Grand National Parks of the Southwest Roundtrip from San Francisco

Board Amtrak's famous California Zephyr this morning for the overnight journey to Grand Junction, Colorado. Relax and enjoy comfortable accommodations onboard the train, and of course, incredible views out your window! (Overnight onboard Amtrak)

Today, arrive in Grand Junction and check into your hotel for an overnight stay. Grand Junction offers something for everyone to enjoy, from farm-to-table cuisine, hiking, fishing, some of the best golf in the state, shopping, arts and culture, and so much more. Stroll along the Riverfront Trail or browse the boutiques, bookstores, and galleries of downtown. (Overnight in Grand Junction)

Today, you'll be picked up in Grand Junction to begin your tour, starting with Arches & Canyonlands National Parks. Travel to Island on the Sky, a mesa perched 1,500 feet high offering spectacular panoramic vistas of Canyonlands National Park. Discover the dramatic arches, pinnacles, spires, balance rocks and fins of this truly breathtaking area. Finally, your tour will take you through Monument Valley, where 'the earth meets the sky,' before continuing to Springdale, where you'll check in for a two-night stay. Rest up tonight before continuing your journey through Utah's National Parks. (Overnight in Springdale)

Resume your tour of Utah today with an incredible journey through Zion National Park, featuring picturesque trails, stunning vistas, vermillion cliffs, canyons, jagged skyline, and interesting flora and fauna. The tour will take you to all the popular sights, including Court of the Patriarchs, Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Temple of Sinawava and the Grotto. Later, return to Springdale for a relaxing evening. (Overnight in Springdale)

Enjoy your final day touring with a visit to Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks. At Bryce Canyon, discover the largest collection of rock hoodoos and natural rock amphitheaters on earth. Highlights of the journey through Bryce Canyon include Fairyland Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Inspiration Point. Have your camera ready as you drive along Scenic Byway UT-12 and pass slickrock canyons, towering plateaus and massive red rock formations. Then, you'll drive through Waterpocket Fold reef geologic formation and witness the amazing sandstone domes resembling capitol buildings - both of which give the national park its name. Return to Grand Junction this evening for an additional overnight stay. (Overnight in Grand Junction)

Depart on Amtrak this morning from Grand Junction for your overnight journey back to San Francisco. Sit back and relax onboard the California Zephyr and enjoy the spectacular desert views as you make your way west. (Overnight onboard Amtrak)