Zion Ponderosa: A Multi-day Destination – Unpack Once and Stay for A While!

We often hear from our guests that one of the best things about Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is that it’s a great multi-day destination. Our guests come from all over the country, and all around the world, to stay with us for several days — and one thing they really appreciate is being able to unpack once, settle in, and stay for a while.

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort has everything you need for your perfect Zion experience. Located just seven miles from the east entrance of Zion National Park, our 4,000-acre ranch resort offers adventure, relaxation, and Zion accommodations to suit every budget. Zion Ponderosa guests can enjoy plenty of on-site activities, including hiking, ATV and Jeep tours, rappelling, archery, horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking, plus seasonal activities such as wagon rides, swimming, campfires, tennis, volleyball, basketball, paintball, and mini golf. Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is located right on the border of Zion National Park — you can even look over the park from Observation Point or Cable Mountain, both accessible from our resort. With all there is to do on our resort, it’s a vacation in and of itself – but there’s also much to see off resort as well, within reasonable driving distance.

When you stay at Zion Ponderosa, Bryce Canyon National Park easily becomes a part of your adventure experience. Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most popular off-resort destinations with Zion Ponderosa guests, located just 75 minutes from Zion Ponderosa via Scenic Byway 12, Utah’s only All-American byway and a destination in its own right. Bryce Canyon National Park’s scenic 18-mile drive can be completed in just a couple of hours, making it an ideal half-day or full-day excursion from our ranch resort. Kodachrome Basin State Park is also located nearby. Bryce Canyon elevations range from around 8,000 to 9,100 feet, so dress in layers for possibly cooler temperatures. Learn more about visiting Bryce Canyon National Park from Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.

Grand Staircase

Grafton Ghost Town

North Rim Grand Canyon

Lake Powell

Zion Ponderosa guests often visit these other popular recreation areas that are easily within driving distance of our ranch resort:

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument: 25 minutes from Zion Ponderosa via well-maintained dirt roads. Make a day of it in the backcountry—and be sure to check out Grosvenor Arch.

Cedar Breaks National Monument: Take Highway 89 for 25 miles to Scenic Highway 14 to Scenic Highway 143. Make a great half-day trip of it with highlights including Duck Creek Village, Navajo Lake, Panguitch Lake, Cascade Falls, Mammoth Creek and more.

Grafton Ghost Town: This long-ago abandoned town along the Virgin River bank dates back to the early 1860s. Easy to get to through Zion National Park to Springdale and then through Rockdale.

Kanab: Visit “Little Hollywood” where more than 100 western movies were filmed in the 1940s-50s, located 35 miles from Zion Ponderosa.

And a bit further afield:

North Rim of the Grand Canyon: Spectacular scenic views are just two hours away via Highway 89. Travel along the Kaibab Plateau to Arizona’s Highway 67. The north rim is 9,000 feet elevation, and open from mid-May to mid-October.

St. George: Known for its Red Rock Golf Trail and broadway-quality productions at Tuacahn Amphitheater, St. George is just 45 minutes from Springdale after a scenic drive through Zion National Park.

Lake Powell: This massive blue jewel with over 2,000 miles of coastline is just 105 minutes from Zion Ponderosa. Travel south to Kanab, then east to Wahweap Marina.

Spend your days trekking through Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument, or any of the beautiful surrounding destinations –and then enjoy a comfortable stay in one of our cozy accommodations. Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is truly a multi-day destination!