Fall is a great time to visit Zion National Park. The temperatures are cooling, the crowds are thinning, and the leaves are changing, making for a great time for hiking and taking in the views. But fall is also a great time to start planning ahead for a stay in our Zion park cabins during the winter months.
Winter is a magical time in Southern Utah. Often referred to as Zion’s Secret Season, winter is the least busy time in the park. This means crowds are almost non-existent. Except for a brief period around the holidays, the Zion Canyon Shuttle ceases operations, which means that you can drive directly to trailheads and other destinations in the park. Throughout the season, the occasional winter storm turns Zion into a sparkling wonderland.
Another great thing about planning a stay in a Zion cabin in the winter months is the chance to enjoy some fun seasonal activities. Keep reading to learn some of the activities you can only enjoy during a winter stay at Zion Wildflower Resort.
Skiing and Snowboarding at Brian Head Resort
When most people think of Western ski resorts, they think of Colorado or Montana. If you’ve visited Utah in the past, you might even think of Salt Lake City’s ski resorts. But did you know that you can hit the slopes during your stay in our Zion park cabins as well?
While there’s just one resort, Brian Head Ski Resort has everything you need for a day (or two or three) on the slopes. Whether you’re an avid skier or snowboarder or brand new to the sports, you’ll find what you need to spend hours hitting the slopes. Covering more than 650 acres, the park is home to 71 runs in a variety of difficulty levels. You’ll find plenty of easy and moderate runs, as well as plenty of difficult or even expert options.
If you’re really new or need a refresher, you can also take skiing or snowboarding lessons at the resort, catering to both adult and young learners.
Snow Tubing and Snowmobiling
If you’re looking for a different way to hit the slopes or need to give your legs a bit of a break, there are a couple more options at Brian Head. One option is to grab your tube and race your friends down Brian Head’s snow tubing routes. This high-speed, adrenaline-pumping activity is something you can definitely only enjoy during the winter months, as well as something you won’t want to miss!
There’s one more sport you can enjoy at Brian Head during the winter. Head to the resort to take a snowmobile tour of the snowy landscape. Your tour will take you through part of Cedar Breaks National Monument. You can rent all of the gear you’ll need for your tour right there at the resort.
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
If you want to enjoy Southern Utah’s scenery after inches or several feet of snow has fallen over the landscape, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing are two more activities you can enjoy this time of year.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is one of the best spots to go for snowshoeing in Southern Utah. If you’re new to snowshoeing, be sure to plan a visit to Cedar Breaks on a Saturday, when Park Rangers lead guided hikes to the winter ranger station. Once you get there, they’ll treat you to hot chocolate and cider before you start your return trip.
The guided trip is free of charge, but you will need to sign up online in advance. They even provide snowshoes for you to use if you don’t have your own! If a tour isn’t your thing, you can still snowshoe on many of the popular summer trails, like Alpine Pond Trail, on your own.
Bryce Canyon National Park is another great spot to break out your snowshoes, as well as go cross-country skiing. Like Cedar Breaks, you can enjoy many of your favorite trails when there is enough snow. Park Rangers also offer daily guided snowshoe tours. You’ll need to bring your own snowshoes, but the rangers will provide the poles. The hike lasts around 2 hours, and you’ll cover about 1 mile during your trek.
You can also rent cross-country skis from Ruby’s Inn, located just outside of the park, and ski directly into the national park on roads only accessible by skis and snowshoes this time of year.
Planning a Winter Stay in Our Zion Park Cabins
From snowboarding and skiing to tubing, there are plenty of activities you can only enjoy during a winter stay in one of our Zion park cabins. If you’re thinking about enjoying a winter adventure at Zion Wildflower Resort, now is a great time to book your stay!
With heating units in each tent, winter is still a great time for glamping in national parks. No matter the temperatures, you can still enjoy luxury camping near Zion, and get even closer to the incredible views you’ll enjoy this season.
If you’re ready to start planning a winter stay in our Zion cabin, book your stay at Zion WIldflower Resort today!
