American Outback
OUT-back: noun. the remote rural districts, bush or hinterland; basically away from civilization or major settlements.
The American Outback brings the wild, woolly West to you, up-close and personally. Traversing four states and visiting an array of far-flung destinations, you will love connecting some of the funnest, funkiest places the southwest has to offer. The tour begins with highlights from the magnificent plateau region, with trail riding Colorado's sandstone cliffs, seeing the spires of Monument Valley (from the air and the ground), then flying over the spectacular Grand Canyon National Park. From there we get a feel for the roots of Arizona's Wild West, with an overnight on Route 66 at the Grand Canyon Caverns, then on to the historic mining-turned-artsy town of Bisbee, near the Mexican border. After a two-night stay in this charming city, we'll turn back north for a careful flight between special use airspace to Alamogordo's White Sands National Monument, then on to Bluff, Utah for a full-day float trip of the wild and scenic San Juan River. Getting back to Grand Junction wouldn't be complete without a stop for breakfast at our favorite, canyon-country hideout at Needles Outpost, near Canyonlands National Park.
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Day 1, Friday
Arrive Grand Junction, Colorado; transfer to the Hawthorn Suites Hotel. Afternoon Tour Briefing at the hotel, followed by our Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant with other pilots and guests.
Day 2, Saturday
Morning Flight Briefing at the airport, and aircraft checkouts for those renting planes. In the afternoon we will have a guided, horseback ride through the canyon country near Colorado National Monument, with cowboy dinner.
Day 3, Sunday
Depart Grand Junction for a spectacular flight over southwestern's canyon country, en route to magnificent Monument Valley, on the Navajo Reservation. After landing, we'll have lunch at Gouldings Lodge, followed by an afternoon ground tour of the spires and shapes of Monument Valley. Dinner and lodging at Gouldings.
Day 4, Monday
After breakfast, we'll leave for Page, Arizona for a fuel stop, then fly through the Fossil Canyon Corridor over the spectacular Grand Canyon. After landing at the Grand Canyon Caverns strip, we'll have lunch and an informative tour of the rare limestone caverns underground. You'll have a bit of free time to take pictures of the roadside brontosaurus or take a dip in the pool before dinner.
Day 5, Tuesday
We'll leave behind Route 66 for the highlands of Arizona's Mogollon Rim, home to Payson and its famous airport café. After breakfast and fueling, we'll continue south to Bisbee, Arizona where we'll check in to the famous Copper Queen Hotel, built in 1902. After lunch we'll don mining hats and load up on the ore train into the famous Queen Mine.
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Day 6, Wednesday
Free day, no flying. Spend the day on your own exploring the mining town of Bisbee, and/or take in a tour to the old west town of Tombstone, some 25 miles away.
Day 7, Thursday
Enjoy the challenge of flying around southern New Mexico's special use airspace, en route to Alamogordo, famous for missile testing and the beautiful gypsum dunes of White Sands National Monument. After lunch and a visit to the dunes, we will make the quick drive up to Cloudcroft to check in to the historic Lodge Resort.
Day 8, Friday
It's a two-flight day en route to Bluff, Utah, a small town in the San Juan River Valley. After landing, we'll check in to the Recapture Lodge, have time for exploring the Bluff Historic District, then dinner.
Day 9, Saturday
No flying. We'll spend the day floating the upper canyon of the San Juan River, stopping periodically for quick hikes and photo ops of cliff dwellings, fossil outcroppings and petroglyphs en route to Mexican Hat.
Day 10, Sunday
We'll make an early flight north over the Needle's District of Canyonlands National Park to the Needle's Outpost for breakfast, then return to Grand Junction via the Colorado River corridor. Transfer to the Hawthorn Suites, then we'll have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant
Day 11, Monday
Breakfast at the hotel; shuttle service to the airport as needed. Please advise Parkwest if additional room nights are desired in Grand Junction.
PLEASE NOTE: Weather conditions may affect this itinerary. Please see the weather information on our FAQ page for more information regarding weather delays.
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