Wilderness camp

We leave Moab at 8:00 am for the ruggedly scenic San Rafael Swell. We first visit Tusher, Mill and Hidden Canyons -- remote areas home to massive formations of sculptured sandstone.

That afternoon we enter the San Rafael Swell Wilderness and you see the geologic formations that make the Colorado Plateau so distinctive. In this backcountry you can escape the summer crowds at the national parks, savor wilderness solitude and marvel at the beauty of the canyons.

Slot canyon

We'll visit hidden arches, mining ruins and thousand-year-old Anasazi Indian rock art. At the Crack Canyon Wilderness Area we explore slot canyons -- narrow twisting corridors cut into sandstone over the eons by rushing water.

Continuing on, we visit Goblin Valley with its whimsical rock sculptures. Backcountry roads then take us into Red's Canyon, famous among photographers for its panoramic views.

We drive onto "The Big Ridge" and head south to Hidden Splendor where the cutting action of water has exposed a geologic timeline in the sandstone cliffs.

Winding through the heart of Sinbad Country we visit Swasey's Cabin and the ice cave used to store meat when outlaws roamed the Swell's rugged terrain.

Before returning to Moab we visit Black Dragon Wash -- a deeply carved area containing several large panels of Barrier Canyon-style Indian pictographs.

This trip can also be combined with NAVTEC's 3-Day Cataract Canyon Trip