Short, Quick Adventures in Greater Zion

Add These Short Excursions to your Itinerary

If you have a couple hours to spare between IRONMAN festivities and activities, try squeezing in one or more of these quick adventures. It’ll leave you wanting more, but you’ll get a taste of this Land of Exploration.

Hike the Red Reef Trail in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area

This out-and-back trail is rated “easy” with a round-trip length of about 2.2 miles. The trail takes hikers through a hidden canyon and dried river bed to a beautiful water oasis surrounded by high canyon walls.

Cruise the Veyo Loop for Views and Pie

Get a glimpse of the diverse landscapes of Greater Zion on this 47-mile route. In this one-hour drive, you’ll experience Joshua Trees, two State Parks, quaint rural towns, red-rock mountains, white-domed hill tops, dormant volcanos and the best darn pie shop Greater Zion has to offer, Veyo Pies.

Explore Pioneer Park and the Red Hills Desert Garden

Positioned directly above St. George, Pioneer Park offers dune-like rock formations, boulders to scramble and a slot canyon called the “St. George Narrows.” Wander to the east side of the park and you’ll find Red Hills Desert Garden. This beautiful garden, designed with paved pathways that showcase the local flora and fauna, is a delightful oasis amidst city lights and desert skies.

Red Hills Desert Garden

Tour the Historic Downtown St. George

Downtown St. George is clean and bright, full of art, restaurants, shops and history. The self-guided Historic Walking Tour is a favorite for those wanting a relaxing stroll around town while learning about the area’s rich heritage. Along the tour, you’ll encounter vintage shops, historic buildings, and art galleries.

Dive into a Reservoir

The deep blue waters of Greater Zion’s reservoirs – Gunlock, Quail Creek and Sand Hollow – offer adventurers and respite from the desert heat. Swim or relax in the red sand. Renting a paddleboard or kayak delivers a unique opportunity to explore cliff-jumping rocks and tree-covered hideaways. Outfitters at each water destination have equipment for rent. To help with your planning, check out this article on the 7 best water activities in Greater Zion.

Hike the Petrified Dunes Trail

Found right, smack-dab in the middle of Snow Canyon State Park, this trail takes hikers over rolling mounds of petrified sandstone hills with incredible views of the canyon. Climb high or find the perfect viewpoint and relax for as long as you have.

Mountain Bike the Paradise Rim

The name certainly fits considering the views and experience you’ll have here, it really is a paradise. This quick mountain biking trail, located close to downtown St. George, offers biking enthusiasts a chance to showcase technical skills on the famous red rock terrain that is Greater Zion. With steep jump-offs and amazing views of the Santa Clara and Snow Canyon areas, it’s a perfect taste of all the mountain biking opportunities in Greater Zion.

051 MountainBiking JoeNewman

Shop a range of options

The Shoppes at Zion provide famous name-brand selections while the Red Cliffs Mall offers a more traditional experience. Find unique, one-of-a-kind gifts at the Shops at Green Gate Village or at any of the local antique and curio shops in the downtown area. And don’t forget about all the art galleries.

Southwestern style paintings and pottery on display in art gallery.

Tee It Up

The Dixie Red Hills Golf Course is a nine-hole, par-34 layout that can be fit into any itinerary. This course was the area’s first and features red rocks, sandstone cliffs and sweeping green fairways, all nestled within the heart of St. George.