Meeting Location: On the first day of the trip, meet your Trip Leaders in the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott.

Attire & Luggage: Please arrive dressed in your hiking clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack with your rain gear, sun hat and anything else you may want for today's hike (your luggage will be transported to our first night's accommodations).

Shuttle to Bryce National Park 3 Hours

Tropic Trail to Queens Garden Hike 3.6 Miles (1,100 elevation gain')

Welcome to the Beehive State! We begin our Southwest adventure with a shuttle to Bryce Canyon National Park. The park's namesake, Mormon settler Ebenezer Bryce, deemed this magnificent region "a hell of a place to lose a cow." Take one look at the park's maze of spires, hoodoos, windows, walls and pinnacles, and you may understand exactly what he meant. After lunch, set out to explore Bryce Canyon National Park on foot from a little-used trail. Make your way down into the canyon filled with whimsical rock formations that huddle beneath the watchful gaze of the Queen Victoria hoodoo. You'll feel as if you're walking through a petrified forest—or even on another planet. Bristlecone Pines, some of the oldest living organisms on earth, thrive in this barren environment; keep on the lookout for a ridge covered with these ancient trees. Make your way into the heart of the amphitheater and ascend to the rim of the canyon.

We shuttle to our glamping accommodation and home for the next two nights, Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, located just outside the park. Framed by Utah's iconic red rocks, this upscale camp-style accommodation has received national recognition for its unique offering, modern amenities and unbeatable location.

This evening we gather for a welcome reception in the dining area and toast (marshmallows!) to an exciting adventure ahead!

Lodging: Under Canvas Bryce Canyon