The state of Utah includes incredibly diverse landscapes, ranging from beautiful alpine wilderness areas in the north to the high deserts, canyons, arches and sandstone towers in the south. Travel in any direction and you will find amazing scenery and plenty of opportunity for adventure.

Some of our favorite playgrounds are located in the San Rafael Swell, an area of twisting canyons and contoured rock, where you will find some of our best hiking and biking trails.

Tell us about your favorite trail and we will probably be able to land somewhere close. Or let us recommend trails suitable for your interests and experience level. We can connect you with guides, provide lunch and overnight accommodations, and tailor the trip just for your group.

The San Rafael Swell

The landscape reveals a geological history laid bare through millennia of upheaval and erosion. The geologic history of the San Rafael Swell area began 40 to 60 million years ago when a massive uplift formed a geologic antic line. This bulge in the earth’s crust eventually eroded to leave high mesas, deep canyons, domes, spectacular arches, and spires. The terrain varies from the sheer cliffs and dazzling canyons to more gently carved badlands broken by shallow washes. Few canyons can compare to the entrenched, narrow gorges of the Black Boxes of the San Rafael River, which twists and turns through the San Rafael Swell.

The history of the "Swell" and its colorful inhabitants are well known for their classic tales of the American West. One such tale is of the ancient Fremont Indians who made their home in the canyons along the San Rafael River. Another story is of Butch Cassidy and his gang of outlaws who made part of this secluded environment their hideout while escaping from the law as they rode the Outlaw Trail.

See everything in the San Rafael Tour and more. From the San Rafael River we will head south along the Reef down to Goblin Valley, where years of erosion have created thousands of little goblin-like rock formations.  Your flight will then turns east toward the Outlaw Trail that went from Robbers Roost to Brown's Hole. This route was followed by many outlaws, including Butch Cassidy, Joe Walker, and Elza Lay. Proceeding east, you will then overfly the Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. We will then head north to enter Desolation Canyon. This canyon was named by John Wesley Powell on his first expedition down the Green River. From there we will over-fly the ruins of the ancient Fremont Indians that made their home in Nine Mile Canyon and return for a gentle landing back at the airport. - $290 per person,  add $20 for a  meal stop at Tavaputs Ranch.