A photo editor's perfect weekend in Greater Zion

A long weekend in the greater Zion area of Utah was a trip I didn’t know I needed. For three exhilarating days, my best friend and I cruised past red rocks, climbed colossal cliffs, hiked on trails lined with golden trees and soaked in mineral-rich hot springs.

• When to arrive: We arrived on a Thursday and left on Sunday, but a midweek visit could easily be tacked on after a Las Vegas weekend.

• Getting around: Pick up a rental car at the airport in Vegas. It is 150 miles of interstate driving to Zion National Park.

• Where to stay: We started by glamping at Zion White Bison Resort in Virgin, Utah, then moved on to The Advenire in St George.

• What to pack: Mornings can be chilly before the sun comes out, and you'll be spending lots of time moving outdoors, so layers and athletic gear will be your best friend. 

Day 1 

We landed in Las Vegas at around 1pm, picked up a rental car and headed straight to Virgin, Utah. I love a good road trip – there’s something so cool about watching the landscape turn from outlet malls and fast-food joints to empty plains and mountains that seem to go on forever. As we got closer to Utah, our excitement was palpable. 

After approximately 2 hours, we made it to our first stop: the luxury glamping Zion White Bison Resort. We dropped off our bags, freshened up and hopped back in the car to head to our first experience, at Water Canyon Winery in Hildale.

How to spend the day

Just as the sun began to set, we were welcomed warmly by Water Canyon's Shane Tooke, who owns and operates the vineyard with his family. If it hadn’t been so chilly, we would have opted to sit by the outdoor fireplaces with views of the vineyard and red rock cliffs, but instead we got comfortable in the tasting room, which felt as if we were in someone’s home. 

Dinner

After learning the processes behind creating natural wine, we made our way to Dulivia’s Ristorante Italiano for some big bowls of pasta and one last glass of wine. Exhausted from the day of traveling, we finished our meals quickly and went straight to bed, knowing we had an early morning the next day.

Day 2 

Morning

At 7:15am we were awoken by our alarms, and it was time to start our day. Thankfully we'd remembered to make a pit stop at the grocery store the day before to grab some breakfast items, which saved us some time. We groggily ate our bananas and yogurt with some less than desirable Keurig coffee, went back and forth on how many layers of clothing were appropriate, then packed up our water bottles, snacks and, of course, my camera. 

At 8am on the dot, we were picked up at our hotel by our guide, Jackson. Still wiping the sleep from our eyes but excited for the day ahead, we made our way over to the Lamb’s Knoll Climbing Site, which is located just outside of Zion National Park. The car drifted down windy roads lined with steep rocks that were just getting the first taste of the morning sun.

This morning’s adrenaline boost was canyoneering with Rock Odysseys, something neither of us had done before. Once we got our gear sorted, we hiked up to our first drop-off. Looking down over the edge, I was definitely intimidated. After a thorough walk-through by our guide and some nervous laughs, it was my turn to descend. 

It’s safe to say that canyoneering gained two new fans. After approximately six descents, we couldn’t stop talking about how cool the experience was. We bounced off rock walls, floated down drops with nothing to steady ourselves other than the rope and squeezed through tight gaps. The views were incredible, and our guide made the experience so much fun. 

How to spend the day

We were back at our hotel by 12:30pm, exhilarated after a morning of rappelling but also a bit sore – our next stop was the perfect remedy. After cleaning up while excitedly chatting about the morning, we headed to River Rock Roasting Company. This casual but cute spot has a large deck on the edge of a canyon, so we grabbed a table in the sun and felt our bodies start to relax. After some much needed coffee, sandwiches and a delicious orange roll, we were ready for the next activity. 

We spent the next couple of hours at Zion Canyon Hot Springs, which opened in July 2025. We first got cozy in our robes, then made our way outside to the 32 pools. We headed to the adults-only section, which has mineral pools that replicate some of the most famous hot springs in the world, such as in Chianciano Terme, Italy, and Hokkaidō, Japan. With a frozen cocktail in hand, we bounced from one pool to the next, our muscles thanking us with each dip. 

Dinner

Feeling rejuvenated, we made our way back to our hotel to get ready for an evening at Black Sage, nestled inside a red rock canyon, for outdoor dining on seasonal dishes. Talk about dinner with a view. I wish we could have stayed here longer; the scenery was so peaceful, and watching the sun set onto the red rocks was lovely. After possibly the best tomato bisque I’ve ever had, with mini grilled cheese sandwiches on the side of course, it was time to hit the road again.

After dark

Next up was a night with Stargazing Zion. We met our tour group back at the Lambs Knoll Climbing Site, then ventured out into a field for a walkthrough of the solar system. This led us to the main site, where we found bean bag chairs, blankets and hot drinks to keep us warm. When they say that these are some of the darkest skies in the region, they aren’t joking. Before even touching a telescope, we could see the Milky Way open up above us. Despite being incredibly underdressed for the cold, this was such a fascinating experience. 

Day 3

Morning

Our final full day started with another early morning. We grabbed some granola bars and coffee for breakfast, checked out of the hotel and were on the road by 7:45am. By 8am we'd made it to Zion Guru in Springdale, where we picked up our transportation for the day: e-bikes! We soon were back on the road but this time zipping past the Virgin River, fellow cyclists, walkers and canyon walls that were still waiting for the morning sun to greet them. This trail led us to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, a long, winding road closed to regular traffic. 

There are plenty of spots to stop along this route, from lookout points to hiking trails. We found a trailhead that piqued our interest, parked our bikes at one of the racks provided along the drive and started walking down a path that led us to the Zion National Park Lodge. We saw lots of horseback riders and deer that were way too comfortable being close to us. 

How to spend the day

By the time we dropped off our bikes, we were starving, so we quickly made our way to Oscar’s Cafe. We scarfed down a veggie burger and birria tacos, plus a Diet Coke I chugged far too quickly. Then we popped across the street to Deep Creek Coffee Company for a caffeine boost before heading out.

After about an hour's drive, with one absolutely necessary pit stop at Fort Zion to feed carrots to the animals, we arrived at Rampage Rental & Repair in Irvins for another pair of e-bikes. We hopped on and explored Snow Canyon State Park. We were pretty tired, so we didn’t do too much hiking, instead taking full advantage of the electric aspect of the bikes. This area has beautiful red rock formations and hardly a soul was out, so we got to quietly take in our surroundings. Before we knew it, it was 5pm.

Dinner

We returned our bikes and made our way to our hotel in St. George. While checking us in at The Advenire, the receptionist mentioned a rooftop hot tub, and we knew exactly what our next move was. We went directly to the tub, which just so happened to be on our floor. This was the perfect way to wind down after a busy day.

Although we were both on the verge of falling asleep, we found the energy to go downstairs to order way too many dishes at Wood Ash Rye, the hotel’s restaurant, as well as a cocktail or two. (The biscuits are always on the menu, and you should definitely order them.) Fully stuffed, we headed back to our room, turned on the TV and immediately knocked out. 

Day 4 

After a proper night’s rest and sleeping in a bit, it was time to wrap up our trip. For breakfast we chose Bear Paw Cafe, which was conveniently located right next to the hotel. It was exactly what it needed to be – a no-frills restaurant serving hearty portions that left us feeling full.

At around 11:30am we checked out and started our drive back to Las Vegas. After a few days jam-packed with activities, we were grateful to be heading home but also sad to leave. It was the first visit to Utah for both of us, and this long weekend was the perfect introduction. I loved photographing the different landscapes, and there was something so special about the light there. From scaling the cliffs to zooming past them, it was such a fun destination to capture.

Rhianydd Hylton was a guest of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office. Lonely Planet does not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage.

Photographs by Rhianydd Hylton.