Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour

I understand why this tour has so many positive reviews, but it just wasn’t the right fit for my family. I’m writing this review because I think it’s helpful for people with a similar travel style to know what to expect. There were five of us (including one single rider) in a five-passenger vehicle. While I understand that’s how the math works, the vehicle itself was old (around 30 years old) and the air conditioning worked at 50%. It also didn’t seem the most reliable. Our guide, Marcia, was knowledgeable, passionate, and clearly loves what she does. She shared a tremendous amount of information about topics like photosynthesis, salt mining, fungi, the Spanish Trail, and the geology of the area. If you’re someone who enjoys an in-depth educational experience, you’ll likely appreciate the tour. For us, however, it felt more like a four-hour geology lecture than the sightseeing experience we were hoping for. Much of the information was very technical, and we found ourselves wishing for more fun, relatable facts and stories about Canyonlands. We also thought the tour was longer than necessary. A significant portion of the time was spent before reaching the main park, and we would have preferred to get into Canyonlands much sooner and spend more time enjoying the scenery. Canyonlands itself is absolutely stunning, and we don’t regret seeing it. If you’re looking for a highly educational, geology-focused experience, this tour may be perfect for you. If you’re more interested in simply taking in the incredible views without hours of detailed commentary, you may be happier with a shorter tour or exploring the park on your own and saving your money.

John, the self proclaimed “old guy”, was our guide. He was a wealth of knowledge and history about the area, geology, and all the Western movies that were filmed in the desert. Salty snacks and cold water were on the truck. It was quite hot the day we went so we stopped several times. The entire journey was filled with beauty and rugged nature. The roads were very rugged and some were not really roads so prepare for some rocking and bouncing. Bring a battery charger. I took so many photos!!!

Excellent Guided Tour, and it really is back country.....!!! 4 hours WELL SPENT.....You really get to view unusual formations, and I strongly recommend Guided Tours for these type of adventures as once the paved road ends, it's gravel roads and no signage as to which way to proceed....And Folks, most of us are not experienced enough to drive these type of off road, no cellphone towers etc... Your vehicle breaks down, you're in a world of hurt....spend the money, our guide spoke for about 4 hours explaining vista points etc....

We were amazed at the sites that we were able to experience on this tour. We never expected to see so much beauty and the knowledge and expertise of our guide was exceptional.

Great guide and great experience Would recommend this guide Alan and this triip to everyone beautiful place