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  • Price: $1,460 minimum of 15 *what this includes
  • Location: USA: Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico
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Canyon Skies: U.S. Southwest

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For information specific to the Hear the World Sound Academy, please follow this link.

The stunning scenery of the Southwestern United States never fails to awe and inspire those who take the time to discover its riches. This expedition explores the Colorado Plateau, a 130,000 square mile geological formation that straddles Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. Dramatic canyons, colorful badlands, sand dunes, barren mesas, and unique arches and rock formations dot the landscape, a visual reminder of 500 million years of geologic forces at work. The remoteness of the area offers some of the darkest skies and quietest areas in the country, making it an ideal spot to contemplate our place in the universe while gazing at the Milky Way.

Although these jaw-dropping, sweeping landscapes offer plenty of solitude, the entire area boasts a rich human history as well. The U.S. Southwest sits at a crossroads of Native American, Spanish, and American cultures. As a testament to the unique combination of natural and cultural history of the region, the Colorado Plateau boasts the highest concentration of National Parks and Monuments in the United States.

On our Southwest Adventure, students will raft the San Juan River, explore spectacular National Parks and Monuments that characterize the area, and visit the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the country. Through a partnership with the , participants will also explore the complex natural and cultural sounds of the area and learn why these pristine acoustical environments demand restoration and preservation. Whether conducting hands-on science, helping an elder Navajo build a Hogan, or hiking through the iconic landscapes, the Canyon Skies: U.S. Southwest program will be the learning adventure of a lifetime.

Please note, due to the strict river permits, we require a minimum of 15 paying participants for groups to participate in this program, as opposed to 10 paying participants for other destinations. Canyon Skies can easily be adjusted to a 9+ day program to allow for more time in Canyon de Chelly or to experience more of the San Juan River. Additional fees may apply.

Learn more about the Natural Sounds Program:


Sample Itinerary

Colorado groups will drive and spend the evening in Mancos, CO, near Mesa Verde. Groups from out-of-state will fly to Durango and stay in a hotel before departing the next day for the Navajo Nation.

Today we have an early morning drive to the town of Chinle, Arizona. Located in the heart of the Navajo Nation and adjacent to Canyon de Chelly, Chinle holds an important place in the largest Native American reservation in the country. We receive an orientation from a Navajo guide at the National Park Service and enjoy a spectacular sunset from the rim of the canyon. We spend the night at a campground on the rim of the canyon. Some groups may choose to spend the morning visiting the spectacular cliff dwellings that made Mesa Verde the United States’ first UNESCO World Heritage site.

We spend the morning gazing into the heartland of Navajo Nation and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. A Park Ranger introduces us to the challenges of protecting the area before we hike down into the dramatic red rock canyon, inhabited by humans for over 5,000 years. Our Navajo guide regales us with stories ranging from geology to Native American culture. Our resting spot tonight is under an alcove within the canyon alongside the Antelope house ruins. Today you will spend the day in a service project that will help Canyon de Chelly residents thrive. You may help clear the area of invasive species that threaten native plants, or you could help out an elderly Canyon resident by bringing them water, mending a fence, or building a Hogan. Be lulled to sleep with Navajo storytelling and a campfire.

Today we join our partner nonprofit, and begin our journey down one of our country's most extraordinary rivers, the San Juan. We may hike to some ancient cliff dwellings, float down the river in our life jackets, have a mud fight or simply enjoy the solitude and beauty of the southwest. Tonight, the desert sky comes alive as you sleep on a sandy beach under the stars.

The river fun continues! Today we learn about natural resource management and conduct research. You may choose to cool-off by paddling an inflatable kayak with a friend, or you may choose to lay back and take a nap on the boat as you let your foot hang off the edge in the cool San Juan river.

We enjoy our last full day on the river today. You will listen to your peer's Educational Projects (a student teaching student activity) and be immersed in the ancient cultures who have inhabited the area for centuries. Our river guides teach us about the complex water rights and other issues facing the Southwest today and keep us entertained by starting a water fight.

We have one last lunch on the river and then reach our "take-out" point. We help unload the boats and load the vehicles with all our gear. We then return to a hotel near the airport and get ready to depart for home.

Until next time! Return home.