Itineraries
Itineraries
Itineraries
National Park Basecamp - 5 Days, 4 Nights
Five days is enough to see two national parks and still have time to slow down. Ride the shuttle deep into Zion Canyon and have lunch at Zion Lodge. Hike among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, then walk the East Mesa Trail to Observation Point for a view straight down on Zion National Park's Angels Landing. Feed the bison at sunset and saddle up for a horseback ride on your last morning.
Every night, you come home to the ranch: dinner at Cordwood, a quiet evening on the porch, and a sky full of stars. It's two parks and one home base, with plenty of room to breathe.
Day 1: Arrive and Settle In
Check in, settle into your cabin, and meet the herd before dinner. Your first night is about slowing down: golden light on the bison, a long meal at Cordwood, and more stars than you can count.
Afternoon: Check In
Drop your bags, open the windows, and take a walk along the bison preserve fence line. Grab a drink or a snack if you need one. There's nothing you have to do yet, and that's the point.
Check-in is at 4:00 pm.
Sunset: Bison Feeding
Climb onto the wagon and help feed the herd as the light turns gold. The bison come close enough to hear them breathe while a ranch hand shares their story and answers every question the kids (and adults) can think of. It's the moment guests talk about long after they leave.
The ride is 30 to 45 minutes long. We recommend making a reservation in advance, but tours can be booked on-site if space allows. Check in at the front desk.
Evening: Dinner at Cordwood
Settle in for dinner at Cordwood, where the menu is simple yet elevated. The menu rotates seasonally and features ranch favorites. Take your time. Nobody here is in a hurry.
Reservations recommended but not required.
Night: Stars from the Porch
Step outside after dinner and look up. With almost no light for miles, the sky over the ranch fills with more stars than you've seen in years. Pull a chair up to the fire pit or stay on your porch and let the night take its time.
Arriving Early?
Driving in from Salt Lake City or St. George? You'll come through Zion National Park on your way, with lovely lookouts and hikes along the route. Take your time. We'll be here.
Day 2: Into the Canyon
Zion's main canyon by shuttle, with lunch at Zion Lodge.
Early Morning: Canyon Overlook Trail
Stop on your way into the park for a short, rocky trail along the edge of a slot canyon. It ends at a wide overlook with a view straight down Zion Canyon and the switchbacks you're about to drive. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep on the slickrock.
About 1 mile round trip, which takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. Parking is tight, so arrive early. National park entrance fee applies.
Morning & Afternoon: Zion Canyon by Shuttle
Continue through the historic tunnel and down into the canyon. Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and ride the shuttle up canyon, hopping off along the way. We recommend the Riverside Walk to where The Narrows begin and the accessible hike to Lower Emerald Pool, or even farther. The canyon walls tower overhead the whole way.
The Visitor Center is about 45 minutes from the ranch. The free shuttle runs most of the year; in winter you can drive the canyon yourself.
Lunch: Zion Lodge
Hop off the shuttle at historic Zion Lodge for lunch in the heart of the canyon. It's the only dining and lodging inside the park, and the big front lawn under the cottonwoods is the perfect place to rest before the afternoon.
Zion Lodge has its own shuttle stop, shared with the Emerald Pools trailhead. Reservations at Red Rock Grill are recommended but not required, and Castle Dome Café offers grab-and-go meals.
Evening: Back to the Ranch
Drive back through the tunnel as the light fades and head to Cordwood for dinner. Afterward, pull a chair up to the fire pit and trade stories from the day.
Reservations recommended but not required.
Day 3: Bryce Canyon
A day among the hoodoos, about an hour up the road.
Early Morning: Drive to Bryce
Head north about an hour through high desert and ponderosa forest. Stop at Red Canyon on the way in, where the first red rock spires rise right beside the highway. It's a preview of what's ahead.
Bryce sits higher and cooler than the ranch. Make sure to pack layers.
Morning: Hike Queen's Garden & Navajo Loop
Start at Sunrise Point and follow the trail down among the hoodoos, the tall rock spires Bryce is famous for. The loop winds through narrow corridors and past towering formations before climbing back to the rim at Sunset Point. It's the best way to see the park up close.
About 3 miles round trip, which takes 2 to 3 hours. The climb out is steep, so pack water and take your time. National park entrance fee applies.
Afternoon: Bryce Rim Drive
Drive the scenic road along the rim to Inspiration Point and Bryce Point for sweeping views over the amphitheater. Each overlook shows the hoodoos from a new angle. Then head back to the ranch in time for dinner.
Evening: Dinner
Head back to Cordwood for dinner, or keep it simple at your cabin. After a big day in the park, a quiet evening on the porch is hard to beat.
Reservations recommended but not required.
Day 4: Rim and Ranch
A quiet rim hike in the morning, your pick of the evening.
Morning: Hike Observation Point via the East Mesa Trail
Start early and walk through ponderosa pine across the East Mesa to a rim that looks straight down on Angels Landing and the Three Patriarchs. It's one of the most famous views in Zion, and from this side you'll share it with far fewer people. The trail is mostly gentle, so you can save your energy for the view.
About 7 miles round trip, which takes 3 to 4 hours. Make sure to pack enough water, food, and layers. The road to the trailhead is a dirt road.
Midday: Back to the Ranch
Take a moment to relax back at the ranch. A nap or a book on the porch is a nice way to unwind and take in the open spaces.
Late Afternoon: Take Your Pick of the Ranch
Take a jeep tour out to backcountry overlooks, mountain bike the Applecross trails, or walk the ranch trails at your own pace. Either way, end the day at the fire pit to take in the stars and crisp Zion air.
Make a reservation in advance for jeep tours.
Evening: Dinner at Cordwood
Settle in for your last dinner at Cordwood. The menu rotates seasonally and features ranch favorites. Take your time. Nobody here is in a hurry.
Reservations recommended but not required.
Day 5: One Last Ride
One last ride before the road.
Morning: Horseback Ride
Saddle up for a two-hour guided ride along canyon rim trails with a wrangler who knows every switchback. You'll ride through pinyon and juniper with wide views at an easy pace that works for first-timers and experienced riders alike. It's the best way to say goodbye to this place.
All skill levels. Book the first ride of the day so you are back before checkout.
11:00 am: Check Out
Pack up and check out by 11:00 am. We'd be happy to hold your bags at the front desk so you're free to enjoy lunch and one last walk around the ranch before the drive.
Lunch: Cordwood
Grab one more meal at Cordwood before you hit the road. We recommend the bison burger. It's a fitting last taste of the ranch.
Afternoon: Leave Through the Park
Heading toward Salt Lake City or St. George? Take the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway past Checkerboard Mesa and through the historic tunnel for one last look at Zion on your way out.
Make the Ranch Your Basecamp
From cabins for two to lodges that sleep sixteen, every stay comes with space, privacy, and a porch to end the day on. Pick your place, then pick your pace.
Pick a Different Pace
The Long Weekend
Experience the best of Zion in a single trip. Feed the bison at golden hour, hike to Observation Point and Canyon Overlook, and ride out on horseback before you head home.
A Week in the West
Immerse yourself in the wild frontier of Southern Utah. A week is enough time to visit Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon's North Rim, saddle up for horseback rides, jeep tours, and canyoneering, and still slow down with long evenings under some of the darkest skies left in the West.
