Mix-and-Match Half-Day Adventures in Greater Zion

Use the Itineraries Below to Plan Your Dream Vacation

Greater Zion is made for adventure. If you have simply a half a day or want to build your extended stay, consider these half-day adventures in Greater Zion. And, if you really like something, feel free to make it a whole day!

Visit Zion National Park

Get up early and hit the Canyon Overlook Trail to take in the sunrise overlooking Zion Canyon. The trail is only one-mile round-trip, so easy to get to the lookout before the sun appears over the towers below. If you don’t make it up before the sun, Zion, as the nation’s third-most-visit park, is still a must-do. Take in the iconic hikes such as The Narrows or Angels Landing, or try one or more of the lesser known trails for a less crowded experience.

Go Canyoneering

Do what? Yep, try a guide-led canyoneering expedition. Desert slot canyons are an irresistible lure to visitors of Greater Zion. The narrow, banded rock caverns with twisty bends and corners create an experience only accessible via rope and harness. See secluded labyrinth passages in Zion National Park and the surrounding area. Canyoneering adventures are available in half or full-day options.

Golf a Round

Greater Zion is home to 13 top-notch golf courses. Take a half day and tee it up among the green fairways in red rock surroundings. Keep your eye on the ball, but take some good time to concentrate on your beautiful surroundings. Many courses will have rental clubs available and have onsite dining for that before- or after-the-round meal.

Experience via ferrata

Greater Zion is one of the few places in America where you can experience this combination of scaling steep faces of gorgeous canyon walls with the security of iron-rung ladders and safety cables. This adrenaline-filled adventure will definitely earn you some bragging points. No experience required, as your guides and outfitters will education you on technique and you’ll soon be a pro. Make sure to bring your camera. You’ll be seeing things very few others ever get to experience

Explore via Two Wheels

Rent a bike or ebike and take a ride along the Virgin River Trail, a popular favorite among biking enthusiasts because of its easy accessibility, beautiful scenery and diverse landscape, winding through St. George and Washington cities. The area offers hundreds of miles of paved trails, so explore beyond the Virgin River too. Or simply ride through a state park or let a bike take you to the many downtown shops.

Hike and Explore Snow Canyon State Park

Within just a few hours, you can tackle many easy to moderate trails in this gem of a state park, and you won’t believe the variety of things to see. The Pioneer Names trail is a fairly easy, crescent-shaped trail passing a canyon wall that was signed by early settlers. Jenny’s Canyon Trail is a short walk into a slot canyon. The Whiterocks Amphitheatre Trail leads hikers to impressive sandstone mountains and beautiful views. The Petrified Dunes are a playground of ancient-formed steps that lead to a different view every few feet.

Catch an ATV/UTV Tour

For the perfect combination of discovery and adrenaline, take a tour on four-wheels on a UTV or ATV perfectly made for exploring the rocky overlooks and rolling sand dunes. As one of the most diverse landscapes anywhere, let a guide show you all the secrets including petroglyphs, slot canyons and even the best place to catch a sunset. No experience needed here either, as you can opt to be driven or let the guides show you how to maneuver these machines. Your heart is going to want to escape to see what your eyes are experiencing. The land of adrenaline is calling.

Hit the Water

In the middle of our desert landscapes, you’ll find a number of reservoirs that can provide hours of wet fun and relaxation. Soak in the sun on a sandy beach, rent a paddleboard or stand-up paddleboard. Or lease something a little faster, like a jet ski or motorboat and go skiing. Or plunge from a cliff into the beautiful blue waters below. Or do all the things. Outfitters are found at Quail Creek, Sand Hollow, Kolob and Gunlock reservoirs.

Walk with the Dinosaurs

Greater Zion is rich with prehistoric and culture wonders. Visit a museum like the Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm and glimpse into the past with evidence of these creatures that inhabited our land long before we did. Come face-to-face to these unique species and then go hunting for signs of them “in the wild” on the Dino Cliffs Trail or in Warner Valley.

See Greater Zion as the Crow Flies

Helicopter rides combine thrills and chills with scenic beauty in a view of Greater Zion that many will never experience. You’ll gain a bird’s eye view over jutting mesas, green valleys, lava flows, rural towns and deep canyons. Or book a hot air balloon ride for a leisurely float across these scenic landscapes.

See the History

Create a tour of historic sites for yourself. Several ghost towns have provided backdrops to movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Stroll historic downtown St. George that is dotted with pioneer homes, including Brigham Young’s Winter Home, and much more Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints history. The St. George Temple’s Visitors Center offers further insights into the people that settled this area originally.

End the Day with a Song

Musical theater abounds and is the perfect cap on a day of exploring. Take in dinner at a nearby restaurant and then relax for a theatrical show that’s not to be missed. Tuacahn Amphitheatre brings Broadway to the desert and the St. George Musical Theatre and Kayenta Center for the Arts showcase a variety of musical, comedic and dramatic productions.

To learn more about activities and attractions across Greater Zion, see all our things to see and do. There’s plenty to fill a half day, full day or entire week.