Uncovering Prehistoric Wonders in Greater Zion

Experience the thrill of Jurassic World Rebirth in theaters, then walk in real dinosaur tracks

Photo Credit: St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm

As the nation celebrates the roaring release of Jurassic World Rebirth, Greater Zion offers a prehistoric adventure that even Hollywood can’t replicate. We invite you to explore where dinosaurs roamed millions of years ago. 

From the remarkable fossil discoveries at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm to the pristine trackways at Warner Valley, this region offers a unique blend of natural history and adventure that can captivate both fans of the Jurassic Park franchise and budding paleontologists.

The variety of dinosaur-related sights available in Greater Zion makes it impossible to squeeze into one day. Plan for two or three days to provide ample time to acquaint yourself with Greater Zion’s prehistoric charm.

Download a free copy of this map and check off the locations as you explore Greater Zion

The Ultimate Destination for Dinosaur Lovers

Greater Zion is a living museum set to captivate anyone with an interest in the ancient past. Whether you’re marveling at the scientifically accurate T. rex on temporary display at the Red Cliffs Mall or spotting Grallator tracks at the Red Cliffs Dinosaur Track Site, each stop offers a deeper connection to the creatures that once ruled the Earth.

Warner Valley Dinosaur Tracks

Just a short drive from civilization, you can literally walk in dinosaur footsteps at the Warner Valley Dinosaur Track Site. This attraction is a short 0.6-mile round-trip hike with quality trackways. If you get close, you might even see toe pads and claw marks. It was originally thought to hold 161 tracks, but a 2010 site investigation revealed more than 400 dinosaur footprints. According to the Bureau of Land Management, the tracks are lower-Jurassic in age, or about 190 million years old. As you take a desert stroll, you’ll feel the connection between the land and the creatures that once dominated it. It’s a thrilling real-world counterpart to Jurassic World Rebirth.

Adventure Details:

• Best visited early in the morning from May to September or anytime during October to April.
• Bring plenty of water
• No fees for day use

Silver Reef Trail

Take a hike into the prehistoric past on the Silver Reef Trail. A short 0.4-mile loop trail leads to the Red Cliffs Dinosaur Track Site, containing well-preserved Eubrontes, Kanyentapus, and Grallator tracks. This adventure combines hiking, geological history, and paleontology in one package. It’s a stop any dinosaur fan should be eager to experience.

These fossil footprints were first discovered in 1998, and when re-examined in 2012, paleontologists found 17 tracks dating back 190 million years. Along the way, you’ll also learn about the region’s unique geological heritage — Silver Reef was mined for its deposits of silver, the only known silver ore deposits in a sandstone formation in the world. As you hike through the Silver Reef Trail, you’ll see how geology played a pivotal role in preserving the fossilized remnants we enjoy today.

Trail Highlights:

• Day Use Fee: $5 per vehicle (America the Beautiful passes accepted)
• Multiple dinosaur track locations, especially if you include the Red Reef East Trail (See the Two-Day Itinerary for more information.)

The Phytosaur at Zion National Park [Temporary]

Photo Credit: Zion Forever Project

Even Zion National Park holds prehistoric secrets. The Zion Human History Museum features the End Triassic Extinction exhibit. It includes a model phytosaur skull and other Triassic-related history. While many of us are familiar with the towering giants of the Jurassic period, fewer know about the unique Phytosaur — an ancient reptile that lived during the Triassic period, long before the famous dinosaurs of the Jurassic Park franchise.

This temporary exhibit examines the pivotal transition from the Triassic to the Jurassic period (227-180 million years ago), showcasing groundbreaking research conducted right within Zion’s boundaries. The exhibit offers both educational insights and a glimpse into the ancient ecosystems that once thrived in the region, providing context for understanding the prehistoric world that preceded the age of dinosaurs.

Museum Information:

• Zion National Park Road, Springdale, UT 84767
• Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer
• On display until November 30, 2026

The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm

The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm isn’t a traditional museum. It’s built directly over an active trackway where Dr. Sheldon Johnson discovered thousands of well-preserved dinosaur footprints from the Early Jurassic period. Many of the casts show detailed skin impressions, foot pads, claw marks, and dew claws, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into life approximately 200 million years ago. The museum also features life-sized models of prehistoric animals, interactive displays, and a working fossil preparation lab where you can watch paleontologists at work.

What truly sets this site apart is that it is still active. Across the street from the existing museum, you can see evidence of current excavation. This project has resulted in the discovery of more than a thousand fossils. The museum is currently seeking volunteers to catalog their findings and is scheduled to open a “Dig for a Day” program in the fall of 2025. You can step into the shoes of a paleontologist and dig for actual fossils.

Planning Your Visit:

• Open seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Admission: $9 for seniors 70+, $10 for adults 18+, $5 for kids 5-17 years old, kids under 4 are free
• utahdinosaurs.org

Thunder Junction All Abilities Park

If you have younger children, consider adding Thunder Junction All Abilities Park to the prehistoric lineup. This dinosaur-themed park features completely wheelchair-accessible playground equipment, an “erupting” volcano with slides, a splash pad, and a roaring C.P. Huntington 1/4-scale train on a 2,700-foot track.

What makes Thunder Junction special is its dedication to serving children of all abilities, with soft mat surfaces instead of bark and ramps providing access to all areas. The park creates a welcoming environment where every family member can enjoy playing together.

Planning Your Visit:

• 1851 S. Dixie Drive, St. George, UT 84770
• Open: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Train Summer Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-noon & 4-7 p.m.

More Than the Past

The prehistoric past is strongly represented in Greater Zion, but it doesn’t need to be the sole focus of your vacation. Ride bikes through Snow Canyon State Park, enjoy a performance at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, or relax at a world-class spa. Greater Zion offers more than 2,400 square miles of adventure and inspiration. Walking with giants from the Jurassic period is simply the beginning.

View a two-day itinerary that explores the prehistoric past with suggestions for additional experiences. For maps, lodging options, and additional trip-planning resources, visit GreaterZion.com.

The Mojave Desert tortoise is one of many fascinating creatures roaming the Greater Zion landscape. Slow but steady, threatened but resilient, desert tortoises are essential to the desert ecosystem.

This little guy is a big deal

The desert tortoise, or Gopherus agassizii, is a keystone species. This title is given to species who go above and beyond to help the entire ecosystem by contributing something critical. 

The desert tortoise’s contribution is digging burrows, earning it the nickname “engineer of the desert.” Their claws, shell, and stature (8-15 inches long) are all perfectly adapted to plow through the sand. 

Desert tortoises dig burrows to hibernate through cold winter temperatures and to take a break from intense summer heat. Several other species like the Gila monster, sidewinder rattlesnake, chuckwalla, and peregrine falcon use them too. In fact, they depend on the tortoise burrows to survive – talk about a master architect! Without desert tortoises and their burrows, life in the desert would look much different.

Wait – what the shell?

Unfortunately, the possibility of life without the desert tortoise is very real due to a variety of factors including:

Development – As the popularity of desert communities grows, so does the demand for development. Many desert tortoise habitats have been eliminated due to residential and commercial development. 

Human intervention – Darn those meddling humans, especially the ones who violate stewardship best practices by driving recklessly or taking tortoises out of their habitat to keep as pets. Not cool … and it’s illegal. 

Upper Respiratory Tract Disease – This illness likely first developed among desert tortoises that were illegally kept as pets. When released back among their peers in the wild, the illness spread among the entire population. If not detected and treated correctly, upper respiratory tract disease can be fatal.

There’s still hope for our favorite slowpokes

Luckily, there are expert biologists in Greater Zion who have mastered the science of desert tortoise preservation. Enter the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 

The folks at conservation organizations like the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve are the only ones who can give tortoises the resources and assistance they need to survive because, in addition to their keystone species classification, desert tortoises are also considered a conservation-reliant species. 

In the wild, the desert tortoise can be found roaming the Mojave Desert anywhere from California to Arizona. In Greater Zion specifically, the tortoises like to hang out in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, where they are carefully monitored by biologists. If the biologists notice any issues with the tortoises, they give the tortoises a little extra TLC before safely returning them to their habitat. 

The biologists aren’t the only ones who make a positive impact on desert tortoises’ lives; your dedication to practicing good stewardship does too. When it comes to desert tortoises, you need to let them be. Leave No Trace and Land of Forever principles recommend 25 feet or more between you and any desert tortoise or wildlife in the wild.  

There is one very important exception, though: if a tortoise is in immediate danger, help! For example, move a tortoise out of the road if there is a car coming – that’s not a very fair race. Make sure you aren’t endangering yourself, then carefully pick up the tortoise and take him to the other side of the road in the direction that he is traveling. We promise, you won’t be in trouble. If possible, set the tortoise down on the other side of nearby fencing or other barriers to keep him from wandering back into the road.
If you notice other, less time-sensitive concerns, you can contact Red Cliffs Desert Reserve for assistance at 435-301-7430. Or, if you’re interested in learning more about desert tortoises, you can stop by the Greater Zion Visitor Center to soak in the exhibits or chat with experts.

Greater Zion is the only place in the world – yes, the entire world – where you can find the rare dwarf bear-poppy. In addition to being one of the most beautiful plants complementing our desert landscape, it is also one of the most precious ones. 

The dwarf bear-poppy, known scientifically as Arctomecon humilis, is endangered – and not because it lacks resilience. Rather, it is picky. The dwarf bear-poppy only survives in very specific, gypsum-rich soil. Long ago, volcanic eruptions deposited volcanic rock throughout the area, filling Greater Zion’s soil with not too much, not too little, but just the right amount of gypsum for the dwarf bear-poppy. 

We are so happy things worked out for our Goldilocks-esque perennial herb, and you should be too. When conditions are right, dwarf bear-poppies are some of the few plants that are tough enough to survive in harsh desert conditions and rival the natural beauty of the scenic desert while doing it.

The dwarf bear-poppy can be recognized by its short, shrubby stature (hence the “dwarf”), its soft leaves with hair-like tendrils, and bright yellow stamens cradled by four elegant white petals. The “bear” portion of the name comes from the textured edges of the petals that resemble a bear claw.

The highest concentrations of dwarf bear-poppies are found within the boundaries of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and the White Dome Nature Preserve, among other endangered species such as the desert tortoise. You can observe the poppy in bloom from late April to early May, with Leave No Trace and Land of Forever principles in mind. But no matter when or where you encounter them, keep an eye out for dwarf bear-poppies and treat them as the precious gems they are.

Less than 25 miles northeast of St. George, just beyond Baker Dam Recreation Area, you will find a hidden gem within the folds of the Alpine Region mountains. Baker Creek Lavender Farm is a small, family-operated business that produces a variety of lavender species, herbs and organic products from land that has been family-owned for generations. 

Baker Creek Lavender Farm was established in 2017 after owners Scott and Mary had dreamed of the endeavor for years. They had researched every lavender field they could find as they traveled across the United States, until one day, they decided to put roots down for themselves, literally and figuratively.

What is now a collection of flourishing fields began as a humble plot of undeveloped land that many deemed unusable. This didn’t stop Scott and Mary, though. With the help of friends and family, they cultivated their first quarter-acre field of lavender in 2018. Since then, it has expanded to five fields and continues to grow. Visitors are typically welcomed during the summer months, but see the official Baker Creek Lavender Farm website for official opening and closing dates, as they vary from year to year.

The remote location of the farm makes you feel like you stumbled into some sort of magical fairy garden. Suddenly, the rugged land on which you were traveling transforms into a sweet-smelling purple haven as soon as you cross the creek.* There are bees and butterflies flocking to see the lavender for themselves, and the serenity that lavender is known for is amplified by the gentle sound of the creek flowing nearby.

As you wander around – not through, though to prevent damaging the delicate flowers – the dreamy, picturesque fields, you can read facts about the different species that are growing and capture their beauty by taking pictures on your phone. (Note: contact the farm directly to inquire about professional photo shoots amidst the lavender.)

Pictures are not the only souvenir you can take from Baker Creek Lavender Farm. Organic products made from lavender and herbs produced on the farm can be purchased nearby. Soaps, candles, balms, lotions, oils, edible items and more are handcrafted with care and distilled with the precision of two passionate artists. Online orders can be placed through Baker Creek Lavender Farm’s website, where you can also find more information regarding the photography policy, seasonal updates and event planning. 

The small, family-owned businesses in Greater Zion are part of what makes this corner of the country so attractive and unique. Baker Creek Lavender Farm is a lovely example of the pioneer spirit that our locals continue to carry on through the Land of Endurance. Come see this real-life desert rose (or, desert lavender?) and everything else Greater Zion has to offer for yourself. Book your trip while the fields are still in full bloom.

*Please check the Baker Creek website or call ahead for weather updates before traveling. Heavy rain and melting snowpack in higher elevations impact the creek levels, making the bridge to Baker Creek impassable at times. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for the trip, regardless of weather conditions.

Scott Kramer – Forbes.com

I always enjoy finding a sleeper golf destination — those that aren’t quite on the mainstream radar but are surprisingly nice. And I discovered one this week — St. George, Utah, which is also known as the Greater Zion area. Actually, I first visited in the mid-1990s for golf, but hadn’t been back since for no apparent reason. But now, there’s a lot to like for golfers — including 14 really nice courses.

For one thing, it’s relatively accessible — about a two-hour drive from Las Vegas. But it’s also a world away. Forget the bright lights motif of Vegas, this is a blossoming town that happens to have many outdoor activities to enjoy. Then there’s the scenery — wow, red rock mountains serve as the backdrop pretty much everywhere in the area. If you enjoy hiking and camping, the incredible Zion National Park is on the edge of town, too. Here’s my golf destination experience:

I flew in from Phoenix — yes, St. George has its own airport that serves several major airlines — and bee-lined to The Advenire — Autograph Collection, a boutique hotel that’s centrally located and has a cool vibe. It combines standard rooms and luxury suites. Mine was really nice and spacious, with an ultra-comfortable bed, big-screen TV and walk-out balcony. Met up with some friends at wood•ash•rye in the lobby that has a wonderful and relaxing atmosphere — it’s an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant that serves tasty food all day.

The next morning, we go for an hour-long hike at the scenic Snow Canyon State Park — one of four state parks in town — before heading to The Ledges Golf Club, which is located in a nice residential golf community. This 7,200-yard Matt Dye (Pete’s nephew) design features red rock backdrops, immaculate greens and fairways, and a wonderful view of Snow Canyon State Park. The front line is average with a lot of straightaway holes, but then the back nine gets dramatic with elevation changes. All along are subtle moguls in the fairway, which create plenty of uneven lies. This is essentially an upscale daily fee course. The day we played it, the course was not in magnificent shape. But you can tell that when it is, it’s probably one of the top courses in town. We also played on a busy Saturday, and the pace was slow for no particular reason. Maybe it’s because the course apparently attracts out-of-towners who aren’t familiar with the layout. Or because you’re up at a 3,600-foot altitude and the ball flies a shade longer than back at sea level — perhaps golfers were searching for their shots in the wrong place. Regardless, some of the back nine views are spectacular. One thing I learned quickly: Putts don’t break as much as they appear. This was actually a common occurrence in every round we played at this golf destination. 

Our tee time the next day is at the Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort in nearby Hurricane. Ranked the best public course you can play in Utah since 2009, this John Fought/Andy Staples-designed 7,300-yard layout peaks at the 11th tee where I think you can see the entire state in 360 degrees. The combination of red rock outcroppings, natural vegetation, lush fairways and indigenous red-sand bunkers is stunning. It’s a visual delight that lasts the entire round. Picture lush green holes, each surrounded by desert. The elevation drops are frequent, yet the fairway landing areas are generous. That means you can keep the ball in play on this golf roller coaster, without being pinpoint accurate. Yet there are plenty of wide fairway bunkers that seem to be in the landing areas, so golfers need to be somewhat careful on shot placement and where they aim their drives. Expect to have a lot of fun, regardless. It’s challenging yet fair. And your score will reflect that. Course conditions are fantastic, the greens and fairways roll true. There’s one hole on the back nine that has you teeing off between a chute of tall red rocks — only enhancing the drama. I honestly didn’t want the round to end.

Afterwards, we grab a quick lunch on the balcony and head across the parking lot to play the 3,600-yard, nine-hole Links Course. This course boasts Utah’s largest greens and fairways. Although it’s relatively flat, there are still some blind shots. The short par-3 7th, for instance, has a green you can barely see glimpses of from the tee. Thankfully, the flag was red the day we played it, so it was at least visible as we hit over tall vegetation to get there. The layout does remind me of some in Scotland, but in the middle of the desert. This is an ideal course for beginners and veterans, alike. Our group stays on property starting that night, at a spacious and upscale rental house. Talk about convenience in a golf destination!

Dinner that night is at Balcony One in nearby Virgin, which has a wide food selection. I was sold on the Dino smoked-beef ribs served with Chili Nopales, corn cakes and a side of apple jalapeño BBQ sauce. OMG. I can say without a doubt it was the largest single piece of beef I’ve ever attempted to eat. As it happens, I wind up sharing some of it.

Next morning I’m on the tee early at the year-old Copper Rock Golf Course in Hurricane — the Epson Tour holds an event here, which should clue you in on the excellent course quality. It’s a 6,823-yard course designed by a local architect, in near-perfect condition. The course features native sage, desert dunes and copper mountains. Again, lush green fairways and greens with gorgeous backdrops. I rank this course my second favorite on the trip, behind the Sand Hollow Championship Course. There’s plenty of elevation change, birdie opportunities, twists and turns, and places to get into trouble. There are also several water holes. To be honest, it reminded me of a typical Scottsdale or Palm Springs course in many ways — course condition, backdrop, several home-lined fairways, and a resort-like feel even though it’s just a daily-fee layout at this point. It was playable and enjoyable, and required me to use every club in the bag. Best of all, play just moves along for a fairly fast pace.

Afterwards, we head 45 minutes over to Zion National Park for a pair of short hikes and a beer at the lodge. Great as the golf was, this was the most-spectacular highlight of the trip. I was a first-timer here and was wowed by the red-rocked scenery, and the ease at which you can get around inside the park by tram. No wonder it’s the third-most visited national park in America. If you’re into nature — or even if you’re not — this is an absolute must-see if you’re ever in the area. There are even first-class spas located just outside the gates, to help pamper your body after a long hike or mountain bike ride. There are even electric bikes for rent, if you want to experience the beauty without all the exercise.

Overall, the golf in St. George is super fun, a great golf destination and I will return someday in the near future to play again. Plus there’s another new resort course — Black Desert — and a renovated Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club opening up in the near future. Am already planning on bringing my wife to Zion for some hiking, playing a few rounds of golf, and taking another stab at that Dino rib.

The Secret of Snow Canyon When it Rains

For a normal person, waking up to rain on the day you planned to go for a hike would be huge disappointment. But when it rains down here in southern Utah, the landscape changes dramatically and magical things can happen if you know where to look. So the next time it rains here in Greater Zion, let us offer you a special hike: one of the coolest spots to see when it rains in Snow Canyon: Potholes!

Potholes? Doesn’t sound like much of a secret, or very interesting for that matter, but you couldn’t be more wrong! There is an amazing secret hiding in Snow Canyon that local photographers love, and it’s time to let you in on it. If you’re an out-of-towner, this can be a little trickier to plan as you can’t really control the weather. But if happenstance should smile in your favor, plan to hike the Petrified Sand Dunes Trail in Snow Canyon.

Here’s a tip for you: make your way out there as the rain is starting to let up and pass. The best results come when you get to see the sky to clear up a bit and bring in some sunshine while there is still plenty of water in the hollowed out potholes up on the dunes.

Winter or summer, it doesn’t really matter. It still makes for some fun photography and beautiful landscapes. It’s good enough to keep drawing locals back and certainly good enough to share with visitors.

Have you already got some awesome shots of these natural wonders in Snow Canyon? Post ‘em to our Facebook page, and share your experience with us. If you haven’t had this pleasure yet, make sure to add it to your list for your next trip out here!

Visit Red Cliffs Recreation Area for a Unique Adventure

It’s no secret that there is an amazing National Park in southern Utah. However, it’s not the only awesome place to experience down here, and Red Cliffs Recreation Area is one you probably haven’t heard of. It’s a hidden gem that has all the charms of Zion in a smaller package.

Desert Potholes and Waterfalls

In Spring and right after rainfall, this recreation area is blessed with some beautiful waterfalls that gush over its dry red-rock canyons. Since it’s pretty tough to plan a trip around rain, and rain also makes for less enjoyable camping, try planning a Spring trip, especially if you want to see the falls running. Even when the falls aren’t going, there are large potholes in the canyon that stay full of water year round and make for great pictures.

Petroglyphs

It’s super easy to miss, but as the canyon starts to tighten up and turn to the left, you can cross the dry stream bed, where a large alcove is cut out of the cliff face, and it is marked with some plastic posts. In this shallow cave, you can look up and find some ancient Native American drawings!

Slot Canyons

Nothing says desert adventure like slot canyons! They are hands down one of the best parts about hiking in southern Utah. Making your way between towering cliffs, sometimes only an arms’ width apart, you feel like you’re on another planet.

Campsites in Red Cliff Recreation Area

These campsites are the icing on the cake. If you’ve ever tried to get a campsite in Zion, you know how hard it can be to score one without doing so almost a year in advance. Many of the popular national parks are this way now. Red Cliffs Recreation Area is only 45 minutes from Zion, but its campsites are really easy to get. In conclusion you are better off camping at Red Cliffs if you make a trip out here without a lot of advanced planning. Yet it’s not just how easy it is to get these camp sites that makes me recommend them. You will really enjoy these sites, as they have all the facilities you need, like tables, pavilion cover and restrooms. 

You’re out in this red rock paradise and you want to see and do as much as possible—we get it completely. But, sometimes, the best way to experience St. George is to take a breather and slow down the adventure a little, and this desert garden is a hidden gem sitting right above the city just waiting to be explored.

Red Hills Desert Garden has taken a new approach to the concept of gardens and laid out a huge variety of desert plant life to the tune of 170 different types, all of which are labeled. It’s a plant paradise! For someone who derives so much joy from being able to identify and name different plants, it’s heaven on earth.

This garden is stroller and kid-friendly and features a large fish tank naturally blended into the environment which also is labled and gives some background into the types of fish that live in the tank. An added bonus is that this garden also has some dinosaur tracks preserved and labeled. What kid do you know, including the kid inside yourself, who wouldn’t love to see dinosaur tracks?

This family friendly garden is also an ideal spot for a picnic or to take a break and do some people watching. With benches and swings scattered throughout the garden, you can find the perfect spot and enjoy the view of the plants and the other visitors as they take in the beauty of what this area has to offer.

Between the ATV rides, zip lining, canyon exploring, miles of hiking and a plethora of other things you will be doing, take a minute or two and see this one-of-a-kind desert garden close to the heart of St. George. Sit down, enjoy the fresh air and unique scenery in this quaint garden. Once you’re rejuvinated, another Greater Zion adventure will be calling your name.

A Unique Adventure In Greater Zion

Do you want an adventure that will make your eyes pop out of your head in wonder and amazement? Then you have to experience Battle Creek Canyon in the fall.

Before you fire up your amazing Googling powers and find a way to get there, be warned that this is a private canyon. That means that you can only experience it with the Zion Adventure Company, who owns the canyon. But the good news is that you GET to experience it with Zion Adventure Company! Below are just a few reasons as to why you need to add this eye-popping experience to your itinerary on your next visit to Greater Zion.

The Setting in Fall

This isn’t to give the impression that this canyon is only fun and amazing in fall, it would be awesome anytime of year, but when you get to experience it in the full bloom of fall colors, you have gone from something amazing to something truly magical. It’s the kind of stuff poets try to capture in their writing. The trees were ablaze with yellow, orange and red. The best part of the fall weather, though, is the number of pools of water totally covered with pink and red leaves. Stunning is the only word to describe it.

The Rappels

Pool after pool you’ll plunge down with a splash and feel the rush of freezing water and adrenaline. Each rappel is a unique piece of art sculpted by nature’s careful hand. It’s incredible to see how the knife of water and time could carve such beautiful stone slides and drop-offs. The feeling of lowering yourself off a sheer cliff and gliding down 80 feet to a new pot of water is something you won’t soon forget. Lowering yourself down a waterfall by a rope is something you just have to experience for yourself.

The Ascending out of a Canyon

Even if you consider yourself a fairly accomplished outdoorsman or woman with many skills and experiences, there is always more to learn and try. For example, ascending up a rope instead of climbing up the actual rock face and then rappelling down it. Because you will descended a couple hundred feet down Battle Creek, you’ll then have to regain that elevation to return to your starting point.

In most canyoneering experiences, you’ll accomplish this by finding a hiking trail from the bottom that takes a steep path you can walk up to the top of the canyon. For this adventure, you can only do that for about half the distance that you need to climb. The trail ends at a cliff wall of 110 feet. It can be tricky to gain mastery of, but by the end, you’ll be confidently ratcheting yourself up the rope to the top. I’s a lot more technique than it is brute strength.

The Guided Experience

It takes a very skilled guide to know how much to challenge their participants. Thankfully, the guides at Zion Adventure Company are very skilled. They’ll knew just how much to push and challenge you to discover and learn. It won’t be handed to you, but it won’t done in an irritating way either. The end result will be a gratifying and empowering trip. You’ll learn the right knots for the right circumstances and new skills to work as a team and assist each other while smearing and downclimbing. The requirement to use Zion Adventure Company is news because they make the experience one you will always remember.  

Zion National Park is so much fun to experience and something that everyone should see in their life. But if you come to St. George and Zion and only spend time in the park, you would be missing out on some of the best things to see and do in the area. You’d be missing out on seeing Battle Creek Canyon, and that would be a huge mistake! Get in touch with Zion Adventure Company and have a real adventure.

Exploring Greater Zion’s Slot Canyons

It’s a well-known spot to locals, but the out-of-town crowd will find this slot canyon to be a real hidden gem. One of the best features of Greater Zion is the slot canyons. Those canyons have spawned a relatively new sport known as canyoneering. It’s one of the most popular features of Zion National Park and each of those canyons requires a permit obtained in advance of your trip. There are other canyons to explore in Greater Zion, though, and they don’t require permits. Yankee Doodle is a great option if you find yourself without a permit.

Experiencing Greater Zion is all about trying new things and pushing your boundaries a little. That being said, your safety should always be what’s most important. Keep in mind that canyoneering is a skill-based activity that requires the ability to rappel, smear down narrow gaps and scramble under boulders. If you’ve never been canyoneering, it’s highly recommend that you talk with one of the guide companies in the area and experience it that way the first few times. You may also want to go with a friend that knows what they are doing. Play it smart, and play it safe.

Yankee Doodle offers a more introductory level experience to canyoneering. It consists of just a couple of rappels – one significant at the beginning and then a couple short ones depending on if you prefer to down climb and smear or rappel.

It may depend on the time of year and recent weather, but there will most likely also be a few pools of water to traverse. The depth of water can vary from a few inches to over your head. None of the pools will be large enough to necessitate a wetsuit in August, but if you are going to try it in the early spring or late fall, you may want to suit up to stay warm. Even when it’s 110 degrees out, the water in these slot canyons is a refreshing cool temperature.

The slight presence of danger and difficulty is what really makes this canyon so fun. Having your breath taken away as you jump into the freezing water and glide down the rope on a 90-foot rappel will make you feel like you’ve entered a completely new world. On your next trip to Zion country, remember to add a slot canyon or two to your itinerary!