Where to Visit South of Zion

Since Zion seems to be the hot spot for most Western U.S. travelers, so I figure it’s time to explore point A’s and point C’s when Zion is your point B. Utah is one incredible sight after the next, and it’s neighboring states are filled with drastically different geologic features you can’t miss. If you’re planning to visit Zion, here are some stops you should work into your trip heading south. Check back later this week for recommendations North of Zion. 

Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Utah

This place is a fun little surprise right before you exit Utah on your way to Page or Sedona, Arizona. The sand dunes were not originally on our list of stops, but after meeting a couple in Zion who raved about them we thought we might as well since they’re on the way to our next stop. The Coral Pink San Dunes are a state park open to motor vehicles, hikers, and dune riders. It’s $10 to enter the park for day-use and $25-35 to camp. Unless you come prepared with your own sled/snowboard/piece of cardboard you’ll also end up spending $25 renting a sled.

It’s about a 5 min hike out to the first dune, but if you’re planning on tackling the giants, you’ll want to keep hiking out to the big dunes about 10 min out. We decided to keep it quick since we were passing through, but it turned out that quick was all we could handle. Climbing up those sand dunes is no joke. We tired ourselves out after about 30 min of long uphills and fast downhills and hit the road. Well worth a stop for the views and the fun!

Page, Arizona & Antelope Canyon 

The town of Page sits right across the Arizona border and right outside of the Navajo Indian Reservation. If you’re a water person this is a great stop for you since you can rent kayaks, boats, etc to play on nearby Lake Powell. It’s also where you’ll stay while you explore Antelope Canyon. 

Antelope Canyon is iconic, well-known for its narrow-slitted, smooth canyon walls with sediment layers forming wave-like designs. The dusky rock hallways bend and weave into miles of hiking within the solitude of the canyon. Looking up and seeing the red walls towering above you, cast against the bright blue Arizona sky will be the only reminder of the world outside the canyon. 

When we visited on our way out of Zion the canyon was closed due to COVID, but it’s worth checking for openings when you’re planning your vacation. You’ll need to reserve a guided tour since the canyon is not open to the public. There are lots of tour groups owned, operated, and led by Navajos native to the land. Not only is it ethical to support the land’s indigenous people, but their knowledge of the place is expansive, tracing back through generations. 

The Grand Canyon, Arizona

Full disclosure, we opted out of the Grand Canyon. We’ve always dreamt of doing a big (dogless) Grand Canyon backpacking trip from rim-to-rim. So, we thought save it for a different trip when we can fully dedicate the time to it. 

That being said, my rim-to-rim dream trip would be an epic post or pre-Zion stop. The rim-to-rim hike starting at North Kaibab Trial to Bright Angel trail is 24 miles and it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s some strenuous backpacking, even if you opt for donkeys to follow behind carrying your backpacks (yeah, that’s actually a thing). 

It takes planning, too. You’ll need to buy a backcountry camping permit which is only accessible 4 months before your desired date of use. You’ll also need to book the Trans Canyon Shuttle to return you to your car back at the trailhead. But in most cases, the biggest hassles give way to best sights and that’s very much so the case here. You’ll get to see the canyon from places inaccessible by car and really explore its geology.

Sedona, Arizona

Just south of Page and in the heart of Arizona is Sedona. This place is known for its energy vortexes, big red rock formations, beautiful turquoise, and its new-age spiritualism. It is without a doubt a super freaky place, but it’s truly the energy you bring to the place that makes it special. 

The town of Sedona is full of palm readers, aura photographers, and sound healers. If you’re looking to explore your spirituality this is a great place to get your toes wet. Although the downtown area sure is able to put a price on spirituality. These mystical experiences aren’t cheap, nor is the elaborate turquoise jewelry. However, if you stop at a roadside stand outside of town the Native Navajo jewelry makers will cut you a nice deal...not to mention supporting their art feels better than buying from the commercial stores in town. 

We visited Sedona in the early Fall and it was still hot enough to inspire us to find a swimming hole every day. We ended up dipping in the river by Grasshopper Point which was shady and secluded enough to let our dog swim off-leash. There’s free parking and it’s a minimal walk down to the water. 

The next day we checked out Slide Rock State Park. It’s $20 to get into the park, but it’s worth it. We went early in the day while it was still cool since pets aren’t allowed and we needed to leave Vita in the car. It’s about a 0.5 mile walk down to the complete playground of a river. There are deep pools where you can jump off the lining cliffs, long runs for swimming, and a natural rock slide that stretches about 70 meters. Because we arrived before noon there weren’t too many people, but the crowds started showing up as we were leaving. 

Some amazing views and hikes we enjoyed after our daily soak:

Bell Rock

Cathedral Rock

Red Rock State Park

We hiked Cathedral Rock at dusk and brought Vita on a leash. It was an amazing view for sunset and a fun challenge to hike back down with headlamps. 

As far as the energy vortexes go...whether you believe in them or not, they’re all beautiful places, so why not visit, spend some time centering yourself and being one with nature. Can’t hurt, right?