos), enjoy getting up close and personal with the landscape, and you may even spot some wildlife roaming the grasslands surrounding the park.

Bryce Canyon

Moab:

Hiking in Arches & Canyonlands

Moab is best known for its stunning red rock scenery, stone arches, and vast deserts. As impressive as these look from a distance, they’re even more awe-inspiring when you’re hiking on, in, under, or around them. Head into Arches and Canyonlands National Parks near Moab with a hiking guide on a custom itinerary based on your interests. Go for specific objectives like Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, or Grand View Point, or opt for a hike that highlights photography, archaeology, or even paleontology.

Adventure Option:

Sunset Hummer Tour

This Hummer safari departs each evening before sunset and within minutes of departure you’ll be scaling one of Moab’s red rock fins on your way to an area known as Hell’s Revenge. Weave in and out of rock canyons and climb steep sandstone hills. While on the trip, your guides will share the geology of the area, along with the history of the Canyonlands region. Midway through, you’ll ascend to the summit of a captivating overlook, where you’ll relax and enjoy hors d’oeuvres while the desert sun paints the evening sky.

Moab

Yellowstone:

Private Driving Tour

Enjoy VIP status as you explore the country’s first national park and surrounding areas on a private guided tour. Tours are fully customizable, catering to your interests. See wildlife in the Hayden and Lamar Valleys, take in the views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and marvel at the wonder of the park’s variety of geothermal features.

Adventure Option:

Whitewater Rafting

Put on your PFD (personal flotation device) and hop in a raft for a wild or mild adventure on the Gallatin River. If you’re feeling wild, there’s a section of the river called the “Mad Mile” that features almost continuous Class IV (out of V) rapids. More interested in taking in the sights and sounds of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem? This river, where parts of the movie A River Runs Through It were filmed, has some mild sections as well.

Yellowstone

Mount Rushmore:

Explore the Black Hills

This is a journey that celebrates the three most popular destinations in the Black Hills: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. Experience the sights, view wildlife, learn history, and hear stories from professional guides who have decades of experience to share. Cyclists of all levels enjoy the Mickelson Rail Trail. In its entirety, the trail is more than 100 miles long, but it’s broken into 15 segments, each of which has its own sights and personality.

Adventure Option:

Guided Kayak or SUP Tour

Spend the day exploring the largest lake in the Black Hills, Pactola Lake, by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) with an experienced guide. Jumping and diving off rocks and swimming are encouraged.

DAVEALAN/ISTOCK; BAILEY MADE (2) Mount Rushmore

Zion

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Zion:

Hiking and Biking

The Zion area contains some of the planet’s most spectacular scenery, yet the vast majority of its three million annual visitors will never experience the park beyond a few feet of the road. Take the trail less traveled and hike to places that most visitors to southern Utah see only in photographs, including stunning panoramas and breathtaking overlooks that have remained untouched and unchanged for millions of years. The bike-friendly Pa’rus Trail winds alongside the Virgin River.

Adventure Option:

Canyoneering

Canyoneering is a multisport activity during which a group of people work together to hike, climb, swim, squeeze, rappel, support, laugh, cry, and listen, all in an amazing natural setting. Half-day trips will take place in dry canyons and full-day trips will be in wet canyons. Don’t worry about the location; your guides know some pretty amazing places.

Acadia

Acadia:

Sunset Cruise

Join Captain Linda Greenlaw—who was featured in Sebastian Junger’s best-selling book The Perfect Storm (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio played her in the movie version)— for a sunset cruise on the waters around Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Learn about local history and folklore while enjoying a unique perspective of the craggy coastline. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll spot eagles, seals, or porpoise before toasting the end of another amazing day in Down East Maine.

Adventure Option:

Bioluminescent Kayaking

Castine Harbor is Maine’s own Bioluminescent Bay featuring an ecosystem that creates the perfect environment for these glow-in-the-dark phytoplankton to shine. Take a unique evening paddle in Castine Harbor, with the stars shining above and amazing bioluminescent organisms swirling in the water with every stroke of your paddle. Fascinating!

Great Smoky Mountains:

Guided Hiking

Our guides have walked thousands of miles through the Smokies and will lead you to some of the most magical places in the mountains. On the way you’ll learn about both the natural and human history of the Smokies, including bits of Cherokee lore and maybe an Appalachian tall tale.

Adventure Option:

Whitewater or Scenic Rafting

The National Outdoor Center has been synonymous with whitewater rafting and kayaking for generations. Its Pigeon River outpost nearby offers scenic and whitewater rafting in the Upper Pigeon Gorge (Class II-IV rapids such as Lost Guide and Accelerator) and on the Lower Pigeon (flat water).

Grand Staircase- Escalante

Lake PowellGrand Staircase:

Horseshoe Bend Float Trip

Sit back and relax in a comfortable 32-foot raft as you float through iconic Horseshoe Bend. Your friendly guide will help you enjoy the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam, spotting rainbow trout in the crystal-clear water and dozens of types of birds nesting along the banks of the river. You might even spot a herd of bighorn sheep along the way.

Adventure Option:

Vermilion Cliffs UTV Tours

Experience wide open wilderness and the excitement of off-roading while exploring the beautiful, expansive Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). Maybe you’ll even see an endangered California condor; the region is an ideal habitat for North America’s largest flying bird.

Grand Canyon:

Jeep Tour

Venture off-road, down historic stagecoach trails through the Kaibab National Forest in search of elk, deer, and turkey. Eventually you’ll arrive at one of the world’s most magnificent vistas—sunset at the Grand Canyon. Your guide will take you to viewpoints along the canyon’s rim while describing geologic formations, inner canyon trails, and the Colorado River.

Adventure Option:

Guided Hiking

With its two billion years of exposed geologic history, the Grand Canyon is a place where hiking can be as science-y as it is scenic. Or maybe you’re more interested in biology than geology and want to see some of the park’s diverse flora and fauna? Get exactly what you want on a Grand Canyon hike by heading out with a guide on an adventure completely customized to your interests, schedule, and activity level.

Glacier:

Rafting the Flathead River

This scenic float on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River isn’t just a feast for your eyes. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a gourmet riverside dinner (buffalo burgers are one option). On the water, an experienced guide will share the history of Native Americans who have lived in this area for millennia as you savor views of the tall peaks of Glacier National Park. This trip is a great opportunity for the whole family or a group of friends to enjoy the river and the variety of scenic landscapes—it’s a favorite for all ages.

Adventure Option:

Fly-Fishing

Can you come to Montana and not go fly-fishing? Whether you’re an experienced angler or a first-timer, our seasoned guides will help you land a fish, maybe even a westslope cutthroat trout, a species native to the Glacier area and considered one of the prettiest, hardest-fighting cutthroats around.