Whether you’re looking for an easy hour-long scramble in town, an unusual animal encounter, or an all-day desert expedition, here are a few unique spots to explore beyond Zion National Park.
Quail Creek State Park
When southern Utah summer temperatures spike past 100 degrees, Quail Creek State Park is the place to be. Centered around a 600-acre reservoir that diverts water from the Virgin River, this park features red rock mesas on one side and picturesque Utah rock on the other.
Because the lake holds some of the warmest water in the state (not that there’s much of it), it’s a prime spot for flatwater kayaking, swimming, and paddleboarding.
During my visit, I booked a guided paddleboard tour at the local outfitter operating right on the beach. I joined a group that paddled 40 minutes across turquoise water to a quiet shoreline, then scrambled up a blackened mesa to inspect ancient Native American petroglyphs. Petroglyphs dot the area, but you need to know where to look.
On another day, I took a paddleboard yoga class. Super fun! It’s an easy, rewarding morning trip that combines water recreation with Southwest history.
- Location: 472 N 5300 W, Hurricane, UT 84737 (about 15 minutes northeast of St. George).
- Cost: $15 for Utah residents; $20 for non-residents.
- Full Guide: Read my full experience paddleboarding and hiking to the Quail Creek petroglyphs.
Pioneer Park (“Dixie Rock”)
There is so much climbing and hiking in southern Utah, but it’s not always approachable ble for novices. But you don’t even have to leave St. George city limits to find world-class red-rock scrambling for the whole family. Pioneer Park is a 52-acre rustic community park perched above the city, like a giant natural jungle gym for adults and kids.
Locals call the area “Dixie Rock” for the massive white block letters painted on the bluff overlooking the highway. The park is packed with narrow slot canyons, natural rock arches, and flat mesa tops that provide panoramic views across the St. George valley and the distant Pine Valley Mountains. It’s free, right off the main road, and offers the perfect quick outdoor adventure when you don’t have the energy for a strenuous national park trail.
- Location: 375 E Red Hills Pkwy, St. George, UT 84770.
- Amenities: Restrooms, picnic pavilions, marked paths, and ample paved parking.
The Zion Alpaca House
I stumbled upon this fun place on Airbnb Experiences. Tucked away in Hurricane, Utah, in a quiet neighborhood of adobe-style homes, the Zion Alpaca House offers one of the most delightful animal encounters.
Originally native to the high Andes of South America, alpacas and llamas have been raised for thousands of years for their soft fleece. Plus, they’re adorable and it was a fantastic break from standard desert trekking. The property offers wide-open views of the surrounding desert cliffs and is filled with friendly, free-roaming alpacas and llamas that will walk right up to eat from your hands.
You can feed them, snap photos, or even book a guided walk around the grounds. You can also meet various other farm animals. I bottle-fed a baby goat – not as easy as you might think! If you want a unique basecamp for your trip, the owners also rent out a guest loft on the property.
- Booking & Info: Reserve your visit or overnight stay directly through the Zion Alpaca House on Airbnb.
Glitter Mountain (Old Gypsum Mine)
Located just south of the Utah-Arizona border outside St. George, Glitter Mountain is an offbeat roadside detour known for its shimmering rocks. The glittering stone across the site is selenite, a translucent crystalline type of gypsum that catches the sun and sparkles against the dry desert earth.
Some people brought tools and were digging, but others just enjoyed walking around the sparkly area.
- Getting There: South of St. George via Southern Parkway and unpaved BLM roads. High-clearance vehicles handle the bumpy dirt best.
- Visitor Tip: While rockhounds frequently visit the pit, check current BLM regulations regarding casual mineral collecting before taking any pieces home. For a few dollars, you can dig and take home your selenite. A sign with a QR code enables payment via the trust system.
Longer Day Trips Worth the Drive
If you have an extra day or two and don’t mind putting miles on the odometer, these three destinations offer completely different wonders across the Southwest.
Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada)
Roughly two hours southwest of St. George across the Nevada border, Valley of Fire State Park looks like a slice of Mars dropped into the desert. The landscape transitions from fiery Aztec red sandstone near the entrance to stark white rock at the park’s rear, swirling together in the center at Fire Canyon.
We scrambled through the narrow slot along the 1.1-mile White Domes Trail, checked out the ancient rock art and 1890s outlaw history at Mouse’s Tank, and tracked down the natural arch at Elephant Rock.
However, summer visits to southern Utah demand extreme caution. Temperatures regularly climb past 115 degrees, and park rangers close exposed routes like the Fire Wave from May through October to prevent severe heat stroke. For unrestricted hiking, plan your visit between November and April.
- Location: 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Overton, NV 89040.
- Full Guide: Read the survival guide and trail tips for Valley of Fire State Park.
Lake Mead: The Overton Arm
At the Valley of Fire Visitor Center, a park ranger mentioned that the northern reaches of Lake Mead were only a 20-minute drive away near Overton. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States, stretching 112 miles from Hoover Dam to Overton. Even though drought has brought the water to historic lows, the thought of open water in the blistering Nevada heat was completely irresistible.
We drove straight toward it, dodging wild donkeys meandering along the road, and came upon the prettiest blue water you’ve ever seen against the arid desert.
From there, take a scenic drive with panoramic views of the blue water against colorful volcanic and desert mountains as you head down toward Lake Las Vegas.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Just under two hours northeast of Zion, Bryce Canyon provides the ultimate visual contrast. Zion is about standing on the canyon floor and looking up at towering vertical walls. Bryce Canyon is about standing on high rim overlooks and peering down into an endless amphitheater of thousands of red, orange, and white hoodoos.
- Top Trails: Combine Queens Garden and Navajo Loop for a moderate 3-mile trek that drops down through the spires of Wall Street.
- Weather Note: Because the rim sits above 8,000 feet, Bryce stays cooler than Zion and St. George year-round, making it a refreshing midsummer escape.
- Read my post about Bryce Canyon
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
Driving east along Scenic Byway 12 takes you straight into Escalante’s rugged heart. This massive, remote wilderness is packed with sandstone arches, winding slot canyons, and dramatic slickrock.
- Top stops: Walk through the weird hoodoos of Devil’s Garden, squeeze through the narrow slots of Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch, or hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls.
- What to know: Many of the best trailheads sit down unpaved routes like Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Services are minimal, cell service is spotty, and dirt roads can become impassable after rainstorms. Check conditions with rangers in town before heading out.
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