Itineraries
Itineraries
Itineraries
A Week in the West - 7 Days, 6 Nights
A week is enough time to see the best of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona without rushing any of it. Hike to Observation Point and Canyon Overlook on Zion's quiet east side, ride the shuttle into Zion Canyon, and walk among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. Then drive south to the Grand Canyon's North Rim, where the views go on for miles.
Between the big park days, the ranch gives you room to slow down: a morning with no alarm, a canyoneering adventure, a horseback ride along the canyon rim, and long evenings under some of the darkest skies left in the West. Unpack once and make the ranch your basecamp.
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: Zion's East Side
Two rim-top views of Zion, with a slow afternoon in between.
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.
Afternoon: Canyon Overlook Trail
Drive five minutes to the East Entrance, then a few more to the trailhead. A short, rocky trail follows the edge of a slot canyon to a wide overlook with a view straight down Zion Canyon, best as the afternoon light warms the cliffs. 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 be patient. National park entrance fee applies.
Evening: Dinner
Head back to Cordwood for a second night, or keep it simple at your cabin. Some of the best evenings here are the quiet ones: dinner on the porch, the day's photos, and nowhere else to be.
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: A Slow Day on the Ranch
No alarm. Pick one adventure and let the rest of the day unfold.
Morning: Slow Start
Sleep in, then wander over to Cordwood for a late breakfast. Afterward, take a walk through the gardens and greenhouse, or find a quiet spot on the porch with a book. Today runs on ranch time.
Breakfast is served until 10:30 am.
Afternoon: Pick Your Adventure
Head into a slot canyon with a canyoneering guide, ride a jeep out to backcountry overlooks, or ride singletrack on the Applecross trails. Each one shows you a different side of East Zion. Choose one and save the rest for next time.
Make a reservation in advance for canyoneering and jeep tours.
Evening: Dinner
Stay close for dinner at Cordwood, or keep it simple at your cabin. Some of the best evenings here are the quiet ones: dinner on the porch, the day's photos, and nowhere else to be.
Reservations recommended but not required.
Night: Dark Sky
Some of the darkest skies left in the West are right outside your door. Grab a sky guide from the front desk, find a spot by the fire pit, and see how many constellations you can name. On a clear summer night, the Milky Way stretches right overhead.
Day 5: 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 6: Grand Canyon North Rim
The quiet rim of the Grand Canyon, about two hours from the ranch.
Early Morning: Drive to the North Rim
Pack a lunch and plenty of water, then head south into Arizona. The drive climbs onto the Kaibab Plateau through open meadows and forest before reaching the rim. Watch for deer along the road.
About 2 hours each way. Due to the 2025 fire, there is currently no drinking water on the North Rim and services are very limited. Pack all the food and water you'll need and fill your tank before you go.
Midday: Point Imperial & Cape Royal
Drive the scenic road to Point Imperial, the highest point on the North Rim, for your first look into the canyon. Then continue to Cape Royal, stopping for a few short walks along the way: the Roosevelt Point loop through the pines, the paved path to the Walhalla ruins, and the Cliff Spring Trail near Angels Window. Plan on a full, unhurried day.
The Roosevelt Point and Walhalla walks are both under a half mile, and Cliff Spring is about 1 mile round trip. National park entrance fee applies.
Evening: Kanab or the Fire Pit
Stop in Kanab on the way back for dinner in a classic Western town. Or save your appetite for Cordwood and one more evening by the fire pit.
Seasonal Note
The North Rim is open mid-May to mid-October. Visiting off-season? Spend the day at Coral Pink Sand Dunes and in Kanab instead, both about 20 minutes from the ranch.
Day 7: 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.
National Park Basecamp
Explore multiple national parks from a single place. Zion Mountain Ranch becomes your basecamp for exploring the iconic canyon of Zion National Park and the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, along with full days at the ranch in between to slow down.
