Zion National park has seen an increase in visitors by 60% since 2010, bringing in about 4.3 million visitors annually.
It’s no surprise that visitors from around the world are anxious to experience Zion’s unparalleled beauty and world-class hiking.
With that being said, it can be hard to escape the crowds in Zion, but it is possible! Here are our tips for experiencing a memorable and non-touristy weekend in Zion!
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How to spend a weekend exploring Zion’s hidden gems
Table of Contents
Day 1
While Zion definitely lives up to the hype, there are plenty of hidden gems just outside of the park that are worth exploring.
Check into The Dwellings vacation homes
The Dwellings are located in La Verkin, about 30 minutes west of Zion. It is the perfect location to escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful stay.
The Dwellings are a collection of dreamy vacation rental homes perfect for families. Each unit is spacious, clean, modern, and tastefully decorated.
My boys especially loved having their own bunk room with a TV.
But the thing that makes these homes so special is the view from the back porch.
Each home overlooks the Virgin River flowing through the scenic canyon. While you could easily spend the entire weekend relaxing here, there are plenty of fun things to do in the area!
Lunch at River Rock Roasting Co.
The River Rock Roasting Co. is located right next door to The Dwellings.
This quaint restaurant serves up fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, hand-tossed pizzas, signature drinks, and the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever tasted! Their pizza even made the list of Yelp’s Top 100 Pizza Spots in the US in 2024.
Not only is their food divine, but the views are remarkable. Snag a table on the back deck where you can drink in the panoramic views over the Virgin River and the basalt canyon.
Pick apricots in Hurricane
After lunch, head to the neighboring farming community of Hurricane. Here you will find several u-pick orchards.
Check the Hurricane Cherries and Peaches Facebook page to see what fruit is in season and where the orchard is located.
We visited in mid-June when the apricots were in season. The cute family farm that we visited is located at 2750 S 1100 W, Hurricane, Utah.
The apricot farm used the honor system. After you pick your fruit, weigh it then record the price in the ledger and leave cash in the jar.
We were the only ones there and the boys had a great time trying to find the best apricots. And of course, they ate at least five of them before we even got to the car!
Discover the secret rope swing
After the orchard, head back to The Dwellings where you can discover the secret rope swing. From the parking lot, you’ll find a steep gravel service road leading down into the canyon.
Walk down about 1/4 mile until you reach the river where you’ll find these two rope swings on the riverbank under a span of shade trees.
My boys could have spent hours playing here, it’s the stuff summer dreams are made of!
We did discover after our visit that there was a recent toxic algae bloom in the Virgin River. Just be sure to check before swimming to see if the water is safe.
If you continue another 1/4 mile or so, you’ll find another rope swing dangling from the branch of a cottonwood tree on the sun-dappled river bank.
This swing is located along the Confluence Trail, where Ash Creek and La Verkin Creek meet the Virgin River.
The Confluence Trail is also home to an early Anasazi cave-dwelling, an abandoned granary from an old turkey farm, and a 100-year-old power station.
The 4-mile trail system leads to Confluence Park where you can even visit a tortoise rehabilitation pen.
*Tip: If you have a 4WD and a sense of adventure, be sure to check out the nearby Toquerville Falls!
Sunset pizza dinner
Pick up some pizza in town then enjoy eating dinner while watching the sunset from the back patio.
Eating a slice of pizza with rootbeer floats as the sun was sinking below the horizon was one of my favorite moments of the trip!
After dinner, play some games or watch a movie then get a good night’s sleep so that you can be well-rested for your Zion adventure day!
Day 2
Day 2 you’ll head into Zion with a few pit stops along the way!
Breakfast at River Rock Roasting Co.
Before heading out on your adventure day, stop next door at the River Rock Roasting Co. one last time for cinnamon rolls and smoothies.
The tropical smoothie was our favorite!
Pit stop at Fort Zion
On your way to Zion National Park, make a pit stop at Fort Zion. You can’t miss the wood fort structure and collection of old western facades along Hwy 9 in Virgin.
This trading post has it all, a gift shop, restaurant, ice cream counter, Old West Village, and even a petting zoo!
If you choose not to eat breakfast, then you may want to stop here for lunch. They boast of having the best burgers in town!
Be sure to stop and visit the petting zoo for only $1. Carrots are also available to purchase if you want to feed the animals.
Your kids will also love playing in the village that is made up of a jail, bank, saloon, covered wagon, and other replica old west buildings.
Fort Zion is closed on Mondays and open 10 am – 8 pm the rest of the week.
Grafton Ghost Town
Next stop, a ghost town! We love visiting ghost towns, but what I love about Grafton is that it has not been commercialized.
As you step into the town the abandoned buildings stand frozen in time, holding stories of struggle and joy within their walls. It has the feeling of a truly authentic ghost town where the soul of the settlement still lives on.
Grafton is the perfect collision of beauty and history, with the mighty peaks of Zion National Park for a backdrop and rustic cabins set in the deep shade of cottonwoods.
It is one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West. It was even featured in the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Grafton is also steeped in history. It was settled in 1862 by Mormon pioneers who relied on cotton production to sustain their lives.
The area was prone to flooding and by 1906 many Grafton families moved to Hurricane.
The last resident finally left in 1945. Many of their descendants still gather in Grafton for annual reunions.
Grafton is located in the town of Rockville, only 2 miles off Hwy 9 on your way to Zion. The last 1.2 miles are on a bumpy dirt road. It is passable for all vehicles, just take it slow.
The settlement itself was once a cheerful town filled with Friday night music and dancing. Today only five sun-weathered buildings and a cemetery remain.
The cemetery can be found just before you come into the settlement. There is a fork in the road leading to the cemetery on the left.
Of the five remaining buildings, three are open for visitors to explore. The Alonzo H Russell home was our favorite one to visit.
It was interesting to step in and feel how the adobe brick construction kept the home cool in the hot summer months.
When we visited we were the only ones there, and I have to admit that it was a little eerie! Doors kept blowing open and closed by the wind and my boys were convinced the house was haunted!
Visitors can walk inside two smaller modest homes and also peer into the windows of the schoolhouse that doubled as a church.
*Related post: for another one of Utah’s best-kept secrets, check out our guide to visiting Utah’s Pink Lake!
Pick up snacks in Springdale
Springdale is a small town just outside the entrance to Zion. Stop here to grab a bite to eat, stock up on snacks and water, and fill up on gas.
We stopped at the cute little local grocer, Sol Foods. We grabbed lunch at the deli, scored some specialty souvenir treats, and picked up some snacks and drinks for the trail.
The prices are more expensive but it was nice to have a one-stop-shop. They also have an outdoor patio where you can sit and eat your lunch.
Zion Visitor Center and Par’us Trail
The visitor center is always the best place to start any national park adventure. Stop in to learn about the history and collect information on the best hikes and scheduled activities in the park.
In the peak months of March-October, the most popular trails in Zion can only be reached by a shuttle bus departing from the visitor center.
These are also the most crowded trails. However, there are plenty of great trails outside of the shuttle area that tend to be a little less crowded.
The Par’us Trail is an easy 3.4-mile round-trip paved trail. It begins near the visitor center and follows along the Virgin River.
While this trail is popular, it is fairly wide and open. There are also plenty of places along the river to stop and play away from the crowds.
It’s a great introductory hike as you can catch glimpses of the colorful dramatic peaks that Zion is known for.
The Pa’rus Trail is a great trail for bikes. Zion Outfitter is located near the visitor center and offers bike rentals starting at $25/4 hours. They also offer tube rentals if you would like to float and play in the river.
The Watchman Trail is also a popular trail departing from the visitor center. The trail is a little over 3 miles roundtrip with a few steeper more challenging sections.
Lower Pine Creek Falls
Our favorite trail in Zion is the Lower Pine Creek Falls Trail. This trail is not listed on any of the park maps and is one of Zion’s best hidden gems.
The short 0.7-mile round-trip trail leads to a picturesque cascading waterfall with a shallow pool to play in.
There are also smaller plunge pools with rocks to jump from. For more details about this hike, check out our guide to Lower Pine Creek Falls.
Canyon Overlook Trail
The Canyon Overlook Trail is another favorite short trail that packs a big punch!
It is located closer to the eastern side of the park, which doesn’t see as many visitors as the western side.
The 1-mile round trip trail leads to a spectacular overlook. It offers a striking view over Zion Canyon flanked by the Towers of the Virgin, West Temple, The Sentinel, and Bridge Mountain.
The trail is a little steep and challenging in sections, but is doable with kids and well worth the effort.
For more information about this hike, check out our guide to the Canyon Overlook Trail.
Shelf Canyon
The Shelf Canyon Trail is an unmarked trail leading to a cool slot canyon that you’ll most likely have all to yourself, a rare thing at Zion!
The trailhead is located at the Canyon Overlook Trail parking lot, so it is easy to do both if you have the time. For specific directions and what to expect, check out our guide to Shelf Canyon.
*Related post: If you’re planning to visit nearby Bryce Canyon, be sure to check out our guide to One Day in Bryce Canyon!
Stay the night in a Conestoga Wagon
As you head to the east exit of the park, there are plenty of scenic overlooks that are worth pulling over for!
After exiting the park, you’ll have the option to head north on Hwy 89 towards Bryce Canyon, or south towards Kanab.
If you are heading north, I would highly recommend glamping in a Conestoga Wagon at Whispering Pines. It is such a unique experience and the perfect respite from the crowds.
If you are heading south, I would recommend staying at Timber and Tin in Kanab. You will love the beautiful and spacious accommodations.
It also makes for a great jumping-off point for all of your Kanab adventures.
I hope this guide helps you escape the crowds in Zion and make the most of your weekend there!
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