Our cardboard recycling bin for our Green conservation effort next to Zion National Park.

Cardboard and cooking oil are two products that we go through in a big-way here at Zion Ponderosa.    It took some research to identify just how much we were using, but once we got a handle on it, we also devised a plan for disposing of it more effectively.   Read more about our efforts here.

Cardboard stands inside our recycle bin ready to be delivered to recycling company.

At Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, we wanted to enhance our ability to be more environmentally friendly ( Go Green ), and to reduce our carbon footprint.   To accomplish this our General Manager, Michael Kane, hired a Masters student from the University of Utah as an intern, to analyze our entire conservation effort and to develop a more robust plan.   See what we accomplished by reading our Going Green – Press Release.

Our Organic Garden at Zion Ponderosa is just getting started but will become a great resource.

We also established an organic garden to decrease on the amount of food that is delivered to our resort, thus decreasing the carbon footprint of delivery vehicles.   Our future plans also include greater efforts to recycle plastic, aluminum and other resources. Read more.

Cactus in the Zion Park area

The rain has finally rolled away and left a freshly cleaned plateau behind. Here, above Zion National Park, the grass is bright green and the Ponderosa Pines brace against the wind that pushed the clouds away. Even that wind, warm and rich with the smell of summer, is now calming to a gentle breeze as it settles in for the hot, dry months ahead.

Summer in Zion reveals a world of beauty and adventure. Driving through the park, I saw blooming cacti and grazing bighorn sheep. Even as the streams dry up, the local wildlife is easily visible. Just yesterday I saw a big wild turkey strutting coolly across the road up near our vacation homes. These moments of connection with nature are a cherished memory anyone can make here at Zion Ponderosa. Even the least adventurous guests will feel closer to nature as they wander the paths of the ranch and soak up the summer.

The ranch is perfectly positioned to get the very best of Zion’s summer. From our high elevation, guests can walk into the park through several backcountry trails. Right now, the path from Jolly’s Gulch down to Canyon Overlook is marked by a stream. At one point, you can look out from the top of a waterfall. Later in the summer, the water dries up and leaves a stunning cliff-top view for hikers into the park.

Views from Zion Ponderosa

Another joy that summer in Zion brings is the clear night sky. This week, on a warm evening, I walked out to our paintball field, less than five minutes from the lodge. Even that near the lodge and cabins, the sky was clear and the stars were bright. Visible with the naked eye were the bears Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Draco the Dragon, and Cassiopia. I even saw a shooting star.

Everywhere you turn here at Zion Ponderosa there is a new wonder to be found. A new smell on the air or a new view to gaze upon can surprise you even after days of walking the property. Take a moment each day you spend with us to look around you. Breathe deeply and slow down. In this place of beauty, find the sight, smell, or sound that most touches you. That memory can be cherished for years to come. Keep it and hold it.

Welcome to summer in Zion.

A small waterfall in Zion National Park

Spring is a magnificent time to experience Zion National Park, and of course there is no better place to stay in the Zion area than Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.

Reasons Why Spring is Great!

1- Waterfalls: The upper areas of  Zion National Park and the mountains to the North of Zion range in elevations from 8,000 to 11,000 feet.   Snow is melting in these upper elevations and much of this water runs toward Zion and finds it’s way into the Virgin River.   The water will be running swiftly in the river so this is not the time for hiking the Zion Narrows, but some of the snow melt may find its way over the edges of cliff faces in the form of waterfalls.  If you happen to be in Zion on a day when we catch some rare rain, then the waterfalls will be all the more impressive.

2- Foliage: Water fills the valleys with plenty of moisture this time of year and the grasses and flowers are in their healthiest stage.   Water also works it way through the sandstone in the park and filters out at strategic points causing hanging gardens of lush foliage.  With a morning dew on the grass and flowers, Zion takes on its greenest hues, and this contrasts spectacularly with the red sandstone and deep blue skies.

3- Wildlife: Birds are starting their nests, wild turkeys are roaming the valley floors, and bighorn sheep, mule deer and other larger animals are moving about in strong numbers.  The world just seems to be more alive in spring and you’ll enjoy seeing the wildlife in Zion.

4- Temperatures: The valley floor of the main canyon in Zion is just 4,000 feet in elevation.  Air temperatures usually run in the 70’s or 80’s at this time of year, and that’s great temps for walking, hiking, taking photographs, and driving with the windows down.

So there’s four good reasons to get to Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, as soon as you can make your reservations!  We have some great special rates going on for weekdays this spring – learn more…

St. George Magazine highlights Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

The March issue of St. George Magazine included an article about Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.    The story highlighted the unique location of our 4,000 acre ranch resort on the border of the park and our elevation which brings cooler summer temperatures and even better views of the star-filled night skies.

One of our prior guests, Annie Huff, was quoted multiple times in relation to her experiences at Zion Ponderosa.  Annie mentioned that her family already has reservations to return again with her family to the resort this year.   The article emphasized the diversity of our operations with so many different lodging options, along with our on-property dining experiences, and the largest number of activities of any resort in the entire region. You may visit this link to read the story.

Spring Floral Arrangement - Zion

Zion Ponderosa is always open with our Vacation Homes but each March we open the rest of the resort which includes our Cowboy Cabins, Cabin Suites, Western Wagons, Campgrounds, dining facilities and activity services.   It’s a big operation to prepare for the main season, but we get pretty excited about it, especially when we have some new things to announce.

NEWS – Announcing a New Chef: Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort announces the hiring of our new Chef Frances Van der Stappen.  Frances comes with an exquisite resume and accolades from those who have experienced her cuisine.   Frances will oversee the dining operations at Zion Ponderosa which include the Blue Belly Grill and Gus & Rosey’s restaurants.   Other dining services include the Narrows Cafe & Espresso Bar, In-Cabin Chef services, and catering.  Learn more about Frances and the dining services at Zion Ponderosa -  Here.

Spring Packages: We like to provide some fun incentive to visit us in the Spring and Fall, so check out our Adventure Packages page for some special offers.

View of Zion National Park main canyon

1- Center of Scenic Wonders:   Zion National Park is located in an area that offers the greatest concentration of natural scenic wonders in the United States (perhaps the world).  Try to identify an area that has more national parks, along with numerous national monuments, state parks, forests, lakes and rivers, all within a one-day drive.   In fact, within two hours of Zion National Park you’ll find Grand Canyon, Lake Powell (Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and there’s more.

Hiking in Zion National Park

2- Trip Advisor #1 Rated:   Trip Advisor recently rated Zion National Park as the #1 National park destination in the United States, even over the Grand Canyon.   There may be several reasons for this, but Zion is much easier to access and to experience than the Grand Canyon, and frankly the views are more beautiful.   Is the Grand Canyon also great?  You bet, that’s why it is rated #2.

3- World Class Hiking:   There are miles and miles of trails to hike in Zion.  Many of these trails have been paved for the comfort and access of everyone, even handicapped individuals.  There are also many unpaved back-country trails to access.   You have your choice of easy walking trails to strenuous ascents that lead to incredible views.   But even the person who seeks a casual walk to get a great view will enjoy the easy trail to Canyon Overlook, just above the Zion tunnel.   The walk into the Zion Narrows is rated one of the best hiking experiences in the world and Angels Landing trail is just as magnificent.  The adventurous person will enjoy Canyoneering in Zion National Park

Moon Over Zion National Park

4- Weather:  The base of the main canyon in Zion National Park sits at 4,000 feet above sea level, and this elevation makes for cool mornings and evenings in the summer and mild winters.   Zion is spectacular in winter months and the views of formations are even more visible without the leaves on the cottonwood trees along the Virgin River.   It rarely rains in Zion and skies are blue and vivid over 300 days per year.   But if it does happen to rain while you are there, count yourself lucky, because you are likely to see 20 or more waterfalls cascading over the canyon walls.   Zion Ponderosa Ranch resort sits on the eastern border of the park at an elevation of 6,500 feet.   Summer nights are beautiful here and you’ve never seen more stars in the sky than above Zion Ponderosa.

5- Size:  Zion is large enough that you can find a quiet spot for yourself, even in the busy summer months.  Just do a little research or ask our guides about the secret places where few people ever go.   Zion National Park is 30 miles in length and over 15 miles across at its widest point.

Canyoneering in Zion National Park

Canyoneering:

Most people have never heard the term canyoneering.    In fact the dictionary doesn’t even recognize the name.   So what does it mean?   Essentially canyoneering is the art or experience of exploring and traveling through canyons.   The similar term of canyoning is used outside the United States to describe this experience.

Wading through pools of water in slot canyon

Canyoneering participants are most often walking, down-climbing (sometimes with ropes) and negotiating technical obstacles in canyons that often contain flowing water or in some cases, remnant pools of rainwater.    With these pools and/or waterfalls, there is often also the need to swim.

There are few places in the world that offer a more magnificent canyoneering opportunity than Zion National Park.  If fact, look-up canyoneering in Wikipedia and the first photo you’ll see (10-16-09) is one of Mystery Canyon in Zion National Park.

Why is canyoneering in Zion National Park so unique? The answer is that the canyons in Zion are comprised of sandstone that has been stained by oxidizing iron.   The many hues of white, ochre and red sandstone provide a colorful experience not found, in such abundance, anywhere else in the world.   Mix in the pine trees, scrub-oak and cottonwood trees that cling to the rock crevices and line the canyons, the blue-sky far overhead, and you have an remarkable color palette.

Some canyoneering experiences require many rappels (with ropes), and therefore also necessitate that at least one or two people in the group have strong skills with rappelling.   The good news is that Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort offers skilled guides to take you on a canyoneering adventure, so that you won’t need to acquire rappelling knowledge.    There are canyons to explore that require just the ability to scramble over or down obstacles or rocks that are 10 to 20 feet high.   In these cases, a simple strong rope and some basic skills and agility will suffice.

Gazing up at the sot canyon walls that rise vertically to great heights

Zion National Park offers some of the world’s best slot canyons for canyoneering exploration.   Places such as The Narrows, The Subway, Orderville Canyon, Mystery Canyon, Englestead Canyon and others offer various levels of adventure and challenge.

In Zion National Park it is often best to start at the top of the canyon and hike down.   Zion Ponderosa offers shuttles to pick you up at the end of your canyoneering adventure.   You may also choose to enter the Narrows from the bottom and walk up-river as far as you choose and then turn around and come back down.   With this method you can leave a car outside the park and return via Zion National Park shuttle (during main season).

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Visit our canyoneering page by clicking here to learn more about the special slot canyon adventures that we offer.

Zion National Park - Centennial Celebration

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A rodeo begins at 8:00 p.m. followed by a barn dance at 8:30 p.m.   ”Two Much Fun” is the featured band for the barn dance.    Tickets are $21.50 for adults and $10.00 for children 12 and under.  

Employees of Zion National Park will receive a discount.  

For details contact the resort at 800-293-5444.

A morning view of the main canyon of Zion National Park

This year, as a national attraction, Zion National Park is 100 years old.   Zion was established as Mukuntuweap National Monument by President William Taft on July 31, 1909.    While various activities are occuring throughout this centennial year, on July 31 of this year there are several small activities slated to occur within the park.  

An additional recent cause for celebration is the announcement of a new commemorative stamp for Zion National Park.  This is just the second time that a stamp has been created for Zion National Park.   

Zion National Park Stamp

Come see why Zion National Park was set aside 100 years ago as a national treasure.   We invite you to spend some time with us at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.

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Panorama View of one section in Zion National Park

One traveler made these comments about Zion National Park:  “The stunning red monoliths and canyons of the park invite visitors to explore its beauty by camping, biking, touring by car, hiking, and more. Adventurous travelers can embark on the exciting Angel’s Landing hike and the views make the daring climb well worth it. It’s the best view in the entire park, and best hike I have ever done! Do not miss it!”

From our 4,000 acre ranch that borders Zion National Park you can see portions of the canyons that make up this spectacular destination.   The exciting thing for visitors to Zion Ponderosa is that our location on the east-side of Zion brings you closer for day-trips to Bryce Canyon National Park (75 minutes), the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (25 minutes), the Grand Canyon North Rim (2 hours) and even Lake Powell (110 minutes).  

Views over Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort toward Zion National Park

Read more about the top-ten rankings of national parks in this story - http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/tripadvisor/37961/

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