Redrock Backpacker: Southwestern Utah is rated Difficult. The hike is in the rocky riverbed of a desert slot canyon. Carrying camping gear in backpacks adds to the strain on the body. You will love this trip if you enjoy being physically challenged, have a well-developed level of agility, muscular strength, and cardiovascular endurance. We’ve seen groups of 12-year old boy scouts in the canyon, and our oldest guest was 63, so don’t let age intimidate you. However, we insist that you honestly evaluate your mental and physical capabilities before signing up for this trip.

To help you prepare, we’ve customized workouts that you can purchase directly from our website. Click here to visit the Online Workouts page and select the Backpacking/Hiking workout that’s right for you.

♦Difficult. For very fit exercisers who enjoy exploring and sleeping outdoors

Activity: 8-10 hours most days

Distances: Hike up to 6 miles/day

Surfaces: Unmaintained trails that may contain obstacles such as boulders, rocks, water, logjams, dense vegetation, quicksand or mud. Terrain may require strenuous climbs and descents with steep drop-offs.

Elevation Change: Up to 5,000 ft

Altitude: 2,000 -5,000 ft

Warning: Located in a designated wilderness area; no improvements or regular ranger patrol; no cell phone or hand-held service is available.  Trust us on this one: if you are not in good physical condition, this is not the hike for you. You must be actively exercising and in good health before attempting to do this hike. This hike is not recommended for anyone with a severe fear of heights.

Remember, there’s no ‘wimp’ in adventure. By choice you are signing up to join other fun, fitness-loving travelers for an epic adventure in the backcountry, not a 5-star resort vacation. We like team players on our trips and you are expected to be adaptable, to interact with guides, operators, and other guests with respect.