Moderate · 2.5 / 4 / 6.5 hours
East Zion UTV + Slot Canyon Canyoneering
Open-air UTV into private backcountry, then guided rappels into a hidden slot canyon. Kids 5+.
Guided Adventure
Zion Helicopter Scenic Flight
Lift off into the airspace surrounding (not over) Zion — Kolob Canyons, Smith Mesa, Red Butte Mountain, with the 90-minute version reaching Bryce.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 20 / 30 / 50 / 90 min
- From the lodge
- ~30 min to heliport in Virgin
- Type
- Aerial tour
FAA rules prohibit civilian helicopters from flying directly over Zion National Park, so what you're really buying is the airspace just outside it — and that turns out to be the better view. The standard 30-minute tour banks over Smith Mesa, threads the slot canyons of Kolob Terrace, and circles back past Red Butte and Pine Valley with the Towers of the Virgin in the side window.
The 50-minute version adds the Kolob Canyons fingers and the Eagle Crags. The 90-minute Grand Tour reaches Bryce Canyon's amphitheater, hovers (briefly) over the hoodoos, and returns via Zion's east side. It's the price of a nice dinner for both, and there's no better way to actually understand the geometry of the geology.
Windows of calm wind matter. Morning flights from May through October are most reliable; mid-afternoon thermals can produce bumpier rides. Bring sunglasses (windows reflect), strap your phone to your wrist, and don't eat a heavy breakfast.
Before you go
- Booking is weather-dependent — operators cancel and reschedule for high winds
- Heavy breakfasts before flights are a bad idea — banking turns are sharper than commercial flight
- Children under 2 fly free on adult lap; ages 2-12 are full-price for their seat
Pair it with
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Ready for your zion helicopter scenic flight day?
Book your cabin and discover the area at your own pace. The trails start at the door.