Zion National Park's Premier Lodging Is An Authentic Western Ranch With Surreal Views

For thousands of years, people have been captivated by the beauty of southwestern Utah. In fact, the region is so beautiful that in 1908, federal land surveyors urged President Taft to preserve the area. Ever since Zion was granted its status as Utah's first national park in 1919, millions of visitors from around the world have come to enjoy the sandstone cliffs and hike to beautiful waterfalls and emerald pools at this popular national park.

While there are several popular areas for staying in or near Zion National Park, perhaps camping under the stars or staying in a crowded hotel isn't the experience you're after. Fortunately, there's Zion Mountain Ranch. This sprawling ranch not only has beautiful accommodations but also plenty of family-friendly activities and a resident herd of buffalo. Located just off Utah State Highway 9, the ranch is three minutes from the east entrance of Zion National Park, but still secluded enough that you have to enter the coordinates into your GPS to get there. Plus, it's only an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park, so you can easily hit two stops on Utah's iconic Mighty 5 road trip while using Zion Mountain Ranch as your base camp.

Whether you're traveling alone or with your entire family, Zion Mountain Ranch has an option for you. There are six cozy private cabins with comfortable beds, full baths, and private patios with scenic views. You can choose from a studio layout, a one-bedroom, or a two-bedroom that can sleep a couple or small family comfortably. For larger groups of six to 16, you can select any of their 21 lodges. These rustic mountain manors have multiple bedrooms, spacious common areas, well-equipped kitchens, and luxurious amenities such as saunas, hot tubs, and large patios with sweeping views where you might see a herd of buffalo ambling by.

There is one restaurant on the property called Cordwood. The restaurant prides itself on utilizing as many ingredients grown on the property as possible and carefully sourcing the rest. The menu is always changing based on what is in season. Many reviewers on TripAdvisor loved the food and the rustic atmosphere, and several have noted that you just might be greeted by some chickens, horses, or friendly dogs on your way in.

Obviously there are endless activities to choose from in Zion National Park. But Zion Mountain Ranch also offers lots of park-adjacent tours the whole family will enjoy. How about a guided horseback tour through the mountains surrounding the park? Guests ages 7 and up can partake in tours lasting one, two, or four hours, each offering a different experience. Want to ride through a canyon? How about a stunning sunset ride? Gotcha covered. 

If you're traveling with kiddos, don't miss the wagon ride through the bison herd where guests will get to feed the bison hay. The ranch also offers half and full-day mountain bike tours through the rugged terrain of Zion's eastern side. You can also visit some of the park's lesser-known areas through one of the ranch's many guided Jeep tours. More adventurous guests can join in one of the four epic canyoneering tours. Difficulty levels range from easy to moderately strenuous, so plan accordingly, and don't forget your water and hiking shoes.