“I don’t know of any company who provides such a high level of comfort for the parents and the children. It’s like sending your child to visit a close family friend.”
- Nancy Crawford
Louisville, KY
Experience the amazing Utah Canyonlands with Adventure Treks. This is the perfect trip for a new or returning student who is ready to challenge themselves and explore the amazing scenery of Moab, Utah.
Your adventure starts with a 3-day backpack in small groups so you can get to know your tripmates and the Utah climate. Cool off with a 4-day canoe trip down the Green River, then test your rock-climbing and paddling skills along the Colorado River. Enjoy a 3-day backcountry bike trip, climb and rappel while exploring a deep canyon, and finally treat yourself to another rafting trip on the Green River!
You’ll love this hike – far from a hot desert experience – at 5,000 to 10,000 foot elevation. Explore high elevation lakes, crazy rock formations and great views. Witness beautiful sunsets over the distant red rocks, and sleep under quite possibly the most stars you'll ever see in your lifetime.
Next, head to the Green River for 4 days of canoeing through this scenic canyon. You and your partner will navigate the river (with rapids up to class II) by day, and sleep on sandy beaches by night. Look for birds above and fish below as you explore the river.
The second time you get into the Canyonlands, you'll really get into a canyon. Marvel at the forces of nature as you pass through these beautifully sculpted twisting passages, immaculately carved by the passing of water. This canyon is packed with excitement as you negotiate rappels and wade through water. The sky above you changes from expansive to just a sliver as you progress. See wildlife that only survives in the cool, dark canyons.
Get out of the protected canyon and up onto one of the famous climbs near Moab, Utah as you test your climbing skills on the grippy sandstone. We'll set up a climb for all ability levels so you can enjoy your day and challenge yourself to climb more.
Spend 4 days biking and camping north of Arches National Park. If you're just starting out as a mountain biker, there are lots of trails that let you take in the scenery as you travel through the backcountry. For students who are comfortable on a bike, you'll find harder routes with natural ramps and jumps to test your skills.
Get soaked shooting the roaring rapids of the Colorado River. Perfect your paddling skills on this exciting and scenic trip, and listen to sounds of the river and the desert wildlife echo off the canyon walls at night.
The backpacking on the Utah Canyons Adventure is above 10,000 feet in elevation. This trip is not suitable for participants who experience altitude sickness.
Space is Limited. Call 888-954-5555 for more information about this trip and to check availability. Apply early to ensure the trip of your choice.
Arrive in Salt Lake City, UT airport (SLC) by 1 pm opening day.
Depart Salt Lake City, UT airport (SLC) by 2 pm closing day.
Already enrolled? Log in to the Registered Students Page for your equipment lists, paperwork, and more!
Saturday, July 17: Students arrive at Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) Airport by 1 pm.
Sunday, July 18: Outdoor clinics, orientation and introductory day hike
Monday July 19 - Wednesday, July 21: Backpack for 3-days in the Utah backcountry. Witness beautiful sunsets over the distant red rocks, and sleep under quite possibly the most stars you will ever see in your lifetime.
Wednesday, July 21 - Saturday, July 24: 4-day canoe trip on the Green River. You and your partner will navigate the river (with rapids up to class II) by day, and sleep on sandy beaches by night.
Sunday, July 25: Logistics day in Moab, UT.
Monday, July 26: Rock climbing near Moab. Enjoy the famous climbs near Moab, Utah as you test your climbing skills on the grippy sandstone. We'll set up a climb for all ability levels so you can enjoy your day.
Tuesday, July 27: Canyoneering Day - Rappel, climb, walk, and wade through all types of formations in a mile-long canyon near Moab.
Wednesday, July 28 - Thursday, July 29: Overnight whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River. Perfect your paddling skills on this exciting and scenic trip. Camp on a sandy beach and listen to sounds of the river and the desert wildlife echo off the canyon walls at night.
Friday, July 30: Logistics Day.
Saturday, July 31: Drive to Elk Ridge and prep for mountain biking trip.
Sunday, August 1 – Tuesday, August 3: 3-day Elk Ridge mountain biking trip near Natural Bridges national monument. If you're just starting out as a mountain biker, there are lots of trails that let you take in the scenery as you travel through the backcountry. For students who are comfortable on a bike, you will find harder routes with natural ramps and jumps to test your skills.
Wednesday, August 4: Visit Arches National Park. These parks will leave you wanting more of this beautiful part of the United States. We will have a farewell dinner in Salt Lake City this evening.
Thursday, August 5: Students depart from Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) by 2 pm.
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary prior to and throughout the trip as we constantly improve the Adventure Treks experience. Itineraries may change due to: Severe weather, student ability, motivation and conditioning, high or low rivers, high or low snow pack, unpredictable natural disasters and acts of God, vehicle breakdowns, road closures, volcanic activity, forest fires, illness, ever changing permit regulations, any potential threat to safety, even a brilliant idea from an instructor or student. In the event of a schedule change, comparable activities will be substituted when possible and you will be notified by e-mail of significant changes.
Is this the best trip for me?
The Utah Canyons Adventure is a perfect trip for students age 14-16 who are currently in 8th-10th grade. No previous experience is necessary to join any of our trips! With 24 students in the group, you will be challenged appropriately because we break up into small groups for each activity based on your interest and ability.
All students on Utah Canyons Adventures should be comfortable riding a bike. Your backcountry biking trip is going to be amazing, and we want to you enjoy yourself. Practice riding each week to get in shape for this trip.
What other trips might be right for me?
Won't it be really hot in Utah?
Temperatures in the mountains are usually moderate, and we'll spend plenty of time in canyons, on rivers, and backpacking in higher elevations. We want you to be prepared for cooler nights at higher elevations. A heavy fleece, a hat and gloves are recommended as part of your equipment list so you’ll be comfortable in any weather. For more information about packing, please check your equipment list at your Log In Page.
Is there any special gear I need for this trip?
Your daypack (a bookbag) is essential on this trip, because your duffel will be shuttled to you during your canoeing and biking trips. You'll pack everything you need for the day in your daypack. You'll also need a headnet for potential mosquitoes on your canoe trip. A Camelbak or similar hydration bladder is highly recommended for the biking trip, canyoneering, and hiking.
For more answers, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us at 888-954-5555. We’re always happy to help you out!
Amanda Cencak – Amanda has a degree in Parks and Recreation from Northern Arizona University and will begin a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling at Westminster this fall. She has earned her Wilderness First Responder, Outdoor Leadership I & II, and Water Safety Instructor certifications. Amanda has led backpacking and horse packing trips with several summer camps, college programs, and AAVE. She is joining us for her fifth summer as a Trip Leader. Amanda has also worked as a senior member of the fall school group staff and full time in the A.T. office. In her spare time, she has been a rodeo queen, worked as a horse trainer, artisan baker, traveled and studied Spanish in Guatemala and Peru and worked on an educational farm where she raised baby goats.
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Emily Baker - Originally from Colorado, Emily has spent the last four years at Whitman College studying geology and exploring the intermountain west. She loves rivers, and has led rafting trips on the Colorado, Arkansas, Clear Creek, Green, Snake, and Salmon Rivers, including a Whitman freshman orientation trip and a River Guide Leadership course. She loves whitewater in the winter as well (when it falls as snow) and is the founder of Whitman's Backcountry Ski Club. Last fall, she spent 3 months trekking in Northern India, teaching English to Tibetan refugees. She holds current Wilderness First Responder and Avalanche-1 certifications.
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Nathaniel Humphreys – Nathaniel hails from Asheville, NC and joins us for his second year as an instructor. He was a 5-year A.T. student, completed a research project with the C.L.I.M.B.E. program at Montreat, and thru-hiked the 270 mile Long Trail in Vermont. Nathaniel is a classical singer with six years of training, an avid reader, and a certified Wilderness First Responder. He is currently attending St. John's College in the high-altitude desert mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Anna Booth
- Anna is excited to be joining us for her first summer as an instructor. She brings several years experience working with teens in wilderness settings. She graduated in 2006 with a degree in outdoor leadership from John Brown University and studied abroad for a semester in Fiji. She loves to ski, climb alpine peaks in Colorado and recently rafted the Grand Canyon. She is a certified Avalanche Level 1 and Wilderness First Responder.
Christopher “Buckwheat” Shuler – Christopher returns to Adventure Treks for his fifth season. In addition to being a certified snowboard and ski instructor he has worked with many outdoor educational organizations such as the Westwind Outdoor Science School, the Northwest Youth Corps and with Wingate in Utah. Christopher studied at the Wild Rockies Field Institute and earned his degree in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder, a talented musician, and a self-proclaimed “Master” of the “Hey cow!” game. He has cycled from North Carolina to Arizona, around the Big Island of Hawaii, and is currently teaching middle school science at a bilingual school in Western Honduras.
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Peter Bassinger – Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Pete has a degree in History from the University of Alaska, Anchorage and is currently working on a Masters in Teaching from the University of Alaska, Southeast. Pete is an avid skier and mountain biker. He has ridden and raced all over the US including the full 2,600 miles of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and the across Alaska on the Iditarod Trail. Pete has spent the last few years as a mountain bike guide, Nordic ski instructor and bicycle mechanic and is a Wilderness First Responder. He is biking from Anchorage to Portland for A.T. instructor orientation this summer!
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Adventure Treks is a program for teenagers, so we don’t allow any inappropriate language or content in our reviews. We do screen reviews for spam and legitimacy, and we will post all appropriate comments in full.
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Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST.
Our core office staff, consisting of Dock, Kyndra, Dmac, Holly and Alice, welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Apply online and submit an $800 deposit by check or Visa/MC to hold your place on the Adventure of your choice. As a smaller, more personal company, enrollment is limited, so please send in your application early.
2. You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to complete your student essay, medical form, and 2 references (phone calls or e-mails to our office) from a teacher and another non-related adult who knows your child well. We may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child.
3. Your remaining paperwork and information about your trip is available on our Registered Students Page and will be mailed to you upon acceptance. Adventure Treks is selective. Applications will be carefully reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All deposits are refundable prior to March 1st, less a $200 processing fee, for cancellation for any reason. For cancellations after March 1st, tuition is non-refundable. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance for your protection. If a participant withdraws voluntarily or is sent home as a consequence of unacceptable behavior, no refund of any kind will be granted. It is the parents’ responsibility to cover any additional travel expenses.
Click map to enlarge
| Duration: | 20 days |
| Dates: | July 17 - August 5 |
| Ages: | 14-16 |
| Activities: | Whitewater Rafting Mountain Biking Rock Climbing Backpacking Canoeing Canyoneering |
| States: |
Utah |
| Price: | US $3,695.00 |
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