Great Parks of the Southwest featuring the Grand Canyon

Arrive at Chicago Union Station and board the California Zephyr. Settle into your onboard accommodations and prepare for your overnight rail journey. Travelers may elect to travel from San Francisco or points in-between and meet your Tour Manager on Day 2. As your journey gets underway, admire scenes of America's Heartland as the train heads west toward Iowa and Nebraska. Overnight train.

Awake to magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains. The best place to see this stunning scenery is from the train's Sightseer Lounge with its swivel seats and floor-to-ceiling windows. We arrive in Grand Junction, CO, late this afternoon, where we continue our journey toward Moab, UT, by deluxe motorcoach. Enjoy dinner with the group before settling in for the evening. Overnight Moab, UT.

• Dinner

Today begins with a tour of Arches National Park. This rugged area contains the largest concentration of sandstone arches, fins, spires, and balancing rocks worldwide. Your guide is an expert on the landscape and its features and unveils one spectacular arch and natural formation after another. After, we will board our Jetboat to travel down the calm water section of the Colorado River (subject to river water levels). Moab is one of the few places where you can access the Colorado River along its 1,450-mile route to the sea. Marvel at the beauty of the wilderness as we float leisurely down the red rock cliffs that mark the southern boundary of Arches National Park. We return to our hotel this evening. Overnight Moab, UT.

• Breakfast

After breakfast at the lodge this morning, we depart Moab by motorcoach for Torrey, UT, in the state's center. A lesser-known yet highly impressive protected parkland awaits your discovery here as we visit Capitol Reef National Park. This remote and little-visited area of Utah is a pristine wilderness famous for its Navajo Sandstone formations. The dome-like structures have been shaped by the elements and resemble our nation's capital. We will stop at the park Visitor Center first and then make two stops at spectacular viewpoints for pictures and to see some of the park's ancient ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs. Overnight Torrey, UT.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Even more of Utah's unique landscapes lie ahead today as the journey continues toward Kanab near the Arizona border. Windswept sandstone formations and towering cliffs offer lovely surroundings during the drive. Our first stop of the day comes as we arrive at one of the newest monuments in the parks system, Grand Staircase-Escalante. This region consists of 1.9 million acres of wilderness cut by the Paria and Escalante Rivers. Our visit includes a stop at the Ranger Station to learn about the establishment of this area and photo opportunities of the panoramic views.

Next, we head toward Bryce Canyon National Park. The sediments of an ancient lake formed the pink rocks of Bryce Canyon. The hoodoos and spires of the canyon seem to stand erect as if mimicking people frozen in time. There is time for lunch on your own ahead of our guided park tour. After our explorations, we drive down Long Valley to Kanab. This town is known as "Little Hollywood" due to its history as a filming location for many western movies and television series, including Stagecoach, The Lone Ranger, and Gunsmoke. Overnight Kanab, UT.

• Breakfast

We explore Utah's first national park today as we visit Zion. We enter Zion National Park via the Mount Carmel Tunnel, built in 1931, and have free time to explore or have lunch on your own at Zion Lodge before this afternoon's guided tram tour. Look over some of the most stunning aspects of the park as your guide introduces the region's geological history. There are several stops along the way for pictures and short walks. After touring the park, continue exploring on your own before departing from the east gate. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep along the sandstone slopes! Overnight Kanab, UT.

• Breakfast

We depart Kanab this morning for one of the nation's most beloved national parks: Grand Canyon National Park. But the day is not just about the destination; instead, the journey is just as impressive. Begin by traveling toward Lake Powell, UT, to visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This 1.25-million-acre preserve is brimming with the beauty only high desert landscapes can provide. Marvel at the contrast of the orange cliffs against Lake Powell and the Colorado River. We continue to Page, AZ, after our visit for a delicious lunch with views of Lake Powell. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a day at leisure to discover the Grand Canyon. The park's complimentary shuttle buses offer pick-up outside our lodge and take you on tours around the park. Hop on and off at those stops you want to explore at greater length. You can join a Ranger Talk or trail walk along the South Rim or take the shuttle west to Hermit's Rest viewpoint. Your Tour Manager can assist you with suggestions. Overnight Grand Canyon, AZ.

• Breakfast

Take the morning to continue experiencing the natural glories of Grand Canyon National Park. Making the short walk up to Mather Point rewards you with spectacular sunrise views, and myriad other trails cater to hikers of all skill levels. Enjoy lunch on your own at one of the South Rim's eateries, then join the group in riding the Grand Canyon Railway. The 90-minute ride takes you from the South Rim to historic Williams, AZ, via Ponderosa pine forests, prairies, and high desert landscapes. Our motorcoach is waiting in Williams to finish our day's travels, which conclude in Flagstaff. Gather with your fellow travelers tonight for a Farewell Dinner. Overnight Flagstaff, AZ.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your tour through the great national parks of the Southwest concludes this morning after breakfast. A group transfer to Flagstaff Airport is available for flights departing after 10:00 a.m. and to Phoenix Airport for flights departing after 1:00 p.m.

• Breakfast