Stay & Play

Western Luxe: Stay and Play at Zion Mountain Ranch

by Jennifer Merrick

Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam, and the skies are not cloudy all day….

Though the last time I heard “Home on the Range” was as a child at summer camp, I found myself humming the tune as I drove up to my accommodation at Zion Mountain Ranch. My quintessential log cabin was one of 52 on the 300-acre property, located just five minutes from the east entrance of Zion National Park in Southern Utah.

Its porch, with a comfy, outdoor, wooden seating area, looked as inviting and relaxing as a good porch should. Inside the cabin, the western-themed décor was a fitting welcome with its exposed wooden beams and logs, pictures of ranch life and hand-crafted accessories. Though the image of a log home might be a rustic one, the cabins at this lodge had the comforts and modern amenities of luxury accommodation: living and kitchen seating areas, TV, microwave, fridge, coffee maker, and mattress and bedding at par with any high-end hotel. My favourite feature, though, was the over-sized clawfoot bathtub.

Still humming, I wandered down to dinner, passing by adorable miniature ponies and a crowing rooster, announcing its presence. Cordwood Restaurant echoed the atmosphere of the accommodation, both with its inviting décor of wooden walls, stacked firewood and western accents as well as its elevated cuisine. Food is either grown on the property itself or carefully sourced for its freshness and sustainability. The salad ingredients on the menu were from its garden, and entrees included bison steaks, stuffed trout and roasted chicken with wild mushroom ragout. After my delectable meal, I headed back to my cabin, followed by Rex, one of the lodge’s friendly dogs.

The proximity to the natural playground that is Southern Utah was another appealing aspect of the ranch. Visitors can easily access Zion National Park, right next door, or take part in the activities on offer, including horseback riding, jeep tours, guided hikes and canyoneering. I opted for the latter, and the next morning found myself bumping along the dirt roads in a UTV to Elkhart Canyon, one of the most scenic slot canyons in the state.

Once parked, we enjoyed a pleasant and scenic hike up to the edge of the cliff leading to the canyon. The sun was shining, birds were circling overhead, and I was smiling. But then, we had to get down.

“Just lean back as if you were doing a wall sit,” our guide calmly instructed us. Except there was no wall — only a 100-foot drop below. Hands gripping tightly on the ropes and legs wobbling with fear, I inched down, deeply lamenting my decision to try rappelling.

The regret dissipated somewhat once my feet were back firmly on the ground, and we explored the photogenic canyon. The filtered rays of sunlight reflected on the pink-tinged, rocky interior, creating an enchanted fairy-tale atmosphere in the tunnels and caverns.

Back at Zion Mountain Lodge, adrenaline still cursing through my limbs, I spotted a herd of buffalo. The property has approximately 40 buffalo; and watching these peaceful giants grazing, I once again hummed my tune.

Oh give me a home…

https://www.zmr.com