I’ve wanted to visit Zion National Park for as long as I can remember, but with such an attractive destination it can get quite busy. After some research and planning, we had such a great trip! I’m sharing where to stay when visiting Zion National Park, and the best time to plan your trip to avoid the crowds!
Pine trees decorate towering rust painted cliffs overlooking an emerald river. This just begins to describe how breathtaking Zion National Park truly is. The beauty and outdoor adventure attracts more than 4 million people per year, making Zion one of the most visited parks in the nation!
We stayed at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort
When searching accommodation in the area I found numerous hotel chains in the bustling town of St.George, located before Zion National Parks entrance. Here you will find many restaurants, attractions, and shopping. Due to the parks popularity the area can get quite busy! We wanted a relaxing getaway that was still close to the park, and that’s exactly what we found at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.
Just 10 minutes from the east gate entrance of Zion National Park you will find Zion Ponderosa, a beautiful ranch resort that’s a destination in and of itself.
Zion Ponderosa’s stunning 4,000 acre property offers great accommodation, endless recreation, and a friendly staff that make you feel right at home. The resort has so much to offer, you’ll need time to enjoy both the resort and Zion National Park!
Zion Ponderosa is surrounded by a forest of ponderosa pine and located nearly 6,500 feet above sea level overlooking Zion. Although it’s only a few miles from the park the resort feels perfectly off the beaten path.
Our Gorgeous Vacation Home
After an incredibly scenic drive through the park we arrived at the resort. The lobby was warm and inviting with a fireplace and gift shop! The front desk receptionist gave us the keys to our vacation home located in a gated community on the property. After a long travel day with our 2-year-old daughter we we’re excited to get settled into our home for the week! The neighbored was quiet and beautiful with stunning mountain views. I quickly found the best seat in the house!
The home was gorgeous and had everything we could possibly need during our stay. Although we love hotels, camping, and everything in between, when traveling with our daughter it’s nice to have a home with a kitchen to cook meals and laundry when needed!
They offer a variety of lodging options
Zion Ponderosa is great for families, friends, or couples because they have a variety of lodging options including vacation homes, cabins, glamping, and camping!
We started our morning with coffee and breakfast at Zion Ponderosa’s restaurant!
The next morning we started our day with gourmet coffee from the Narrows Coffee Bar just a few steps from the lobby, located inside Ray’s Restaurant. They serve freshly brewed coffee, specialty drinks, pastries, and boxed lunch options! During our stay it was nice to drop in for a coffee or a quick bite to-go in between activities.
Next we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Ray’s Restaurant. The restaurant features nature murals in an aesthetically pleasing dining room under fairy lights. I had the avocado toast with a fresh fruit parfait! We had breakfast at Ray’s everyday during our 4-day stay and the food was exceptional. On weekends they have a self-serve hot breakfast buffet that was included! Olive loved their “kids corner” that had a kids table, crayons, and books!
They also serve lunch and dinner, offering traditional American fare. Since we we’re visiting during Fall we didn’t get to experience the poolside dining at Bart’s Bistro which is open for business during the peak part of summer.
So Many Fun Activities… So Little Time!
You can’t run out of things to do at Zion Ponderosa. The resort offers endless recreation from horse back riding, canyoneering, and jeep tours, to zip lining.
- Canyonerring
- Guided Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Jeep Tours
- Bungee Trampoline
- Climbing Wall
- Gold Cart Rentals
- Miniature Golf
- Paint Ball
- Wagon Rides
- Zip Line
- Canoeing
- Tennis Court
- Basketball Court
- Children’s Playground
- Pool
- Hot Tub
- And more…
We packed in as many activities as we could! After breakfast Matt and I went on a guided horseback ride through the high country! It was so relaxing and our guide shared history of the area. Zion Ponderosa was once home to a pioneer logging camp and many of the old pioneer trails and horseback riding roads are still present.
Next we went canoeing in their pond then visited the baby goats!
Canyoneering is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
I was excited to have the opportunity to go canyoneering! The Zion National Park region is filled with slot canyons that are carved by water and wind. Canyoneering lets us explore these natural beauties! Zion Ponderosa offers guided canyoneering experiences. We chose a half day tour that was six hours and included many repels into the canyons. They also offer full day tours that are nine hours!
The Jeep Tour Left us Speechless!
The next day we went on the Radio Tower Jeep Tour suitable for all ages! Olive loved the jeep ride that took us 8,000 feet up to an incredible vantage point. We soaked up the beauty of not only Zion but all of the surrounding national parks in the area. It’s the only place where you can see 3 National parks from one place!
When we arrived at the top we were blown away by these views!
Olive had a great time and the jeep ride back quickly rocked her to sleep!
Such a Perfect Place for Families
Olive had fun running around exploring the property. She loved petting the baby goats, swinging on the playground, swimming in the pool, and playing mini golf. Their recreation and amenities are endless.
Skies over Zion National Park are stunning
One of my favorite things about our vacation home was ending our days under the stars and waking up to the most peaceful sunrise. Skies over Zion are some of the clearest in the country. At night we sat on the deck and watched the starry Milky Way. Sunrise with coffee was the best way to start the day!
Spending the Day at Zion National Park
The next morning we drove to Zion National Park. Zion has a guided tram that takes visitors into the park and makes stops at each attraction! We parked at the visitors center and took the tram, stopping off for hikes and magnificent views. As we explored the park I said more than once “this doesn’t look real!” It’s like nothing I’ve seen. The formations within Zion are thousands of feet above the valley floor that you truly have to see to believe.
Zion National Parks low season is December through April, so we decided to visit in late November. During the week we nearly had the park to ourselves! It became busier once the weekend rolled around. I highly recommended visiting on weekdays during the low season. Keep in mind though, the winter months may be too cold to fully enjoy some of the hikes and attractions. We still fully enjoyed the park, especially with all the pretty fall trees!
Location, location, location…
What initially attracted us to Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort was their proximity to the park and surrounding destinations. As I mentioned St. George offers numerous accommodations but they can get very busy in town. We loved that Zion Ponderosa was just a quick 10 minute drive to the park, but gave us the relaxing one-of-a-kind getaway we we’re looking for!
Zion Ponderosa is in close proximity to these destinations!
There is so much to explore in this area including popular Bryce Canyon and the must-see Lake Powell. Zion Ponderosa is located amidst America’s highest concentration of natural scenic parks so planning a road trip to destinations nearby was a must!
- Zion National Park (border of park)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (75 minutes)
- Pipe Spring National Monument (45 minutes)
- Cedar Breaks National Monument (55 minutes)
- Grand Canyon National Park (120 minutes)
- Grand Staircase National Monument (30 minutes)
- Lake Powell (105 minutes)
