Excursions of Escalante — Local services in Escalante

I’ve been meaning to write a review and Rick and Amie’s handwritten card sent to our address in nyc reminded me to. We consider ourselves adventurous and well traveled, we are hesitant to do group guided tours, but knew it’s one of those things you gotta go in Utah if you want to go into a deep slot canyon. I cannot express how exciting, full of adventure and fun our experience was. This Canyoneering tour is a must, we debated between here and Zion. We definitely made the right choice. Aimie and Rick are a small business, they run the show. From the moment you call to make a reservation you feel at ease and the morning of, you’re greeted with smiles, friendly dogs and a cuddly cat and some coffee! Rick ensures he makes everyone in the group feel at ease, gets to know them, their physical and mental capabilities, and decides what the adventure of the day will be. Throughout the whole canyon, we worked as a team and some overcome their fears of heights or claustrophobic thoughts. Rick was calming and ensured everyone felt included while also alway practicing safety first. Lunch was delicious, thanks Amie, for your homemade sandwiches. We loved our experience so much we extended our stay in Escalante. It’s an amazing place to get away from the crowds and our favorite memories from our road trip are from here. We cannot wait to go back. You learn so much about the area on this tour. Thank you Rick and Aimie and guide assist for our amazing experience. Side note- Please don’t wear sneakers or clothes you care about, you will be drenched in mud and how often do we adults get to play in...

On May 5 2017 my adult nephew and I booked a canyoneering tour with Excursions of Escalante. Rick (owner and guide) led our group of 7 adults, but his wife Amie had the rare opportunity to join us. I’ve been on many group adventure trips in Alaska, arctic Canada, Greenland and such with several great outfitters. Rick was one of the best I’ve encountered. There were plenty of opportunities for safety issues but Rick seemed to have all of them well under control. Several members of our party were past 60 but reasonably fit and everyone did very well. No complaints that I heard and at the end all of us were enthusiastic about the experience. Rick was very patient, explaining what they were going to be doing, the various safety measures they were taking, and encouraging everyone to slowly and safely proceed. He provided a wealth of information on canyoneering skills and tips for helping each other when possible e.g., providing foot holds on short descents on smooth sandstone. During the debriefing Rick shared his experience which I recall was impressive, but you can go to their Web site and view their “Our Team” page for such information. If you have children (we don’t) I think Rick would be a perfect instructor and guide for them on his excursions, but I do not know Rick’s age requirements for clients. Absolutely highly recommended! However, try to book months in advance. With 5 days to choose from a month away Amie was only able to get the 2 of us...

I have gone on two canyoneering trips w Excursions of Escalante in the past 12 months, and both rank up there as two of my favorite adventure experiences of the year. Exhilarating and SO fun! Excursions of Escalante is a thoroughly professional service. First, all of the scheduling, communications and logistics, etc. are so well organized, and Amie is a pleasure to work with. Rick is a superb guide with decades of experience, comprehensive knowledge of Grand Staircase Escalante and its canyons, excellent technical expertise, and genuine enjoyment of his clients. He has an intuitive ability to seamlessly create an experience that is safe, personalized, and enjoyable for everyone in the group, regardless of age, experience, or prior comfort level. Rick, Amie, and Alex provide unique and unforgettable experience, in a unique and unforgettable place. I will be returning for more...