Take a private half-day guided hike in Canyonlands National Park
Approximately 5 - 6 hours
Guide, snacks, water refills
Explore Canyonlands National Park on a private half-day hiking tour tailored to your group. Choose a route that fits your goals and preferred difficulty.
You must sign an Acknowledgement of Risk Form when you arrive at the shop. Entrance fees are covered if you do not have a National Park pass.
Groups under 10: cancel 2+ weeks out for a full refund; within 2 weeks but outside 48 hours, charged a $20/person deposit; within 48 hours, no refund. Groups 10+: 10% deposit required and non-refundable unless guides cancel due to weather. Full refund if guide cancels due to bad weather.
Meet at the shop at the time on your reservation (unless other arrangements have been made). Everyone in your group must sign an Acknowledgement of Risk Form when you arrive.
Wear closed-toe hiking shoes and weather-appropriate hiking clothes. Bring 1–2 liters of water per person in reusable bottles if you have them (you can refill along the way). Bring any extra food you want beyond the light snacks provided. Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a camera are optional but recommended.
Yes. Your guide provides light snacks (such as granola bars and trail mix), water refills, and sparkling water. Backpacks are available upon request, and your guide carries a first aid kit and a personal locator beacon.
Canyonlands National Park, Moab
Standing at the rim of Canyonlands National Park, the scale of what lies before you takes a moment to absorb. Layers of red and orange sandstone drop away in terraces toward the distant river canyons below. The silence here is its own presence. Canyonlands National Park divides into four distinct districts, each with its own character, its own light, and its own demands on the visitor who comes to know it.
Jake, Kai, Joe, Eliza, Skyeler, and the rest of the crew have built something genuinely special in Moab. Reviewers consistently rave about the depth of knowledge their guides bring, whether it's geology, local wildlife, or plant life, with many noting it transformed a fun outing into a real learning experience. The booking process gets just as much praise as the trips themselves, with Kai in particular highlighted for taking time to understand what guests are actually looking for and matching them to the right adventure. The range of experiences on offer is broad, from multi-day hiking itineraries across Arches and Canyonlands to canyoneering routes with 200-foot rappels that you simply couldn't find on your own. Families with kids, school groups, and solo adventurers all show up in these reviews, and the guides seem genuinely skilled at calibrating the experience to the group. One Seattle school has been returning every year for six years, which says a lot about consistency. Safety protocols are mentioned frequently and always in a reassuring, confidence-building way rather than feeling restrictive. It's hard to find a single complaint across the board, and that kind of sustained reputation in a competitive outdoor guiding market is worth paying attention to.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed 4 full days of guided hiking with Desert Highlights. I called Kai prior to booking and she listened carefully as I explained our past hiking experience and what we were looking to accomplish. We spent one day in Arches, one day in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky, one day in the Canyonland Needles and one day in Bureau of Land Management. The hikes were exactly what we were looking for in terms of length and distance. Our guide Eliza was very professional, knowledgeable and fun! We were very happy that we used Kai's recommendations for lodging and restaurants. We will recommend Desert Highlights to our friends.
Jack Berger
April 29, 2026
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed 4 full days of guided hiking with Desert Highlights. I called Kai prior to booking and she listened carefully as I explained our past hiking experience and what we were looking to accomplish. We spent one day in Arches, one day in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky, one day in the Canyonland Needles and one day in Bureau of Land Management. The hikes were exactly what we were looking for in terms of length and distance. Our guide Eliza was very professional, knowledgeable and fun! We were very happy that we used Kai's recommendations for lodging and restaurants. We will recommend Desert Highlights to our friends.
Jack Berger
April 29, 2026