Meet Your Guide

Chris Jolley. 30 years on the trail.

Former REI Adventure Architect turned full-time wilderness guide. Based in Southern Utah, where the red rock meets the sky. Chris doesn't just lead trips — he builds experiences that change how people see the outdoors.

Utah-Based REI Background Wilderness First Responder All-Season Guide
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Chris Jolley - Wilderness Guide
Guide portrait photo
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30+ Years in the Wild
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Years of Wilderness Experience
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Guided Adventures Led
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National Parks in Range
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Specialties

What makes Chris different from every other guide

🏔

Multi-Day Charity & Challenge Tours

Purpose-driven expeditions that raise money for causes while pushing personal limits. From 50-mile canyon treks to summit challenges, every mile matters.

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Canyon Country Deep-Dives

Southern Utah's slot canyons, arches, and hidden routes that most guides don't know exist. 30 years of route-finding means you see what tourists never will.

Winter Expeditions

When other outfitters shut down for winter, Chris gears up. Snow-covered canyon rims, frozen waterfalls, and silence that only exists in the off-season.

👋

First-Timer Friendly

Never hiked more than a mile? Perfect. Chris has introduced thousands of beginners to the backcountry with the patience and safety protocols to match.

From REI Adventure Architect to building something bigger

Chris spent years designing guided experiences for one of the biggest outdoor retailers in the world. He saw what worked, what didn't, and what was missing: the personal touch that turns a trip into a story people tell for decades.

Via Jolley exists because the best adventures aren't mass-produced. They're built by someone who knows every trail, every campsite, every sunrise spot — and cares enough to share them with a small group instead of a bus tour.

"The wilderness doesn't care about your job title or your inbox. Out here, you just have to show up. That's what I help people do." — Chris Jolley
What Travelers Say

Stories from the trail

★★★★★

"Chris took us through places in Bryce Canyon we never would have found on our own. The knowledge he carries about the land is extraordinary."

MR
Mike R.
Bryce Canyon 3-Day
★★★★★

"I'd never done anything like this before. Chris made me feel safe the entire time while still pushing me past what I thought I could do. Life-changing."

SL
Sarah L.
First-Timer Canyon Trek
★★★★★

"Our corporate team came back completely different people. The charity challenge format Chris designed turned our retreat into something genuinely meaningful."

JT
James T.
Corporate Charity Challenge
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