At a Glance
An alternative for traveler if the Zion Lodge inside the park is booked, this pretty ranch has wonderful vistas and comfortable cabins but is a fair drive away from Zion’s hikes.
Review
The good news first: Zion Mountain Ranch sits in an incredibly pretty location on 2,700 acres, with expansive views of the area’s mountains and forests as well as overlooking a buffalo preserve, with roaming animals that immediately convey an uncanny Wild West feel. All of the accommodations are log cabins and lodges of varying size (up to three bedrooms), and most feature modern but destination specific décor and furnishings, including comfortable king-sized beds, gas fireplaces and wooden floors. Some come with well-equipped kitchenettes, wood fireplaces, bathtubs or Jacuzzi tubs. All have glorious views and a feeling of spaciousness.
In short, this is an alternative to the Zion Lodge inside the park (and for travelers allergic to the whimsy of a family-run B&B, it is the only other option). But here’s what to consider/know before committing: the East Entrance to Zion (about a 10-minute drive away) is spectacular but it’s also a hair-pin pain to drive repeatedly. At the end of its 20-minute hairpin-turn descent lies the Main Entrance where you will have to leave your car and get on the shuttle.
Serious hikers will not appreciate this lengthy approach on a daily basis, preferring the convenience of a Springdale hotel, where the Zion Shuttle makes stops. There’s no “running back to the hotel” in case of a forgotten camera or suntan lotion at Zion Mountain Ranch; once you are out for the day, you will not want to return until you’re ready to be home for the night. The same goes for dinner: the Ranch has an excellent restaurant (Cordwood), whose menus feature organic produce grown in the gardens here. But if you want to mingle with the locals at Oscar’s or Bit & Spur in Springdale for a night out, you will need a designated driver willing to negotiate the canyons after dinner. The bottom line: you have to decide how important easy park access is to you versus nightly comforts when considering booking the Zion Mountain Ranch.
Written by Simone Girner
