Unique Ways to Stay and Play in Greater Zion

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Written by Jeremy Pugh for the Utah Office of Tourism

A Year-Round Destination

Warmer temperatures make Greater Zion a year-round travel destination. You can golf pretty much throughout the year on St. George’s championship-level courses. But it’s a land of contrasts; it can be sunny and warm in St. George and snowing just an hour north in Cedar City. The world-famous Zion National Park is the main attraction but Snow Canyon State Park, Red Cliffs Reserve, Sand Hollow State Park, and Quail Creek State Park are all equally wondrous parks to add to your itinerary, even when the weather dial isn’t turned up to hot.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is Utah’s lowest park in both elevation and latitude, so its weather tends to be pretty fair year-round. You can expect rain at times, but rarely snow, and cool temperatures, especially in sunless canyon bottoms. You can also expect to have parts of the stunning canyon to yourself, ideal for solace seekers and nature photographers. Shorter daylight also brings sunrise, sunset, and starry skies closer together — but bundle up for those chilly desert nights!

Temperatures can hover in a comfortable 50-60 degrees during the day, but drop below freezing at night. Winter rains and periodic snow can build up on trails, creating icy conditions in the morning, which often melt away in a few hours. Always exercise caution on wet and icy trails and turn back if conditions inhibit safe passage. Learn more about safe winter adventures, check location conditions, and get the weather report at the visitor center, open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the winter.

Get the gear: One of the most amazing things to do in Zion National Park in the off-season is to hike into the Narrows, hike a few miles up the Virgin River below towering rock walls that close in on you as you ascend the river bed. But you’ll need a drysuit, an impenetrable rubbery suit that keeps the cold water out and you warm and dry. Zion Outfitters rents the suits and other resources, as well as a helpful orientation session to get hikers ready for their canyoneering adventure.

Base Camp: Springdale

Where to stay: Located near the entrance to Zion National Park, Cable Mountain Lodge is practically in the park. The lodge has standard hotel rooms as well as spacious family-sized suites with kitchens and plenty of room and the hot tub is open year-round. The property also offers a handy, up-to-date list of restaurants that are open in the off-season at its front desk. Or, let Larry and Liz host you at the beautifully designed and comfortable Zion Canyon Bed & Breakfast. Some accommodations take the winter off, but Springdale continues to welcome travelers to the mouth of Zion National Park. See even more lodging options below.

More Springdale Accommodations

Where to eat: Zion Canyon Brewing Company‘s brewpub has excellent pub grub and a good selection of beers, brewed onsite.
2400 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale
(435)-772-0336

Base Camp: St. George, Utah

While some of Springdale takes the winter off, St. George is a good-sized city on the main interstate, full of great restaurants, year-round adventure, and cultural attractions — a round of championship-caliber golf is frequently possible as well.

Where to stay: As a year-round destination and a winter getaway for Northern Utahns, hotels and motels abound in Southwest Utah’s largest metro area, St. George. But for something out of the ordinary, check out the Inn on the Cliff, a boutique hotel set on a bluff high above the town. For a luxury experience, try the Inn at Entrada, a golfing getaway spot located in a gated community just an hour away from Zion National Park.

Where to eat: Serving upscale southwestern cuisine alongside a great cocktail menu and wine list, The Painted Pony is open seven days a week.

Explore more dining in Greater Zion.

The Convenience and Bonuses of Staying in Springdale

As dangerous as it is to start with a cliche, here it goes: A picture is worth a 1,000 words. We’ve all heard the saying, but it has never rung more true than in this situation.

When you plan a trip to Zion National Park, you have to make a couple hard decisions. One of those is where to stay. Obviously there is no one right answer for everyone. Each of us has our own specific priorities. However, Springdale is a great choice for where to stay on your trip. Just look at the pictures.

Travel Time

You’ll spend less travel time staying in Springdale than any other option. That means you can do more in the park, spend more time relaxing at the hotel pool, and just plain maximizing the minutes you have here. Less time driving is always a good thing.

If you stay in Springdale, you can even bring a bike and not even use a car. Everything is super close, and all the shuttles have bike racks that allow you to bring your bike into the park itself if you want. Many people even bike up the main canyon.

Don’t have or want to bring your own bike? Not a problem! There are many places to rent a bike, including the Zion Lodge.

Taking in a View

We often get the same question over and over when people are looking to visit Zion: “How long should I stay to see the Park?”

To make a blanket statement for everyone of varying degrees of interests, let’s say 3 days. If you’re more than a sightseer and want to really experience the park, that’s a realistic time frame. Whether you’re planning to camp or go the hotel route, no other location other than Springdale offers views this good. It’s hands down the prettiest spot and offers an amazing view in any direction. This is in large part due to the small town of Springdale actually bordering Zion.

What to Eat

You most likely want to eat better on vacation than you do in your day-to-day life. Food is what brings people together, and good food all but guarantees you’ll have a good time.

There are honestly too many amazing restaurants to name in Springdale. It’s unbelievable how many unique, quality places there are to eat at in such a small town. Almost nothing competes when it comes to close proximity dining to a world-class national park. Some local favorites are Oscars and The Switchback Grill.  

A Few Drawbacks

Let’s quickly knock off the obvious reasons people choose somewhere else to stay when visiting Zion. Prices for hotels and food will be a little cheaper in other areas further away from the park. You may also want to be closer to other activities while on your trip, like shopping, Tuacahn or other national parks. However, you’ll see more of the park, you’ll eat as good or better than you could hope for, you’ll have incredible views the whole time all because you stayed in Springdale. So do yourself a favor and start planning your next trip to Zion!