Activities

 

Conference participants will be able to interact informally during the conference while exploring Zion National Park. When registering, participants will choose from a menu of activities, most of which are professionally guided.

Canyoneering

The climate and geology of southern Utah combine to make an extraordinary landscape that includes many beautiful sandstone slot canyons. Zion Guru (professional guiding company) will lead conference participants on a hike through one of these unique slot canyons that includes rappelling, down climbing, and a great opportunity to interact with others at the conference.

Experience at a Glance: 

  • 35 minute drive to the Canyoneering area
  • 25 Minute hike to the canyon
  • Opportunities to learn knots, down climbing and rappelling skills
  • 2-3 Rappels 20-80 feet
  • Problem solving obstacles during the canyon descent
  • No previous experience required. If you can hike, you can canyoneer

Narrows Hike

The Zion Narrows is a central feature of Zion National Park. Follow the Virgin River north, as canyon walls narrow to 22-feet (7.2m) wide and 1,500 feet (455 m) high. Encounter smoothly carved sandstone slabs, beautifully fluted, twisting slots, and towering walls. The conference will provide you with canyon hiking shoes, snacks, and water. We will separate into a few groups, which will provide great opportunities to interact with other conference participants.

Experience at a Glance: 

  • Grab hiking water shoes, snacks, and drinks.
  • Five minute walk from hotel to shuttle stop
  • Shuttle takes you to tail head
  • Hike is 50% in the water, 50% on shorelines.
  • Most hikers spend 4-6 hours doing this up and back hike.

E-Bikes

Ebiking is a great way to experience Zion's Canyon in a new way. Enjoy a 4-hour easy bike ride through the park, stopping at hikes, or just cruising through the scenic canyon.

Experience at a Glance: 

  • Leave lodge by 1:00 PM, Thursday afternoon.
  • Riders have 4 hours to explore Zion National Park on motor assisted bicycles
  • Easiest and most flexible way to explore Zion Canyon
  • Bikes can be parked and locked at various trailheads, allowing short hikes
  • E-bikes will travel on trails and roads open only to the Zion shuttle system.

UTV Adventure Ride

Travel to the east side of Zion national park and then experience an off-road UTV ride to a remote slot canyon. Hike through an easy, narrow slot canyon (6-10 feet wide) with walls of red rock towering 100 feet high. This scenery is typical of Utah's Red Rock country.  There is no climbing or rappelling. This activity is designed for those who want a fairly easy non-technical way to experience Utah's famous red rock canyons. After another hike along a different canyon, we will return at about 6:30 to Cable Mountain Lodge around 6:30 PM.

Experience at a Glance: 

  • 1 hour drive to the area through Zion National Park to Orderville, Utah.
  • 2.5 hours on UTV and mild hiking
  • Great views of Zion National Park and backcountry
  • Nothing strenuous
  • 1 hour return drive to Cable Mountain Lodge

Observation Point Hike

Observation Point is the highest viewpoint of Zion Canyon, towering over Angels Landing and other well-known features of the park. On Saturday morning, we begin hiking in the dark among tall pines and arrive at the red cliffs of Observation Point just before the sun rises. After taking in the view, we then return on the same trail to our vehicles.

This hike will be offered early Saturday morning and is limited to 10 participants each day (National Park rules). Departure time is 4:30 AM on Saturday (to make the sunrise). We will arrive back approximately 5 hours after departure time. Slots will be filled in order of received interest. Email redrockconferece@byu.edu if you would like to do the hike.

Experience at a Glance: 

  • Shuttle to East Mesa Trail
  • 3 mile flat trail to Observation Point
  • At Observation Point for sunrise (Saturday)


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