We meet in Moab (2 nights) and take our first walk on the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail for a rare chance to see fossils in their natural setting.

A whole day is dedicated to Canyonlands National Park, including spectacular trails that take us through an otherworldly land of mesas and giant pillars of red sandstone to an unexpected grassland perfect for a picnic. A morning's walk leads to Delicate Arch, one of many geological landmarks in Arches National Park.

At Hovenweep, we explore the castle-like dwellings built by cultures who occupied the Four Corners region as early as 500 B.C.

In Colorado's Mesa Verde National Monument we stay in the park's only on-site hotel. After dinner, we'll join our guide for a stargazing walk around the ruins. By day, we wander among the world-famous cliff dwellings (one has 114 rooms), walk to a wall of Anasazi petroglyphs and enjoy a private demonstration of Navajo pottery-making.

Durango (2 nights) was a frontier mining center and today offers gas-lit streets, Victorian mansions, and many fine galleries that make for enjoyable in-town strolling. In the nearby foothills, we'll walk past colorful aspen and fragrant pines to an overlook that offers spectacular views of the San Juan Mountains. Our festive farewell dinner includes a stagecoach ride to a restored cowboy homestead set in a picturesque canyon.