Reflection Canyon – Photographers Choice
Multi-day backcountry trip
Porter assisted backpacking
Instructor-led photography special
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Astro Photography with Cody York at the Enchated Hoodoo Forest
Intro to Astro Photography at Bryce Canyon National Park & White Pocket
Toroweap Overnight Photography Tour
White Pocket Overnight Photography Tour
Alstrom Point Overnight Photography Tour
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Dreamland Safari Tours holds Special Use Permits from the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument/Paria Wilderness, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Kanab Bureau of Land Management, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona Strip Bureau of Land Management, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
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For sunset or sunrise at our more remote locations, we recommend a scheduled or custom overnight or multi-day tour - and we are happy to work with you to develop an itinerary that meets your needs.
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Reflection Canyon is the ultimate landscape photography destination: Sweeping vistas with perfect sunrise and Milky Way positioning and a unique blend of deep blue water and red rock canyon walls.
Nestled deep in Grand Staircase Escalante, the only way to access Reflection Canyon is on foot, yet due to the length of the hike (8 miles one-way), a day trip to photograph sunset or sunrise here is not feasible for most photographers. Our exclusive Photographer’s Choice Adventure to Reflection Canyon is the answer.
Led by Dreamland Safari Tour’s excellent guides and outstanding photography instructor Cody York, this one-of-a-kind porter-supported backcountry excursion will allow you to experience a full night, sunset and sunrise at the Rim of Reflection Canyon without having to break your back. With a 1:1 guide/instructor:guest ratio, this offering is a unique experience for the serious landscape photographer. We invite you to push beyond your comfort zone and experience an outstanding desert location that few have the skills to access.
What does the Reflection Canyon Photographers Choice workshop include?
- Transport from Escalante, Utah to Reflection Canyon Trailhead and back
- Single occupancy lodging in Escalante pre- and post-workshop
- Porter support for backpacking portion of the workshop
- All meals and backpacking gear including but not limited to tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, kitchen gear, water purification, and first aid
- Expert Wilderness-First-Responder certified backpacking guide(s)
- Cody York’s outstanding landscape and astro photography instruction
- Editing session with Cody upon return from the field
Permits & Group Size
Please note that there is a 4 person maximum for this exclusive, intimate Reflection Canyon workshop with Cody York. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and the Escalante District of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area require overnight permits; we take care of all permitting requirements on your behalf.
Porter Information
Reflection Canyon is a worldclass and demanding destination that requires a fifteen mile roundtrip hike to and from the Reflection Canyon Rim. To make this unique location more accessible, our Photographers Choice trip budgets three field days for Reflection Canyon, and includes porter support for the required backpacking section.
Participants in this exclusive Dreamland Safari Tours offering need to be prepared for a 5-6 hour undulating hike across slickrock and sand to reach Reflection Canyon. Thanks to the porter-supported format, each participant will only need to carry the following items:
- Camera body & lens(es)
- Water for the day
- Light snacks for the day
- Personal layers
- Sleeping bag (provided by Dreamland Safari Tours, ~3 lbs)
With careful lens & layer selection – we will provide advice – each participant’s total pack weight should not have to exceed 25 pounds. Participants have the option of using a Dreamland Safari Tours-provided ultralight backpack to carry the items listed above. Dreamland Safari Tours porters will be at the ready to carry each participant’s tripod, tent & sleeping pad as well as all kitchen gear, group food, and other relevant group gear.
Price
$5,135
Tour prices are subject to sales tax & public land use fees.
Tour prices are subject to sales tax & public land use fees.
Private Tour Upgrade Available?
Contact us for Custom Options
Tour Length
5 days total: 3 days / 2 nights on the trail + 2 nights in Escalante (one night pre- and one night post-hike).
Departure Times
4pm
Difficulty (1-10)
7
Recommended abilities
Good endurance, strength and balance required. Must be in good cardio shape and able to carry 25lbs for 8 mile days on uneven terrain. First time backpackers ARE welcome.
Permits
A permit is required for this tour.
Location
Kanab, UT
Attractions
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Special Interests
Geology, Photography, Sunset
What is included on your backpacking trips?
Backpacking trips include overnight permits, lightweight tents, team cooking equipment, main meals, trailhead transport from the closest town, water purification, team first aid and emergency communication, and of course experienced backpacking guides. Almost all of our backpacking trips also include a hotel night (double occupancy) before and after the hike, as well as a team dinner pre- and post-hike.
What gear do I need to bring?
Dreamland Safari Tours provides tents, team cooking gear, water purification, team first aid & emergency communications. You need to bring (or rent) a backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cup/bowl/spoon, and your hiking attire including a waterproof jacket and down jacket. Rentals for backpacks, sleeping bags & sleeping pads are available through Dreamland Safari Tours.
What type of food should I expect?
Dreamland Safari Tours provides breakfasts, dinners, and light lunches while we are on the trail (as well as water, coffee and tea). You can expect both fresh meals and the occasional backpacker's freeze-dried meal. We can accommodate many dietary restrictions with prior notice.
What is the bathroom situation?
Except for the Grand Canyon itineraries, there are no outhouses to be found on our backpacking itineraries. On most backpacking trips, expect to bury solid human waste by digging cat holes. For some itineraries such as the Paria and Buckskin Gulch, the use of wag bags is mandatory.
How much weight will I have to carry?
Standard pack weights for most of our itineraries vary between 35 to 40 lbs, which includes a ~5 lbs team gear allocation in addition to your personal gear. Your gear choices, trip duration, and water availability on your itinerary are the main determinants of final pack weight.
Is it possible to hire porters?
Most of our itineraries are subject to strict group size limits, which makes it difficult to impossible to offer porter services. That said: if you are booking a private backpacking adventure and would like to explore the possibility of adding on porter services, please give us a call or send us an email to discuss.
How do I get to Kanab or Escalante or... ?
Most of our backpacking programs start and finish in small desert towns which can be admittedly hard to reach. Public transport options are very limited, which makes travel by (rental) car advisable. If you are flying in and would like to avoid renting a car, please give us a call - we may be able to assist with car pools with other backpackers or airport pick ups.
Is there a place to leave my vehicle?
There is a safe spot to park your vehicle for the duration of the backpack on each of our itineraries.
Is tipping the guide customary?
Yes! A typical gratuity is $20-$40 per person per day -- so for a 5-day trip, the suggested tip would be between $100 and $200 total. You can read more about guide tipping from the perspective of one of our guides on our blog here.
About Backpacking in Grand Staircase Escalante
Grand Staircase Escalante lies at the heart of the Colorado Plateau in Southern Utah. The National Monument encompasses a vast area of 1.87 million acres, most of which are accessible solely via dirt roads, on horseback or on foot. The Grand Staircase is characterized by five massive rock layers spanning ~160-175 million years of geologic history, and there is no better way to experience Grand Staircase Escalante’s impressive scenery than by backpacking along its expansive plateaus and through its deep canyons.
About Reflection Canyon
Panoramic vistas, remote red rock landscapes, the sparkling blue water of Lake Powell and an infinite sky – that’s what makes Reflection Canyon a classic. Yet accessing this sought-after viewpoint is not a trivial matter. The closest outpost of civilization is the town of Escalante, Utah; from there, you have to be prepared for more than fifty miles of increasingly rough dirt road travel followed by a minimum of 15+ off-trail miles of hiking (7.5 miles each way). For the intrepid adventurers who are not deterred by such challenges, backpacking Reflection Canyon can be like stepping through a portal to a different world.
About Dreamland’s Instructor-Led, Porter-Supported Reflection Canyon Photographers Choice Adventure
The Dreamland Safari Tours Reflection Canyon Photographers Choice Adventure starts and finishes in the town of Escalante. For stress-free logistics, your trip fee includes a hotel night (single occupancy) and team welcome & closing dinners in Escalante before and after the trail portion, in addition to the three days and two nights that we spend along Hole In The Rock Road and at Reflection Canyon. This exclusive photography workshop deep in the backcountry of Grand Staircase Escalante is tailored to support the goals and objectives of the serious landscape photographer.
We are proud to utilize our decades of experience in desert adventures, backcountry risk management and expedition planning to share with you an unforgettable time photographing Grand Staircase Escalante from the immersive perspective of a challenging to access, backpacking-only location. You bring your camera gear, toothbrush and clothing – we take care of the rest. Your workshop fee includes the use of high-quality, ultra-light field gear covering backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and more.
2026 DATES
April 10 – April 14, 2026
Custom dates (without Cody York) may be available – ask us about our private trips. Call us at 801-760-6553 or send us an email at hello@dreamlandtours.net.
Check back as we intermittently add new dates to our schedule.
Fully Guided Tour
Photography Paradise!
Interesting Geology!
Other Paria / Vermillion Cliffs Tours
Itinerary
Day 1
4pm – Escalante Hotel check-in, team meet & greet; photography briefing, gear check and backpacking skills session
~7pm – Team welcome dinner
Dinner & single occupancy lodging are included in the price of this adventure
Day 2
Early breakfast followed by the drive towards Reflection Canyon Trailhead along historic Hole In The Rock trail – 62 miles of scenic and increasingly rough dirt road driving.
Commence backpacking to Reflection Canyon. ~8 miles, 700 ft of ascent. Establish camp for the night at Reflection Canyon, with opportunities for sunset, astro and sunrise photography.
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Day 3
Rest day and optional skills clinics at Reflection Canyon Overlook. Opportunities for more sunrise, sunset and astro photography.
Day 4
Break down camp and return to trailhead, followed by drive back to Escalante & hotel check-in. Team celebration dinner.
Dinner & lodging are included in the price.
Day 5
8am – Breakfast followed by optional editing session with Cody York
~Noon – Programming ends
Guest Experiences with Dreamland Safari Tours
What to Expect on the Reflection Canyon Photographers Choice Workshop
The Reflection Canyon Photographer’s Choice workshop is a moderate desert backpacking adventure with porter support. You need to be ready for two days with 8+ miles of hiking while carrying a ~25 lbs pack (depending on the photography equipment you may want to bring). The terrain on the Reflection Canyon Trail involves off-trail hiking with steady undulation, totaling a minimum of ~700 ft of ascent each day. While the Reflection Canyon Photographers Choice workshop is a fully guided and porter-supported adventure and Dreamland Safari Tours will take care of group logistics, you have to be prepared to carry your own camera body and lens(es), as well as two liters of water, snacks, your Dreamland Safari Tours-provided sleeping bag (~3 lbs) and your personal clothing layers.
If you are at all concerned about your physical ability to complete and enjoy this backpacking adventure, please give us a call at 435-644-5506 to discuss the feasibility of your participation.
What Gear Should I Bring for Reflection Canyon?
All participants will receive a comprehensive gear check list as well as recommendations for appropriate attire for this trip. We provide all backpacking gear including backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, cooking gear & meals but ask that participants bring their own backpacking-appropriate clothing layers including a lightweight but warm downjacket, hardshell (GoreTex) layer, and more. We are available to provide recommendations and advice as you select your attire.
