East Zion Adventures — Attraction in Apple Valley

Had a wonderful experience at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. Staff were welcoming and friendly, the tiny home we stayed in was clean and comfortable, and there were so many avenues of entertainment. My family rented a golf cart, pet goats, went horse back riding, took a shuttle and hiked the observation point trail, hit the pool. We were only at the ranch for 3 days 2 nights we did a weeks worth of activities. We enjoyed the food at Ponderosa Eats very fair pricing and good meals. East Zion Adventures being onsite was extremely convenient for us since we were tired of being on the road and sore from all our activities. Ryan was really helpful and helped us book Sunset Checkerboard horseback riding and it was one of our favorite memories from the trip. My only gripe would be to provide a little bit of a clearer map as the ranch is currently working on construction some of the land marks aren't as clear and having at least a temporary updated one would be great. We also kind of took a risk booking the Tiny Home because we had no clue how beautiful it was until we got there. Other guests might not realize how much space you’re getting for the price and not book or just how the tiny homes don’t have as much of a description as the other cabins I had no idea I would find a coffee machine, slow cooker, blender, and all the kitchen utensils I could possibly need. Not a complaint it was great but let other people know!!! I was so excited to find these things. Overall would 100% recommend you stay at Zion Ponderosa for a fun family vacation and I will definitely be...

Our trip would not have been the same without East Zion Adventures! Let me breakdown the two experiences we did:

Stargazing Night - Oliver was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I truly thought we were just being guided to an area where we'd sit around and look at stars. What we got was so much more. Oliver spent over an hour with us using his laser and awesome storytelling to help us learn about stargazing, the stars themselves, ancient Roman/Greek history, and more. Later in our trip, we were able to then confidently identify/locate constellations/stars/etc. on our own! I felt like a kid again during the stargazing. Thanks so much Oliver!

Elkheart Canyon - Canyoneering & UTV Adventure - Kez met up with us at 8 am and took us through Elkhart Canyon with 3 rappels (the first being 100 ft!). Immediately we were made comfortable by Kez's energy and expertise. She is truly great at what she does and at no point did we ever feel unsafe. This was easily one of our favority experiences. She taught us proper technique, answered all of our questions about Zion, canyons, wildlife, and more. And dare I say, we may have caught the Canyoneering bug because of her :). We truly cannot thank Kez enough for giving us an unreal experience. We are so grateful and hope to be back soon!

If you're looking around for experiences, this is the company to go with. Down to Earth people who truly are passionate about what they do. And if you're wondering if the cost is worth it, stop worrying. It worth even more than we paid!

Thanks...

Awesome experience! We were 2 reasonably fit 45 year olds and did the Stone (Birch) Hollow Canyon rappel/downclimb tour.

It was just the 2 of us with our guide, Dawson. Dawson was as much a highlight of the trip as the canyon, which was itself incredible. Friendly, knowledgeable, relaxed, and at all times happy to help us learn. He naturally covered all logistical rigging, safety precautions, and the like, but also taught us how to set ourselves up (double checking along the way). This led to a lively but measured pace through the route. We peppered him with questions ranging from geology and flora/fauna, to natural and cultural history of the place and surrounds, which he gamely engaged throughout. He also provided some good photography tips and aid.

The canyon was beautiful and dramatic, and well advertised by East Zion's literature. 2 downclimbs and 8 rappels, with a pair of them near or at 100 ft, through classic narrow amphitheaters of Navajo sandstone.

Down-hike to the canyon was about 2 sandy miles, then about 1.5mi in the slot itself. Another 1 or so up a steep hill and wash, where we found an ATV waiting for us to complete the circuit back to Zion Ponderosa Ranch. We got back by 12:30-1 or so....