ATV Riding at Zion Ponderosa

One of the great outdoor adventures is ATV riding in Zion, and the element that many appreciate most is how quickly an ATV can transport you to the best possible locations or points of interest. Hiking, horseback riding, and even mountain biking will eventually get you there, but on an ATV you can cover a lot of ground in a short time, and then use more of your time to explore, take photos, and enjoy the ambience of a specific location.

From March to November guided ATV tours are available every day of the week at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, and here you are able to traverse the forested plateau on the upper east boundary of Zion National Park.  At Zion Ponderosa there are several ATV trail locations where you can easily see deep into the park, and in some cases you can park you ATV and begin a second leg of exploration on foot within the park.

Quad ATV’s and side-by-side ATV’s:  Recent years have brought a dynamic change in the ATV riding experience with side by side seating for two, four or even six people in one ATV.  With age limits of at least 16 in Utah to be able to operate an ATV, the new side by side experience means that family and friends young and old can now travel together over trails and to locations that would otherwise be unattainable.  Some people prefer the experience of riding a side by side ATV because it enables all participants to share in the adventure.  Conversations can be had while traveling and observing wildlife or points of interest are more a better shared experience.  On the other hand Quad ATV’s are smaller and therefore more nimble and more able to negotiate challenging terrain, plus each operator is more in control of their own ATV riding experience.  Zion Ponderosa offers options for rental of side-by-side machines to go exploring on your own, or for ATV tours on quad machines to overlook points such as Pine Knoll or Jolley Gulch.

Zion Ponderosa elevations range from 6,500 to 7,000 feet, and Pine Knoll is one of the high-points of Zion Ponderosa’s 4,000 acres.  From this overlook visitors have the opportunity to view north toward Cedar Mountain which ranges over 11,000 feet.  The pink cliffs of the Virgin River Rim are distinctly visible across the northern reaches of Zion National Park.  To the northwest and west you’ll catch views of the many canyons that form Zion and the distant mesas and buttes that comprise the main formations in the park.

At Jolley Gulch guests have the opportunity to walk up to the edge of a deep chasm and stare down into the bottom of the gulch.  Jolley Gulch flows south and empties out near Checkerboard Mesa inside Zion.  Large Ponderosa pines line the upper edges of the gulch and there are several spots that are perfect for photo opportunities.

Some visitors use ATV’s to explore the roads that lead to trail-heads inside Zion such as Observation Point and Cable Mountain.  These are two of the most incredible scenic overlooks in Zion, in fact Backpacker Magazine claims that Observation Point is the best view in Utah. Both trails are best accessed from our property.

These are just some of the ATV experiences that await on the upper east side of Zion National Park.  Learn more about ATV tours and rentals at Zion Ponderosa here.