Things To Do Near Zion Besides Hiking

My husband and I are hikers–we often cover 50 or 75 miles over the course of a week on vacation. But in Zion, that didn’t make sense: It was HOT and uncomfortable to be out all day. And frankly? After awhile, a lot of the scenery blurred together so covering another 8 miles didn’t add diversity to our days. Instead, we looked for things to do near Zion other than hiking to round out our trip. We ended up with a more balanced vacation plus time to physically recover so that when we did want to hike, we could keep up with our ambitions.

Whether you’re looking to add variety to your trip or if you simply want to pace yourself, add some of these things to do near Zion besides hiking.

Note: Most of these activities are within an hour of Springdale, making them easy additions to your itinerary without spending all day in the car. All drive times are measured from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, at the main entrance of the national park in Springdale (if you’re staying south of there–very common!–it’ll be even a little closer).

Relaxing Things To Do Near Zion

Tubing the Virgin River

Drive time (each way): 20 minutes

After a long hot trail, nothing feels better than cooling off and tubing the Virgin River is a no-stress, no-effort way to do this. There are several Zion tubing outfitters that will rent you tubes and then shuttle you to the put-in and take-out points along the river. In-between, you just lay back, relax, and enjoy the scenery.

Tubing requires certain Goldilocks water levels (not too low, not too high), so if the river doesn’t cooperate, you can also take a dip in the George Barker River Park right in town. It’s a fantastic place to soak your feet for free or let your kids splash to cool off.

Soak Your Cares Away

Drive time (each way): 30 minutes

Sadly, the Zion Canyon Hot Springs weren’t open during our visit (meaning we’ll have to go back) but if they were, I’d gladly spend a few hours relaxing in the mineral springs just outside Springdale.

In addition to classic hot springs (some of which are themed and designed after international areas), there’s also a large family pool, cold plunges, and saunas. In other words, there’s no excuse not to get comfortable and relax.

Release Your Tension

Drive time (each way): 50 minutes to Shamo Haven, but more or less depending on the exact spa you choose

Pools not quite enough for you? There are several spas in the area where you can get some professional help. Massages in Springdale are, frankly, quite expensive (that’s a tourist town for you) but there are more affordable options in St. George and Cedar City, depending on what other plans you have. We went to Shamo Haven Spa in Washington, which is on the “close” side of St. George. It’s not fancy, but it had good prices and skilled therapists.

Pro Tip: Washington, St. George, and Cedar City all have dirty soda shops. Now, I know that dirty soda is no longer a Utah-only phenomenon (which is why it’s surprising there isn’t somewhere right in Springdale!), but Utah still does it best with insanely long menus and every flavor combination you can dream up. If you’re in town anyway, make a point to stop somewhere. (We went to Pop Drinks, about two blocks away from Shamo Haven).

Go Paddling

Drive time (each way): 45 minutes to Quail Creek or 50 minutes to Sand Hollow

There are a few places to kayak near Zion, with Quail Creek and Sand Hollow being two popular options. Personally, I think the scenery at Sand Hollow is more stunning: super blue water against the red rocks and therefore worth the extra few minutes drive.

Sand Hollow Rentals offers kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes (as well as motorboats and jetskis) making it easy to head out on the water. I’m told weekends can get busy with boaters, so for a calmer paddling experience, choose a weekday.

Both areas are known for “swimmer’s itch”–hatches of microscopic parasites that some people are allergic to. It’s not dangerous, but can be itchy. Because of this, I don’t recommend swimming. Paddling should be fine, though, given the limited exposure to water (a few splashes from your paddle likely won’t be enough to cause a reaction). For extra caution, rinse off with clean, fresh water as soon as you’re done.

Crawl Into a Lava Tube

Drive time (each way): 70 minutes

Taking time away from one of the country’s most popular national parks to go to a state park may not make immediate sense, but Snow Canyon offers something that Zion doesn’t: lava tubes. These are basically caves formed from lava and give you a chance to feel like quite the explorer.

You’ll want a flashlight if you do this (headlamps are even better to keep your hands free). The trail to the cave entrance is relatively short, but exposed to hot sun so I don’t recommend heading out during the heat of the day.

Pro Tip: This is a long drive if all you’re doing is the lava tubes, but you can make a full day of it by combining this with other activities. For example, you’ll pass right by some kayak opportunties, spas, hot springs, and the city of St. George (below)

Zoom Over Sand Dunes

Drive time (each way): 70 minutes

Hop in an ATV to see the Coral Pink Sand Dunes–and then stop for a break to go sandboarding (or sand sledding) down the dunes. The Kanab area also offers some nifty slot canyons, which are fun to explore if you’ve never been in one before. Bundling these activities into a day trip from Zion will have you smiling and your heart racing, just a little.

Hint: If you don’t want to ATV (it can be pricey), you can hit up Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park on your own for hiking, sightseeing, and sandboarding. Park entry is cheap and you can rent sandboards from the visitor’s center. Share a sandboard and take turns with your companion to save even more money. You may want the rest while your companion is climbing up the dune to catch your breath anyway!

Climb a Via Ferrata

Drive time (each way): 5 minutes to operators in town who will shuttle you the rest of the way

Unpopular opinion: I thought Angel’s Landing was overrated. Yeah, there’s views from up there but you can find equally great views on other trails without the crowds or required permits. In fact, I was mostly just annoyed by Angel’s Landing because I had to constantly wait to let people pass who were traveling in the opposite direction.

So if you’re looking for that hair-raising adrenaline rush with less hassle, check out the local Zion via ferrata course. You’ll be harnessed in for safety, which is good because via ferratas are slightly more dangerous than the Angel’s Landing hike. No, you won’t get the “iconic” view you’ve seen on Instagram. Instead, you’ll get one that you don’t have to share with 200 other people.

Unique Things To Do Near Zion

Go Back in Time

Drive time (each way): 55 minutes

Driving to the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site is the ultimate rainy day activity near Zion National Park. This museum has some cool fossils and skeletons from the area.

In spring and fall, you can also join a Dinosaur Dig: You’ll actually go out to the quarry and dig to find your own fossils. I’m guessing that’s something you don’t get to do every day otherwise!

Pro Tip: If you’re not traveling during the right time of year to join a dig, you can also see dinosaur footprints up close and personal on the Dino Cliffs Trail in St. George. This 3.6-mile round-trip hike will take you about two hours to complete and, though it’s a hike, it feels very different from anything you’ll find in Zion National Park.

Unplug at a Glampground

Drive time (each way): 30-60 minutes, depending on which camp you choose

Zion might have more glamping options than anywhere else I’ve been in the country. Seriously, you’re spoiled for choice whether you want somewhere more on the rustic end of things or somewhere pure luxury. Some even have air conditioning, jacuzzis, and the makings of a five-star hotel.

Even if you don’t want to spend your whole trip in a tent (I get it), consider tacking on a night away from it all. Long-distance hikers call breaks like this “zero days” — days you cover zero distance from base camp — and it’s an awesome way to make vacation feel like, well, vacation. Play yard games. Read a book in the sunshine. Make s’mores. Stargaze late into the night. Do yoga at sunrise. Drink coffee without the distraction of email or traffic or to-do lists.

There are about a dozen glamping spots near Zion, but my personal pick is Under Canvas. It’s slightly above mid-range for your comfort and more importantly (from a sightDOING point of view), they offer a lot of on-site activities so you can have an easy day without getting bored. The camp is about 30 minutes from Zion’s entrance, which is just far enough away for clear stargazing skies. You’ll find it along Kolob Terrace Road, which has its own beautiful views.

Things To Do Near Zion at Night

See a Show

Drive time (each way): 65 minutes

From mid-June through early October, head to Cedar City to watch an outdoor theater performance during the Shakespeare Festival. Performance times vary by date, but are often 2 p.m. matinees or 8 p.m. evening productions. Shows lean heavily, but not exclusively, toward Shakespeare. In any case, it’s an easy way to get some arts and culture into an otherwise outdoorsy trip.

Pro Tip: If you’re heading up to Cedar City anyway, consider detouring to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Yes, there’s hiking here (with plenty of short trails if that’s all you’re up for), but there’s also a nice scenic drive and cooler temperatures than in Zion itself due to the elevation.

Get Dressed Up and Go Out for the Night

Drive time (each way): 5 minutes

I’ve been to a ton of national parks where “nightlife” consists of mediocre pizza and a draft beer. Near Zion, though, you actually have some options that rival where you’d go at home.

The Cowboys & Angels cocktail bar (a speakeasy inside FeelLove Coffee) serves up handcrafted cocktails, making it a great place to go and celebrate what you accomplished over the day or make plans for the next one. They also serve mocktails, perfect if you have an early alarm and don’t want to wake up feeling less than your best. As a mocktail connoisseur, I appreciate that theirs are creative and well-balanced, rather than being very expensive juice in disguise.

Want a nice dinner, too? Try Anu.

Pro Tip: If the only gear you need to rent for the Narrows is a walking stick (and you do NOT want to hike without one unless you like twisting your ankle), FeelLove Coffee offers cheaper rentals than anywhere else in town, as of the time of my visit. So pick one up while you’re grabbing a drink! But if you also want drysuits or other gear, the outfitters in town will offer the whole package. We made do with clothing and shoes we already owned, plus cheap neoprene socks from Amazon that we’ve reused for kayaking, rafting, and other water activities.

Zion Activities That Weren’t Worth It

Grafton Ghost Town

Drive time (each way): 20 minutes

We went to Grafton Ghost Town one afternoon and as soon as we got there, I asked, “Is this it?”

This tiny “town” doesn’t have a lot to look at, and the one building we toured was so reconstructed it definitely didn’t give off old-time ghost town vibes. I know some of you will probably go anyway because it’s close, easy, and doesn’t take a lot of energy, but in my opinion…it’s 100% skippable.

Balancing Your Zion Itinerary

To be clear, these are activities that I would add to your Zion trip–not use as substitutions for Zion itself. The park is incredible! But I don’t have to tell you that. You’ve likely already seen photos of it, which inspired your trip in the first place. But at some point, you’ll likely be craving some variety (especially if you already came from Bryce or elsewhere in southern Utah) or need to cool off or need to rest your legs. That’s what got my husband and I started on looking for a lot of these alternative things to do in the first place.

So, don’t forget to add at least a few of Zion’s best activities. My personal recommendation for a 3-day itinerary to Zion:

Day 1: Get Up Early and Take a Hike

The exact one will depend on your abilities and goals. We did the West Rim Trail (top-down from Kolob Terrace to the Grotto with a detour to Angel’s Landing, which had some lovely parts but I wouldn’t repeat).

When you’re done, head out of the park for a meal. The food at Zion Canyon Brew Pub hit the spot after so much exertion and their brown ale is excellent.

Day 2: Give Your Legs the Day Off

If you pushed yourself on day 1, you’re probably hurting now. So, give yourself the freedom to relax a little. My personal suggestion is to rent a kayak or paddleboard to enjoy the outdoors a different way. Spend a morning paddling at Sand Hollow Reservoir.

After lunch (you’ll find cheaper options and easier parking in the town of Hurricane than back in Springdale), tube down the Virgin River. It’s a splashy good time and will keep you cool without requiring any effort. If water levels aren’t conducive for tubing, swapping in the Zion Canyon Hot Springs is an easy switch.

For sunset, go back into the park for views from Zion Canyon Overlook (1 mile hike round-trip). This was my favorite hike in the park and is short enough that most travelers can consider it. It’s also a nice way to shake out your legs. You don’t want to push too hard but you also don’t want your muscles to lock up.

Day 3: Hike The Narrows

I’ve been a lot of places, and hiking the Narrows is worth the early morning wakeup call and the frustration of people everywhere. That said, I was glad we were in line for the first shuttle in the morning to get there before everyone else because it meant hiking upstream was pleasant (though cold!) and we only had to dodge people on the way back downstream.

Pro Tip: Before the trip, I stressed over planning where to turn around in the Narrows. In retrospect, this was silly — we simply turned around when we felt like we had “seen it”. This happened to be around Floating Rock. As capable hikers, but fighting high water, this took us about 3 hours of hiking (but about 4.5 hours total with shuttle time).

The afternoon is a good chance for all your classic sightseeing. As you return from the Narrows, you’ll need to shuttle back through the entire main canyon anyway. Stop wherever you still want photographs or have plans for short trails or the park’s museums and visitor centers.

And if you haven’t already, take the Route 9 Scenic Drive up the switchbacks to the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and onward to the east entrance by Checkerboard Mesa. There are some interesting photo stops along the way. My preferred time for the drive is around dinner (unless you’re traveling in winter, when the sun sets early), mainly because there are fewer drivers and therefore easier parking and pulloffs.

Many travelers hit this road naturally when driving between Zion and Bryce, in which case you don’t need to plan it separately.

When It Makes Sense To Explore Outside Zion

• During midday (or all-day) heat
• When parking lots and shuttles are testing your patience
• On rest and recovery days
• When you can’t get permits for popular hikes
• When you’re burned out from everything feeling like variations of the same

Sometimes the Best Part of Zion Is Leaving It

I came to Zion for the hikes, and you absolutely should do at least a few of them. But one of the biggest surprises of our trip was realizing that less is more. The national park didn’t have to consume every waking hour of our vacation. Ironically, taking breaks from Zion made us appreciate the region even more. We had more energy, more variety in our days, and fewer moments where everything started to blur together. So yes–go hike the trails that are calling your name. But don’t be afraid to leave the park for awhile, too.

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