Zion National Park: Private Jeep Tour & Petroglyph Panels

Backcountry Jeep Roads Through Zion That Park Visitors Never Find

You're driven in a 2020 luxury Jeep Rubicon through backcountry roads that weave in and out of Zion, stopping at petroglyph rock art panels, mesa overlooks, and Grafton ghost town. Your local guide handles navigation and timing while you photograph panoramic vistas most park visitors miss. The tour includes bottled water and runs a full day from Springdale, returning the same way you came.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep tour of Zion National Park

• Pickup at Cliffrose Springdale
• Drive west on Highway 9 to Virgin
• Ascend Mesa Road toward Smith’s Mesa
• Stop at rock art panels and overlooks
• View West Temple and Zion vistas
• Continue to Kolob Terrace Road near Left Fork Trailhead
• Return to Cliffrose Springdale
• Optional 30-minute hike to petroglyph panels
• Visit Grafton Ghost Town
• Cross Historic Rockville Bridge to Highway 9
• Return to Cliffrose Springdale

The experience

The Jeep is already rolling west on Highway 9 when you realize you've left the main park behind. Your driver (someone who's lived in Southern Utah long enough to know which mesa roads open after rain and which overlooks catch the light at what hour) points out the West Temple rising across the valley, then takes a turn that isn't on any standard map. This is the thing about a private Jeep tour of Zion: the route itself is the difference. You're traveling in and out of the park's boundaries on backcountry roads, stopping at rock art panels and vistas that require knowing exactly where to go.

The day starts with pickup at Cliffrose in Springdale, then climbs toward Smith's Mesa Road, gaining elevation as the landscape opens up. Along the way there are several stops: overlooks where you can see down into Zion's canyons from angles the main park roads don't offer, and a chance to hike about 30 minutes to one of the largest petroglyph panels in the area, if you want to get out and walk. Your guide handles the route and the timing. You handle the camera. The backcountry Jeep takes the rougher terrain, which is why the views from inside the vehicle are so different from what you'd see on foot or from the shuttle.

After the mesa, the tour swings toward Grafton, one of the best-preserved ghost towns in America, then loops back to Springdale across the Historic Rockville Bridge. The whole day is structured around what you can actually see and photograph without spending hours on logistics. The Jeep does the driving, the guide knows the stops, and bottled water is included so you're not hunting for it between viewpoints. It's the kind of tour that works because someone local designed it, not because it sounds impressive on a website.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at Cliffrose Springdale.
• private 2020 Jeep Rubicon transportation.
• local professional guide.
• backcountry road access to Zion National Park viewpoints.
• stops at rock art petroglyph panels.
• optional 30-minute guided hike to the largest petroglyph panel in the area.
• Grafton ghost town visit.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• return transport to Springdale.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDepartures at 10:00 and 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 62 years) · Senior (63 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 9 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TOURZION

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Zion's backcountry and rock art without arranging your own high-clearance vehicle or navigating unmarked mesa roads: the Jeep and the guide's local knowledge handle both, which is what makes these viewpoints accessible in a single day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (2 to 9 years).

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.

Do I need a high-clearance vehicle to do this?

No. You ride in the Jeep. The guide drives. The 2020 Jeep Rubicon handles the backcountry roads, so you don't need your own vehicle or special driving skills.

Is the petroglyph hike mandatory?

No, it's optional. You can choose to hike the 30 minutes to see the rock art panel or stay with the vehicle at that stop.

What's included in the tour?

Pickup from Cliffrose Springdale, the Jeep ride, the guided route through backcountry roads and park areas, stops at overlooks and rock art, the ghost town visit, and bottled water.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour itself is suitable for all fitness levels since you're riding in the Jeep. The optional 30-minute hike to the petroglyph panel is the only hiking involved, and you can skip it.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What makes this different from a standard Zion tour?

The route uses backcountry mesa roads that take you in and out of the park, accessing viewpoints and rock art that aren't reachable on the main park roads or shuttle system. The guide's local knowledge determines which stops and overlooks you visit.