If you’re even thinking about having a Zion elopement or intimate wedding, I’m here to tell you in the first sentence of the guide to just do it! Zion is one of the most majestic, unique, and mystical national parks in the world and there’s nothing like it anywhere else. Eloping in Zion is a once in a lifetime experience and every person I’ve worked with that’s chosen this route has been so happy they did.

I’m a Zion local and have been for almost a decade, the desert is my home and Zion is my backyard! I absolutely love it here and have no plans of moving. Before I even thought about getting into adventure photography I already knew this place like the back of my hand. Some of my greatest joys in my life are offroading, exploring, hiking, camping, and getting to know this area. I own a 4runner, I’m offroading all the chances I can get, and I can confidently say that I have lots and lots of knowledge about the area that has taken years to acquire, which is why I finally decided to create a comprehensive Zion elopement guide!

In this guide I’ll talk about SO many locations, close and far, remote and popular, cliff overlooks, crazy offroads, the best camping spots, river spots, lake spots, cliff jumping spots, easy to get to spots, and extremely remote spots that no one knows about! It’s packed with information!! I’ll also talk about how to avoid crowds, what the weather is like at different times in the year, the best restaurants, hotels and airbnb’s, and fun activities to do the day after or before your elopement! When I say this is the guide of literally everything you need to know about a Zion elopement I mean it!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 - LOCATIONS AND MORE LOCATIONS

1.1 - Popular Locations in Zion

1.2 - Lesser known but easy to get to locations in and around Zion

1.3 - Easy to get to spots around St. George (About an hour away from Zion National Park)

1.4 - Easy to get to spots in Southern Utah/Nearby Nevada and Arizona

1.5 - Remote locations around Zion - Intermediate skill level of hiking and offroading

1.6 - Extremely remote and hard to get to locations around Zion - 4x4 and high clearance required, advanced offroading knowledge recommended, strenuous hiking

SECTION 2 - BEST PLACES TO STAY

2.1 - Lodging very close to Zion

2.2 - Lodging in St. George

2.3 - Coolest Airbnb’s ever

2.4 - Best Campgrounds

SECTION 3 - WEATHER IN SOUTHERN UTAH

3.1 - Summer

3.2 - Fall

3.3 - Winter

3.4 - Spring

SECTION 4 - FUN ACTIVITIES TO DO (40 IDEAS)

SECTION 5 - BEST RESTAURANTS

5.1 - My personal favorites

5.2 - Other great recommendations

SECTION 1 - LOCATIONS AND MORE LOCATIONS

This part of the guide is probably the most important! There are so many places to choose from in and around Zion that it’s a little overwhelming sometimes! I want to help you out by cutting a lot of the research out for ya and having it all right here! We’ll start with the popular spots! All the images are mine unless specified! I’ve used a lot of other images because to be honest I don’t take my super expensive camera everywhere so I don’t have amazing photos in each and every spot!

SECTION 1.1 - POPULAR LOCATIONS IN ZION

These locations are popular for a couple reasons, mainly because they are easy to access and really really beautiful! If you’re bringing guests and have children, older parents, or just don’t want to have a lot of hassle on your wedding day then these are great spots to choose! (If you have a lot of guests or are setting up chairs or an arch, you will have to use the spots that Zion has designated for weddings, these spots are only good if you have very few people and aren’t bringing any props). They are VERY crowded especially at sunset and on the weekends so picking these spots means you sacrifice privacy, which is totally fine if you don’t care so much about that.

Zion Canyon Overlook

- One of the most beautiful cliff overlooks in the park

- 1.0 mile out and back (very easy)

- Go at sunrise if you want more privacy

- Sunset is STUNNING up there

- Multiple photo spots

Pa’rus Trail

- Beautiful trail on the valley floor near the entrance, is right by the Virgin River and has a few bridges that are really cool!

- 3.4 miles out and back (there are good spots literally right off the trail anywhere you park so it’s totally possible to not even hike at all)

- VERY CROWDED

- Multiple photo spots along the trail

Temple of Sinawava

- Massive rock amphitheater near the popular Riverside Trail

- 1.0 mile trail for the Riverside Walk (Not far from the Narrows)

- Pretty crowded

- You can get a permit to have a big wedding at this location

Zion Lodge Lawn

- Beautiful lawn outside the only lodge in the Zion National Park fee area

- Easy shuttle ride and it’s right by the parking lot

- Can be crowded depending on time of day and season

- You can get a permit to have a big wedding at this location

South Amphitheater

- Desert amphitheater right by the Pa’rus Trail

- Park right by the south campgrounds and it’s an easy walk

- The amphitheater itself usually isn’t crowded

- You can take photos on the popular and beautiful Pa’rus trail

- You can get a permit to have a big wedding at this location

SECTION 1.2 - LESSER KNOWN BUT EASY TO GET TO LOCATIONS IN AND AROUND ZION

Photo by Madi Rogers Photography - madirogers.com (Madi did my wedding photos so this is me!)

Kolob Terrace Road

- One of the most beautiful roads to ever exist

- Multiple trails and easy to get to spots right after the side of the road, perfect for pictures

- Technically part of Zion NP but there are almost no tourists

- If you go all the way up Kolob Terrace Road, you will hit mountain lakes and pine trees

- Never crowded

- Some of the best views of the north side of Zion are just right off the Kolob Terrace road

Emerald Pools

- 1.2-mile round-trip loop to the Lower Pool

- 2-mile round-trip visit to the Middle and Lower Pools

- 2.5-mile round-trip hike to all three pools

- Stunning waterfalls and desert pools

- In the winter the big waterfall at the 3rd pool freezes and it’s the most incredible thing to see!

- Sometimes crowded sometimes not

- Pretty easy hike all the way around

Grafton Ghost Town

- If you want super cool old western shots, this is the place to go

- The Virgin River is close by, there are lots of pretty trees and towering red rock around the old town

- Usually only see a couple people here

- Lots of buildings to choose from and there are some firepits out there too!

- You have to go down a dirt road but it’s very mild, any car could make it (in good weather)

- Drive right up to it

- Around 30 minutes away from Zion NP

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

- MILES AND MILES of very fine sand dunes

- You can rent sandboards and sleds and go down the dunes

- Surrounded by red rock and cool trees

- It’s a state park so you can drive right up to the dunes, but you’ll have to pay a fee to get in

- You’ll have to walk out a bit to get to the big dunes, it’s a bit strenuous

- About 40 minutes away from Zion NP

SECTION 1.3 - EASY TO GET TO SPOTS AROUND ST GEORGE (ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM ZION NATIONAL PARK)

Snow Canyon State Park

- Very Zion-esque, lots of cool red and white rock, and towering rock cliffs

- You’ll have to pay a fee to get into the state park

- Mini sand dunes and lava tube caves make this place super unique

- SO MANY picture spots, any direction you take a picture it’s beautiful

- A large variety of hikes for all levels

- VERY CROWDED at sunset unless you hike out farther

Sand Hollow State Park

- Very similar to Lake Powell, absolutely stunning red rock with really blue water

- Beaches as good as the ocean! Very fine sand!

- MILES of sand dunes

- Known nation-wide for it’s incredible ATVing trails

- Lots of razor and jetski rental shops around

- VERY CROWDED on the weekends

Fire Lake Reservoir

- One of the most underrated spots in the whole area

- My all time FAVORITE red mountains in the whole world are around this lake

- Cute picnic tables and grass spots make this place perfect for kids and bigger families

- Amazing sand beaches

- Water temperature is great!

- Somewhat crowded in the evenings and weekends

Gunlock State Park

- Multiple seasonal waterfalls in the spring

- Beautiful blue lake surrounded by all kinds of different colors of rocks!

- You’ll have to pay a fee to get in

- Great for boating!

- Lots and lots of hikes around the area

SECTION 1.4 - EASY TO GET TO SPOTS IN SOUTHERN UTAH/NEARBY NEVADA AND ARIZONA

Valley of Fire State Park

- 2.5 hours away from Zion NP

- THE MOST UNDERRATED SPOT IN THE WORLD

- Could easily be a national park and is just as cool as most of them!

- Every color of rock you’d ever want to see! Green, purple, red, white, black and more!

- Lots of hikes for all levels

- Crazy rock faces, arches, and formations

Lake Powell

- 2 hours away from Zion NP

- It doesn’t get much better than Lake Powell!

- One of my favorite spots to ever exist is on a 3 hour offroad overlooking the entire lake and canyon!

- You can camp on the beach and rent a houseboat

- There are slot canyons you can boat through and hike through

- Cute marina restaurants, stores, and lots of really cool desert hikes

Horseshoe Bend

- 2 hours away from Zion NP

- This is one of the most photographed spots in the world for a reason

- It’s unbelievable how high up you are and how unrealistic it looks. It really looks like a painting!

- You’ll have to pay a fee to get in

- 1.3 mile easy hike

- One of the best cliff views I know of

Monument Valley

- 4 hours away from Zion NP

- This is where Forrest Gump stops running!

- This is the epitome of desert buttes, red rock, and towering mesas

- Multiple movies have been filmed here

- This land is incredible and truly majestic

SECTION 1.5 - REMOTE LOCATIONS AROUND ZION - INTERMEDIATE SKILL LEVEL OF HIKING AND OFFROADING

Joshua Trees

- 1 hour away from Zion NP

- There are in fact places that look just like Joshua Tree National Park!

- About 10 minutes down a dirt road off a more remote exit

- This place is FULL of joshua trees and high desert cliffs, there’s even a slot canyon!

- This is a spot I protect, because this spot could EASILY get overrun by tourists guaranteed if word gets out about it. If you truly want to elope in the joshua trees, which I’ve had couples do and it’s beautiful, contact me and I’ll give you the information to this place. Email me at hi@kelseacallister.com!

Gooseberry Mesa (Entering from the same side as the town of Apple Valley)

- ~1.5 hours away from Zion NP

- Cliffs, cliffs, and more cliffs!

- Crazy panoramic views of Zion from above!

- You’ll have to go down a dirt road for a little while, but it’s usually pretty tame

- Lots of mountain biking trails up here

- You can rent a mongolian yurt on top of the mesa and sleep up there!

- One of the best overlooks around

- Very secluded

Hellhole Hike

- 1.5 hours away from Zion NP

- 3.4 miles round trip, hiking through lots of rocks and washes

- This is the hike to my favorite red mountains in the entire area!!

- When it rains hard there are multiple waterfalls here!

- The hike goes back into the most incredible canyon

- Not crowded and very secluded

Taylor Creek Trail

- 1 hour away from Zion NP

- 5 mile round-trip hike

- Beautiful river hike through a lesser known part of Zion National Park

- Secluded and not crowded

SECTION 1.6 - EXTREMELY REMOTE AND HARD TO GET TO LOCATIONS AROUND ZION - 4X4 AND HIGH CLEARANCE REQUIRED, ADVANCED OFFROADING KNOWLEDGE RECOMMENDED, STRENUOUS HIKING

Arizona Gorge Overlook

- 1.5 hours away from Zion NP

- 1-2 hour offroad

- Goes through some narrow canyons where you’ll be up on 3 wheels occasionally, diff locker will be super helpful but you can do it without it.

- You’ll see some remote sinkholes, remote river camping locations, and you’ll arrive at one of the most remote desert overlooks on top of a huge cliff!

- The offroad is a lot of fun and technical in spots!

- EMAIL ME AT HI@KELSEACALLISTER.COM FOR DETAILED DIRECTIONS AND MAPS

Signal Peak

- 1 hour drive away from Zion NP

- 6-8 hour hike

- 9.1 mile round-trip extremely difficult climb up to the highest peak in the entire area

- BEST VIEW OF MY LIFE

- You can see almost all the way to the grand canyon, and all of Zion from the top of this mountain!

- You’ll pass by granite towers and the coolest mountain landscapes on the way up

- Signal peak is on Pine Mountain, one of the largest lacoliths in the world (Google it)

- This would be an incredible adventure for an elopement, but you have to have good fitness and endurance to complete this hike

- EMAIL ME AT HI@KELSEACALLISTER.COM FOR DETAILED DIRECTIONS AND MAPS

Birthing Cave

- 1.5 hours away from Zion NP

- 1-2 hour offroad from there

- 30 minute hike from the end of the offroad

- Technical offroading, climbing up rocks, extremely remote, make sure you have your maps downloaded or have a GPS

- Amazing red rock landscapes that are untouched, lots of desert wildlife, passing through lots of different types of rocks, and more camping and hunting spots than you could imagine!

- You’ll arrive at the Birthing Cave which has ancient petroglyphs and is on top of a mini cliff. It’s super unique!

- EMAIL ME AT HI@KELSEACALLISTER.COM FOR DETAILED DIRECTIONS AND MAPS

This is just a SMALL fraction of all the spots I know around here, if you’re coming in to visit (even if you’re not eloping with me) I’d be more than happy to talk to you and tell you where to go! Tour guiding is one of my greatest joys! Just contact me!

SECTION 2 - BEST PLACES TO STAY

This part of the guide will give you all the details on the best places to stay around Zion, I have some remote airbnb’s and campgrounds in here too! Lots of options!

SECTION 2.1 - LODGING VERY CLOSE TO ZION

These are all incredible lodging options that are right outside the park, they’re expensive but you can’t go wrong with any of these! One of my personal favorites is the Driftwood Lodge! There is a river right behind it and they have chairs near it so you can go relax!

Zion Lodge - The only “in-park” lodging you can get!
Cable Mountain Lodge
Driftwood Lodge
Majestic View Lodge
Flannigan’s Inn
Cliffrose

SECTION 2.2 - LODGING IN ST GEORGE

St. George is just an hour away from Zion! It’s the biggest town in the area. Here are some great places to stay!

The Inn at Entrada
Inn on the Cliff (One of my favorites, super good restaurant here)
Tru by Hilton St. George
Desert Garden Inn
Red Lion Hotel

SECTION 2.3 - COOLEST AIRBNB’S EVER

Zions Tiny Oasis (MY ALL TIME FAVORITE)
Zion Glamping Adventures
Under the Eaves Inn
The Historic Rose Cottage
Cowboy Hideout

SECTION 2.4 - BEST CAMPGROUNDS

Watchman Campgrounds & South Campgrounds (right in Zion national park, but very crowded!
Zion Ponderosa Ranch Campgrounds on the east side of Zion
Lava Point Campground
Camping on top of Gooseberry Mesa at the Gooseberry Mesa Yurts!
Snow Canyon State Park Campgrounds

SECTION 3 - WEATHER IN SOUTHERN UTAH

The weather in the desert is honestly pretty ideal most of the year! That’s another reason I love living here, but there are a few things about the weather you need to know based on what time of the year you are planning on eloping here!

SECTION 3.1 - SUMMER

The summer is definitely our worst weather here, in most places in the U.S. it’s normally pretty ideal to elope in the summer but honestly it’s probably one of the worst times you can come to the desert! It’s nice because the days are long, the sun rises at about 6:15am and sets at around 9:30, it’s awesome!! But almost every day in the summer we are around 100 degrees, and in July and August it frequently gets about 110+. This year (2021) we had unprecedented heat waves and hit almost 120. Trust me, you don’t want to be outside at all during those temperatures, it feels like you walk straight into an oven!

August and sometimes late July also bring our famous desert monsoons! It hardly ever rains here, but when it does, it freakin POURS. Our monsoons are spectacular storms, with more lightning than you’ve ever seen and the biggest black clouds! It’s actually super cool and if you get the chance to witness a desert monsoon I’d consider yourself lucky! But it can impede on an elopement, especially because flash floods here during the monsoons are frequent and dangerous, so you have to keep that in mind.

All of that being said though, most of my couples actually elope here in the summer and there’s no problem with it! It’s super fun because we can go cliff jumping, boating, swimming, and do lots of cool water activities! Just be prepared to wake up super early and stay out super late, because sunrise and sunset are the only reasonable times to elope here, so you don’t burn up or get heat exhaustion during the day. That’s why I have people go to the lake in the middle of the day so they can cool off! There’s still tons to do and the weather isn’t bad at sunrise and sunset, and the summer nights are really nice! Don’t rule out coming here just because it’s the summer!

SECTION 3.2 - FALL

COME ELOPE IN THE FALL! This is my top recommended season for eloping in Southern Utah, the weather couldn’t be better! Late September to mid November is such pleasant weather! It can sometimes be a little chilly in the mornings, but the days are around 70 degrees and feels so good! We don’t get fall trees here much, but there are a few places where you can see fall colors with the red rock and it’s crazy cool! You can wake up later for beautiful sunrise shots and don’t have to stay out as late for sunset shots! There aren’t as many tourists here either! Honestly this is the best time of the year to elope, I highly recommend it!

SECTION 3.3 - WINTER

If you are thinking of eloping in the winter at all, you’re limited on locations nationwide because a lot of northern national parks close certain locations in the winter, it’s stupid cold, and there’s deep deep snow everywhere. The desert is by far the most ideal location to elope in the winter! It legit DOESN’T snow here! We get snow maybe one or two days a year, and let me tell you what, if you’re lucky enough to witness snow on the red rocks you would never regret that. I’ve said a lot of things and places are beautiful in this guide today but this is actually and honestly one of my TOP sights to see. Snow in Zion is unlike anything else so honestly if it did snow on your wedding day I wouldn’t be disappointed! We get minimal snow here so even if it does it’s not deep at all. Maybe an inch or two. The winter can get deceivingly cold here, especially when the sun isn’t out, but a lot of the time during the middle of the day I wear short sleeves and sandals, it’s great! The winter in the desert is way nice because you won’t have to worry about super bad weather ruining your day!

SECTION 3.4 - SPRING

The spring is also SO pleasant here, just like the fall I highly recommend it! The only reason fall is recommended slightly over spring is sometimes we get spring storms and a decent amount of rain for a bit and that can ruin elopement plans, but it’s not too frequent and honestly so so nice most of the spring. The weather is like 70-80 degrees! The coolest thing about the spring is the desert actually starts to get GREEN. This is the greenest you will ever see it here and it turns the desert into a beautiful sight to see! It’s fresh and there’s lots more water in the spring which makes our river and lake shots even cooler! I highly recommend the spring as well, it’s a great time to come here!

SECTION 4 - FUN ACTIVITIES TO DO

I tell all the couples that I work with that they should do something fun on their wedding day! Why only have the ceremony when you can explore the majestic area you’re in! I’ve had couples cliff jump, rock climb, kayak, and do lots of other fun things that they’re interested in! It also makes for some sick pictures!! Here are just some ideas to get your brain going on things you can do here!

Cliff jump on top of a waterfall (I know a cool place where you can do this!)
Have a breakfast picnic by the joshua trees
Rock climb at sunset
Rappel down a red cliff
Rent a boat
Rent an ATV and go 4 wheeling (I used to be the manager of the offroad rental shop here, I can get you the best razor they have!)
Feed llamas (yes you can actually do this here)
Have a picnic in the mountains by the pine trees (yes we have pine trees here about 45 mins away!)
Walk around main street and visit local shops
Visit Duck Creek, a little mountain town we have here with really unique restaurants and shops
Visit some waterfalls
Go on a river hike
Tube down the Virgin River
Go offroading
Visit the Kayenta Art Village, the cutest art galleries surrounded by red rock cliffs!
Eat at any of the Springdale restaurants that are all super cute!
Have a campfire at night and eat smores!
Play card games
Visit a ghost town (we have a couple)
Go on a scenic drive
Hammock by some pine trees
Read books by a quiet river
Visit the rock shops in Springdale
Rent mountain bikes
Visit Arizona (the border is very close)
Go camping and look at the stars
Rent a telescope and look at the galaxies in the sky
Swim under the stars all alone in a desert oasis
Go snowboarding at our ski resort 1.5 hours away!
Sledding up in the pine mountains
Go snowshoeing
Offroad in the snow
Have brunch at a local crepery (one of my favs!)
Eat at a local retro burger joint
Hike with your dog
Drive on top of a mountain
Visit aspen trees about an hour away
Visit multiple desert rivers and water spots
Visit a hidden pool in Zion no one knows about that you can swim in (if there are no algae blooms)
Go on a helicopter tour over Zion and even Lake Powell! (I know the guy that owns the helicopter tour company, I can get you hooked up!)

SECTION 5 - BEST RESTAURANTS

There are SO many fantastic local restaurants, some are more well known than others. If you want some freakin good food you’re in the right place! I’m going to start with my all time favorites!

SECTION 5.1 - MY PERSONAL FAVORITES

Red Fort - St. George

I have no words for this place. It’s heavenly, beyond anything you’ve ever had, if you like Indian cuisine. They have the BEST garlic naan bread and incredible curry of all types. The atmosphere of the restaurant honestly feels like you’re in the middle of India, and the waiters are dope! I’ve never tipped anyone so much. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 10/10

Costa Vida - St. George & Hurricane

I eat at this place probably the most frequently of any other place! It is the BEST mexican food. My personal favorite is getting their grilled chicken salad with beans, cilantro rice, the best and thickest tortilla, and their tomatillo sauce. It really is bomb!! This restaurant has been my favorite for a long long time since I have a soft spot for mexican food! 10/10!

Alfredo A’s - Hurricane & St. George

The ultimate adventure stop since it’s open 24/7! I’ve eaten so many breakfast burritos here at 2am and have some of the best memories here! Their breakfast burritos are literally to die for and they are so big! If you want something to fill you the whole day come here! They have carne asada fries, and so many other authentic mexican dishes. 10/10!

Viva Chicken - St. George

The BEST sauces I have ever tasted!! This place is Peruvian and actually really healthy too! Dipping their chicken in their red sauce and getting their sweet potato fries and quinoa is so so good! 10/10 as well!

SECTION 5.2 - OTHER GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS

Oscar’s Cafe - Springdale
Switchback Grille - Springdale
MeMe’s Cafe - Springdale
Zion Pizza & Noodle - Springdale
Sakura - St. George
The Ocean - St. George
Bella Marie’s Pizzeria - St. George
Maverick Gas Stations - Everywhere (They have BOMB burritos and a mini grill restaurant inside of it)
Iceberg - St. George
Twisted Kitchen (Vegan) - St. George

CONCLUSION

I hope after reading all this that you’re stoked to elope by Zion! The desert really is special and there are so many experiences you can create here. Zion elopements / small weddings are my specialty so feel free to contact me about anything! I’d love to photograph and help you plan your day, and I also have an AWESOME team of vendors I work with so I can get everything covered for you. Reach out to me on my contact form here or email me at hi@kelseacallister.com. My Instagram is @kelseamcallister and you can message me there too!

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