Fall Getaway at Zion National Park

Fall Getaway by Susan Strayer

Panoramic view of a canyon with towering rock walls and vibrant yellow trees along a riverbank.

Zion National Park in Autumn

My husband's brithday is in October and this year we decided to celebrate with a two night stay at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. We'd been there earlier in the summer, but I was excited to see Zion National Park with fall colors. James was excited to ride the trails on the Ranch's UTV.

A woman in a blue patterned sweater and a man in a dark shirt pose together in front of a log cabin.

Fall Getaway at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

When we arrived at our cabin suite, I could already feel my muscles relax in anticipation of our vacation. The rustic style of the cabin suites, combined with the kitchenette and separate seating area made me feel right at home. We could've stayed in any of Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort's six lodging options, but the cabin suite was the perfect choice.

We started our stay with dinner at the Blue Belly Grill. James had "the tastiest Bleu Bacon Cheesburger he's ever had" and I had delicious Spicy Vegetarian Pasta. We enjoyed the food so much, we made a point to eat there again the next night.

Interior of a rustic restaurant featuring wooden furnishings and a counter, with a few patrons seated at tables.

Dinner at the Blue Belly Grill was delicious.

In the morning we played mini golf before heading out on the trail. The Utility Vehicle we rented could seat six and easily handled the bumps of the numerous off road trails surounding the Ranch. We made our way to Jolley Gulch and Pine Knoll Observation point where we could see Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and way in the distance the north rim of the Grand Canyon. James loved it so much, I'm sure owning a UTV will be in our future.

A person is seated in a vehicle, looking out over a scenic landscape with mountains and a blue sky.

Riding the trails in a UTV at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

We loved the UTV ride, but could've also gone horseback riding, ATVing or Rock Climbing thanks to all the activities Zion Ponderosa ranch offers. The weather in October was perfect, unlike the sweltering heat of the summer, the air was warm with a cool breeze.

A pathway bordered by vibrant yellow and green trees, set against towering red rock walls.

Zion National Park in Autumn

The rest of our time was spent exploring the area's National parks. Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is located on the eastern border of Zion National Park, so of course we went there to see the fall colors. In October, the summer crowds have all disappeared so the park was relaxing and beautiful. The next day we decided to drive just over an hour to Bryce Canyon National Park to see the hoo doos there. Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort's unique location between the two made it a great place to stay, and the beautiful fall weather made it the perfect time to visit.