If there’s one thing we hear often, it’s that once you’ve stayed at Red Mountain Resort, everywhere else pales in comparison. Those familiar with Utah’s desert wilds will find the resort an easy, peaceful way to experience the rambling rockscapes we hold so dear. Meanwhile, those new to Utah’s deserts are in for a wonderful experience.
Red Mountain is known for its health and wellness focus, but also for putting together full-on adventure retreats. The all-adult wellness resort is nestled at the entrance of Snow Canyon State Park, and is also close to Zion National Park, making it the perfect home base for hiking, rock climbing, or any of the other outdoor activities Utah is famous for. Everything you truly need—from adventures to food to relaxation—are all offered on-site, so if you’re looking to unplug and spend some time outside, that’s just what you’ll find.
Here’s our guide for what to expect from your next adventure retreat at Red Mountain Resort.
Plan your stay
Expect the luxury experience: plush accommodations, multiple swimming pools, a fitness center with a variety of classes, and spa services including the massages and facials. In addition, our holistic approach is inspired by the desert landscape and the spiritual traditions born from it, so you can visit with a shaman, sign up for a psychic intuitive reading, or get your energetic chakras balanced.
With so many options, it can be tough to decide, and the resort staff is happy to sort out all the details for you. All you need to do is let them know what you’re looking for and you’re well on your way to an adventure retreat in the Utah desert.
Anywhere you stay at the resort, there’s a beautiful outdoor swimming pool within a short walk, and many rooms have patios that directly overlook a pool. You could literally plan nothing else besides sitting in a cushy poolside chair with a novel, and we wouldn’t blame you.
When you get hungry, head over to the Canyon Breeze Restaurant (on the property), specializing in healthy yet elegant food. (Fortunately, they consider good wine part of a healthy menu, so plan on raising a glass to celebrate the scenery around you.) They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but dinner reservations are required, so let the staff know if you’d like to dine there in the evening.
There’s also a coffee counter adjacent to the restaurant where you can grab a quick to-go breakfast or lunch if you’re on the move. You can even order a pre-packaged lunch to take as a picnic while you’re out hiking.
There are multiple gorgeous walking paths that leave right from the resort property, and countless more if you drive just a couple miles into the adjacent Snow Canyon State Park. But if you want to explore even more, the staff is there to make it happen with guided adventures.
Getting off the beaten path
Red Mountain knows just how magical the local landscape is, so they embrace that fully and offer guided adventures for guests of just about any ability level.
The menu of experience options is an impressive one to be sure. Yes, you can take a guided hike in the state park (which you should definitely do), but your options stretch into the realm of the unexpected with rock climbing, canyoneering, horseback riding, rappelling, moonlit hikes, lava tube hikes, and kayaking. No matter what kind of adventure you might be looking for, you’ll find it at Red Mountain Resort.
These experiences can take you deep into the heart of the otherworldly beauty of Zion National Park, exploring famed trails like the Zion Narrows (a splashy walk up a slot-canyon riverbed). Bryce Canyon National Park is about three hours away, so let your guide do the driving to experience an entirely different kind of desert terrain in a higher alpine elevation. Your guides will cater the entire experience to your comfort level and ability level to make sure you’re challenged in just the right ways.
For these resort-led experiences, the guides and staff will help make sure you have the right clothing and gear. You can pick up almost anything you may need, from sunscreen to hiking sandals, at their on-premises gear shop, Red Mountain Outfitters.
Relax the day away
If you want to spend a day relaxing at the resort, that’s pretty easy to do, too. Get a massage to soothe those tired muscles or book a facial or nature-inspired spa treatment at the Sagestone Spa & Salon for a little pampering. Take in the scenery as you walk to the spa or have them come to you and schedule an in-room treatment.
Check out the Fitness Center class schedule for more zen with a yoga or meditation class.
Soak in more than sun—get a little art and culture, too
You’ll likely explore enough to deserve a rest day or two, and if you do, check out the art village that’s just a few minutes from the resort. The Coyote Gulch Art Village is home to quite a few galleries showcasing the work of local artists, painters, jewelry makers, potters, and sculptors. Their work reflects the desert landscape and the blend of Western and Native American heritage of the area, and picking up a unique piece is a great way to keep the desert spirit with you long after your visit.
While you’re there, be sure to dine at the Xetava Gardens Cafe, serving delightful light fare and cocktails, with plenty of healthy and vegetarian options. Their beautifully landscaped patio is tough to beat and makes the perfect place to rest after gallery strolling.
And if theatre is your thing, check out a show at the local outdoor theatre, the Tuacahn. The theater makes the most of its dramatic redrock surroundings, with all performances in a beautiful amphitheatre that has a towering sandstone backdrop. You can catch a top-notch musical, play, or concert here, and it’s hard to go wrong in such an incredible setting.
Don’t worry about doing it all
However you enjoy your stay at Red Mountain, there’s one constant: you’ll want to come back for more. Most of our regulars come back year after year. So don’t worry if you can’t experience every single adventure your first time. There’s always next time.
