Zion Horseback Ride: Sunset Trail & Checkerboard Cliffs

Watch Zion's Cliffs Burn Orange from the Back of a Horse

You arrive twenty minutes early to meet your horse and get sadded up, then ride for an hour through East Zion as the Checkerboard Cliffs turn orange and red in the sunset light. A certified guide leads a small group at a steady pace, stopping where the view is widest. You're back before dark, having seen the one thing that makes this time of day worth planning around.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset horseback ride at Zion

• Arrive 20 minutes early
• Meet your horse and saddle up
• Wear warm clothes and closed shoes
• Enjoy 1-hour trail ride
• Watch sunset over Zion cliffs

The experience

The sky is already turning when you arrive at the trailhead: that narrow window before the light goes soft and the Cliffs of Zion start to glow. You'll spend twenty minutes meeting your horse, checking the fit of the saddle, getting your hands around the reins. The guide walks you through the basics if you need it, keeps things moving because the sunset won't wait. Then you're off, one hour on the trail as the light shifts from gold to amber to that deep red-orange that only happens for maybe ten minutes before it's gone.

The Checkerboard formation rises up around you. Those geometric striations in the rock face that look almost carved by hand. From the saddle, the scale of it hits different than from the ground. Your horse knows the trail. The guide reads the light and the pace, stops you where the view opens up widest. You're not fighting the animal or gripping the reins tight. It's more like you're both just moving through the landscape together, watching the day end. The air gets cooler as the sun drops. Bring layers. Spring and fall especially, you'll want a wool or fleece top because the temperature swings fast once the sun's behind the ridge.

This is a one-hour ride, not a full day, which means it's built around one thing: catching that light. You arrive early, you meet your horse, you ride out, you watch the Cliffs change color, you come back. No long stretches of flat trail or loops through scrub. The guide is certified and knows where to position the group so everyone sees it. Horses are matched to riders. Weight limit is 220 pounds, no exceptions, and no double riders. Closed-toe shoes, moderate fitness level. You're sitting on a horse for an hour, not hiking, but you need to be able to mount, stay balanced, and move with the animal.

What’s included

Your ride includes a certified guide, a horse matched to your weight and experience level, saddle and reins, and one hour on the trail through East Zion as the light changes. You'll arrive twenty minutes early to meet your horse and get saddled up before heading out to catch the sunset over the Checkerboard Cliffs.

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, from US$ 105.09 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 20 Sep 20271 departing soon ›

GroupUp to 8 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Youth (8 to 11 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by East Zion Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Zion's Cliffs at their most dramatic moment without arranging your own horse, timing the light, or navigating the trail alone. The guide handles all three, which is what makes catching the sunset possible in a single hour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 11 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the weight limit for this ride?

220 pounds maximum. No exceptions, and no double riders.

How long is the actual ride?

One hour on the trail. Arrive twenty minutes early to meet your horse and get saddled up.

Do I need riding experience?

No. The guide will walk you through the basics. You need moderate fitness and the ability to mount and stay balanced in the saddle.

What should I wear?

Closed-toe shoes are required. Bring a warm wool or fleece top, especially in spring and fall: the temperature drops fast once the sun sets.

Is this suitable for first-time riders?

Yes, if you're in moderate physical condition and comfortable with horses. The guide handles the pacing and positioning.

What if the weather turns cold?

Layer up. The description notes it may be cold at certain times of year, so come prepared with warm clothing.

What's included in the price?

Certified guide, horse, saddle, and reins. The ride departs from the Zion Ponderosa area.