We guide dayhikes exclusively. We’re available spring and fall. Our spring season is usually mid-March through early June. Our fall season is typically mid-September through early December. We do not guide in summer (mid-June, July, August) because it's too hot for our guests' comfort and safety.
The farther ahead you book, the more likely we'll be available on the dates of your choice. Some of our guests reserve six months in advance. This ensures they can also obtain optimal accommodation, which — in tiny, Boulder, Utah — is limited and fills up far in advance. But we welcome you to get in touch with us even on short notice: UtahSlickrockGuides@gmail.com, or (435) 219—7751.
Depending on time of year, group size, and the route you and we have chosen, one or two of us will guide you if it's a shorter hike, two of us will guide you if it's a longer hike. If you have a group of eight or more hikers, we’ll divide into two pods, each with its own guide. The pods will hike separately, so we don’t exceed the Monument’s maximum group size of ten hikers. But the pods will “slinky” along the route: briefly rejoining a couple times, so you can all be together. Hiking in small pods rather than a large group is less impactful on the desert. It affords everyone greater serenity. And it enables us to give each guest our attention, ensuring everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
Covid safety dictates you and we drive to trailheads in separate vehicles. This poses no difficulties or limitations, even if you own a 2WD car. Many of our routes are accessible from pavement. Most of the unpaved roads we drive do not require high clearance or 4WD.
You’ll bring your own gear and clothing, but we’ll advise you on what is and isn't necessary. You’ll also bring your own beverages, snacks and lunch. That way you’re sure to enjoy it all, and have as much as you want and need. But we’ll counsel you on this, too, because hydration and nutrition are critical to successfully completing an adventurous dayhike.
Single Dayhike
4 to 5 hours
$350 for 2 hikers / $425 for 3 hikers / $500 for 4 hikers
5 to 6 hours
$450 for 2 hikers / $600 for 3 hikers / $675 for 4 hikers
6 to 8 hours
$550 for 2 hikers / $700 for 3 hikers / $875 for 4 hikers
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8 to 9 hours
A few of our most ambitious routes are truly all-day hikes, necessitating a higher guide fee than the rest of our advanced routes. If a route costs more than the rates stated here, you’ll see it noted in the route description.
Full Week of Dayhiking
We’ll guide you on five dayhikes. Together, you and we will select each route according to your interests and capabilities, as well as the weather. Three of the hikes will be five to six hours long. Two of the hikes will be six to eight hours long. Overall hiking time (not including driving to/from trailheads) will average as much as six hours per day — or less, if you prefer. Regardless how athletic or ambitious you are, this will be a week of vigorous hiking, twice alleviated by rest days.
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Group Size Per Person Total Cost
2 hikers $1250 $2500
3 hikers $1150 $3450
4 hikers $1100 $4400
5 hikers $1050 $5250
6 hikers $1000 $6000
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That’s only $220 per person per day (group of four) for a full week of guided hiking through spectacular, perplexing backcountry, on primo routes that would be exasperating or impossible for visiting hikers to find and navigate on their own.
Payment
If you book a month or more before you'll be hiking with us, we’ll accept a check or Venmo payment. Make the check payable to Utah Slickrock Guides, and mail it to PO Box 1301, Boulder, Utah, USA, 84716. For Venmo, use our email address: UtahSlickrockGuides@gmail.com. If Venmo requires a legal name for authentication, use Kathy Copeland. We do not accept payment by credit card.
If you arrange to hike with us on short notice, we request you pay us in cash when we meet in person. You’ll find an ATM in Escalante, but not in Boulder.
If you want to hike with us for a week, it’s essential you book with us months in advance, so we can help you arrange accommodation, and so we can confidently tell other prospective guests we’re not available on the dates you've reserved.
Once you’ve reserved dates with us, we’ll email you a Booking Form, a Waiver of Liability, and a Non-Disclosure Form.
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