Luxury Glamping - Become One With Nature

I have always been an avid camper and outdoor enthusiast, and not the RV type. I actually enjoy roughing it in a tent on a paper thin mat, showering every few days, leaving the luxuries of home behind. Even 4-degree weather at night won’t stop me as long as there are views that last for days and nobody around for miles. Something about the tranquil solitude of nature always manages to heal my soul.

It never even bothered me that by week’s end, I’d come home with a rat’s nest for hair hidden under a ball cap, dirty broken nails, in desperate need of a shower and a huge smile on my face.

Perhaps spending childhood summers at my grandparent’s cabin in Southern Utah perched high atop strawberry cliffs inspired my love of camping.

The place was completely off grid, down dusty dirt roads - no electricity, no internet, no phone. Water came from a small tank out back that had to be conserved. However, what it didn’t lack was the most incredible views and priceless time with family.

Recently however, as often happens in life, I’ve had a complete shift in my way of thinking and to be honest, I may never go back to roughing it again.

You see, I have now discovered the joys of indulging in luxury glamping thanks to one of the most incredible places I’ve ever had the privilege to stay at… Open Sky Zion.

Open Sky Zion is located near the south entrance into Zion National Park. However, instead of being near the hustle and bustle of Springdale where most tourists spend time, it is located off-grid about 3-1/2 miles down a secluded dirt road, immersed in nature off the beaten track.

It’s nestled between mountains in a small valley of red rock, where at night the Milky Way lights the sky and by day, the only sound you will hear is the chirping of birds.

To describe this place as “glamping” doesn’t do it justice.

The hand-crafted African safari tent accommodations are artfully decorated with every detail accounted for. During your entire stay, you will be immersed in the solitude of nature while indulging in luxuries typically only found at 5-star resorts.

Start your morning off with a fresh brewed cup of coffee relaxing in a porch swing in your bath robe as the sun begins to peak up over the mountain tops. After spending hot and dusty afternoons hiking Zion, you can come home and rest your aching bones soaking in a tub in a bathroom with heated floors or in the private cedar hot tub out back (Superior Camps only). At night, have dinner delivered right to your doorstep, enjoy a glass of wine on the patio in the fresh night air or roast marshmallows over a fire pit while watching the moon rise. Best of all, when you lay your head down on your pillow at night, you will be looking up at the stars through skylights as they make their way across the sky above.

They call it “glamping” but this is luxury living that will rekindle your soul.

GETTING THERE

Open Sky Zion is conveniently located just 16 miles west of the south entrance to Zion National Park off UT-9 near Springdale. It is near Virgin about 45 minutes from the City of St. George.

From Zion National Park, take UT-9 heading northwest. Turn right onto Dalton Wash Road (left if coming from Vegas or St. George).

Open Sky Zion is about 3-1/2 miles down this dirt road which takes you past orchards and a farm. The road is well maintained and easy to navigate. There is no need for a 4-wheel drive to access it.

In the Spring, the yellow, red and purple wildflowers along the roadside are intoxicating especially if you are lucky enough to visit on a clear blue-sky day with billowing white clouds.

While driving to Open Sky, I stopped several times to take photos of the landscape and for nature sightings.

At one point, I witnessed a crow attacking a rather large snake slithering across the roadway. I’m pretty sure the snake owes me its life since I scared the bird away allowing it to make haste into the grasslands.

Another common sighting was hawks soaring above and little blue birds hopping along the ground and into the trees. One morning, I was forced to slow down for a meandering black and white patch work cow who didn’t seem to want to get out of the roadway - his buddies watching him unamused in the distance probably wondering what the heck he was doing.

CLOSEST AIRPORTS:

**Las Vegas Airport**

The closest airport to Open Sky Zion is Las Vegas.

Although I am not a fan of this airport by any stretch of the imagination, it is only a 2-1/2 hour drive. If you fly into Vegas, I highly recommend a quick detour through the windy roads of Valley of Fire State Park along the way. The fiery red rock is a sight worth seeing and it doesn’t add a whole lot of time to your trip.

**Salt Lake City Airport**

Another option is to fly into Salt Lake City. I find this airport much more palatable but it will add about 2 more hours to your drive.

**St. George Airport**

St. George Airport is a very small airport that primarily caters to small, private planes.

However, it is also served by SkyWest Airlines with code sharing flights operated on behalf of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The airport is definitely the most convenient given it’s only about a 45-minute drive to Open Sky, but it will cost more than commercial flights into Vegas and SLC.

AMENITIES

General

Open Sky Zion is located on private property that backs onto BLM land meaning the surrounding area will never be built on. This in turn means you will be surrounded by nature and silence during your stay.

The property includes 13 special-order safari tents built onto solid platforms where guests stay, an outdoor community area, and the main office tent which includes a gift shop and restaurant.

**Safari Tents**

Guest accommodations at Open Sky Zion are not your typical glamping tents.

The tents are high grade special-order safari tents from South Africa which block out the heat from the day and keep out the cool mountain air at night.

Each tent has a heating and air conditioning unit which quickly acclimates your tent to the perfect temperature.

One of my favorite things about the tents is how they are nestled into little pockets of privacy against the natural rock setting giving you the feeling that you are the only one there.

Whoever designed Open Sky must have been an avid outdoorsman as they are perfectly laid out for maximum privacy using the natural rock terrain to give you incredible views out of every window.

There are plenty of windows and skylights to allow the surrounding natural light and beauty to flood in.

The floors are made of hardwood and the décor is quite elegant.

You will forget you are even inside a tent as the accommodations are nicer than most hotel I’ve stayed at.

FAVORITE FEATURES & AMENITIES:

HIGHLIGHTS:

Room Service - Dinner Delivered to Your Door

S’more Kit Upon Arrival

Welcome Gift Basket with Snacks and Bottled Water
Yoga Mats
Heated Bathroom Floor

Indoor Fire Place
Outside Fire Pit and BBQ Grill with Utensils
Heat/AC

Daily Housekeeping (includes replenishment of water, coffee pods, etc.)
Blue Tooth Speaker
Free Wi-Fi that Works Great

KITCHENETTE:

Microwave
Refrigerator
Sink with Dish Towels and Dish Soap

Keurig Coffee Maker (premium tea, coffee and decaf pods restocked daily as well as creamer and sugar)
Coffee Cups, Wine Glasses, Paper Plates, Utensils, Wine Bottle Opener

Bottled Water (restocked daily)
Snack Basket Upon Arrival
Small Dining Table with Chairs

BATHROOM:

Indoor Dual Head Shower (outdoor shower as well)

Quality Toiletries Locally Sourced and Organic

Generous Amount of Luxury Towels

Bath Robes and Slippers
Heated Bathroom Tile Floor
Blow Dryer
Make-Up Mirror

OUTDOOR PATIO AREA:

Large Patio
Table and Chairs
Hot Tub (Superior Camps only)

Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Blankets For Cool Nights

Spacious Bright Interior
Fireplace
Luggage Rack & Area to Hang Clothes on Wood Hangers

Quality Bedding
Numerous Pillows
Extra Blankets

Skylights Above Beds for Night Sky Viewing (not all units)
Ultra Comfortable King Size Beds
Ample Outlets & Chargers

OTHER AMENTITIES & FEATURES:

Indoor dining area by front office. Continental breakfast served daily with coffee, tea, juices, yogurt, muffins, cereal, etc.

On-Site Restaurant serving dinner daily. The outdoor seating area has gas heaters for cool nights and if you prefer, they will deliver your dinner to your door! (*Glute free and vegetarian options available.)*

Swimming area with fire pits, outdoor heaters and plenty of seating. This is ideal for those summer days where temperatures can get quite hot.

Snacks, drinks and other items for sale in the front office including local artisan works and luxury toiletries.

Incredible friendly office staff knowledgeable about the area who can provide advice and information on things to see, what to do and where to eat

TIPS FOR VISITING

If you enjoy a drink at night, be sure to bring your own beer or a bottle of wine. Open Sky provides you with wine glasses and a bottle opener but does not sell alcohol on the premises.

Download a star gazing app on your phone before arrival so you can identify the planets and stars at night. While visiting, I was lucky enough to see Saturn and Mars every night in the constellations just above the horizon.

Plan a trip during a new moon. Although I’m usually an avid fan of camping during a full moon for night hiking, visiting Open Sky Zion during a new moon means you will experience a canopy of stars every night like you’ve never seen before.

Bring extra marshmallows and s’more makings. Open Sky provides you with a s’more kit upon arrival and although they were generous enough to supply me with extra marshmallows, you might want to bring extras. I also recommend mixing up your typical s’mores by using an Oreo cookies instead of graham crackers.

THINGS TO DO NEARBY

**Hike Near Open Sky**

Hike up the hillside behind Open Sky to Guacamole Trail for a great workout with rewarding views once you reach the top.

From Open Sky, I would estimate it is about 2 miles round trip to get up there and back. It is a gradual incline all the way up to the top but even a novice hiker can easily make it.

Bring your mountain bike with you during your stay or rent a bike so you can explore the 9.8 moderately challenging Guacamole Mountain Bike Trail that is located just a few minutes away from Open Sky.

Zion National Park

Take the shuttle into the valley to explore all that the national park has to offer.
Some of my favorite spots include the following:

Weeping Rock - Just a short hike to a beautiful area with lush hanging gardens. It’s a fascinating spot because the water you see dripping from the rock surfaces like tears has taken more than 1,000 years to percolate down through the porous, permeable Navajo sandstone.