Open Sky

Zion National Park, Utah

THE PERSONALITIES

Desert wanderers. Stargazers. Photographers. Writers. Solitude-lovers.

MOMENTS

Red rock cathedrals catching fire at sunset. Endless stargazing in pitch-dark skies. Mornings spent sipping coffee on your private deck, wrapped in silence. Wandering canyons and mesa tops with no one else in sight. Firepits and storytelling. That moment when nature feels closer than your thoughts. Slow travel, dialed to desert time.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

With over 300 days of sunshine each year, Open Sky Zion is a year-round sanctuary. Each season brings its own rhythm, palette, and sense of wonder — all experienced from the comfort of climate-controlled, heated and air-conditioned tents that offer year-round luxury beneath the desert sky.

SPRING (March – May)
Wildflowers bloom in technicolor bursts across the high desert. Daytime temperatures are ideal for hiking, hovering in the 60s to 80s°F, while evenings remain crisp. Zion's river runs strong, waterfalls cascade from red cliffs, and trails like The Narrows and Angels Landing are accessible without summer’s heat. This is the season for renewal, clarity, and long days outdoors.

SUMMER (June – August)
Warm days stretch into golden evenings, perfect for stargazing and slow mornings in the shade. While midday temperatures can climb into the 90s and beyond, early mornings and late afternoons offer sublime light and fewer crowds. Take refreshing dips in nearby lakes, retreat to your air-conditioned tent, or explore Zion’s higher elevation trails. Nights are warm and alive with the Milky Way above.

FALL (September – November)
Arguably the best time to visit. Cooler temperatures return (ranging from the 50s to 80s°F), and cottonwoods along Zion’s rivers turn brilliant yellow. The desert breathes deeper, and so will you. Trails are alive, wildlife is active, and sunsets stretch longer. It’s a season of calm, reflection, and awe.

WINTER (December – February)
The desert slows down, and peace takes over. Snow occasionally dusts the red cliffs, creating surreal contrasts. Crowds disappear. It’s a time for solitude, cozy fires, and stillness. While Zion’s main canyon remains accessible, the quieter season invites you to hike uncrowded trails, watch for deer and bighorn sheep, and experience the landscape in its most meditative state.

COST

WHY STAY

Perched on the cusp of Zion National Park in southern Utah, Open Sky is a landscape hotel folded into the red rock stillness of the high desert. The terrain is cinematic — sandstone cliffs catching the first light, juniper-covered mesas, and winding riverbeds carved in rust and rose. This is canyon country, shaped by wind, water, and time. With 300 days of sunshine and direct access to Zion’s quieter corners, Open Sky offers a rare kind of access — to land that still feels wild.

This is glamping elevated. Each luxury camp is a private retreat, thoughtfully designed to blend rugged wilderness with boutique comfort. Heated tile floors, L’Occitane toiletries, air conditioning, and king-size beds with high-thread-count linens come standard, while some camps add private hot tubs or outdoor showers with panoramic desert views. Interiors are layered with texture and intention: from curated snack baskets and Keurig coffee stations to indoor fireplaces and fire pits for starlit storytelling.

What sets Open Sky apart is its immersive design and deep sense of place. Wake slowly with canyon light streaming through your windows. Spend your days hiking the red-rock trails of Zion, paddleboarding nearby state parks, or simply reading in a hammock under the cottonwoods. Evenings end around a fire pit, s’mores in hand, as the sky turns indigo and stars arrive in their millions.

WHY WANDER

Greater Zion is a place of ancient drama and infinite possibility; where desert mesas meet alpine forests, and sandstone cliffs hold stories in every curve. At Open Sky, you’re not just near this sacred landscape — you’re woven into it. As your adventure base camp, Open Sky offers easy access to both iconic landmarks and hidden corners of Southern Utah. The team curates experiences that go beyond sightseeing: private hikes into lesser-known canyons, yoga on mesa tops at sunrise, stargazing tours under vast desert skies, and guided day trips to the surreal amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon.

Zion National Park is just 16 miles away, and it’s yours to explore — whether you’re scaling the heights of Angels Landing, wading through The Narrows, or finding solitude on a hidden trail that begins right above camp. No crowds. Just red rock silence.

Beyond Zion, the landscape opens even wider. Paddle through turquoise waters at Sand Hollow or Quail Creek. Walk lava tubes in Snow Canyon. Discover cascading desert oases like Toquerville Falls and Kanarraville Falls. Ride the Guacamole Bike Trail perched above the lodge. And don’t miss the Utah Wine Trail, where volcanic soil and alpine air produce surprising local vintages.

Wherever you roam, the desert is your cathedral.

INDULGE IN

Every stay begins with a nourishing breakfast: seasonal fruit, yogurt, fresh eggs, locally made muffins and breakfast sandwiches.

Black Sage, Open Sky’s onsite restaurant, is carved gently into the native sagebrush, offering award-winning views of Zion’s dramatic cliffs while delivering an elevated take on seasonal comfort food. The new menu highlights dishes like Burrata with grilled peaches, mushroom carbonara, elk tenderloin, and Utah trout seared simply over flame — each plate rooted in local ingredients and desert inspiration. Meals here are intimate and unhurried, shaped by the rhythm of the land.

Just minutes from Open Sky, Springdale offers an emerging food and drink scene for guests to explore. It’s an easy spot to grab an ice cream, visit the local winery for a tasting, stop by the brewpub for a drink, or pick up a fresh pastry from one of the town’s bakeries. Depending on the season, you might also catch some live music or small events happening around town.

GETTING THERE

Fly into St. George Regional Airport (SGU) for the quickest access. Alternatively, land in Las Vegas and enjoy a scenic 2.5-hour drive, or arrive via Salt Lake City for a longer journey through Utah’s awe-inspiring landscapes. From Virgin, Utah, follow Dalton Wash Road for 10 minutes to Open Sky’s gated entry.

WILD INITIATIVES

Open Sky is a statement toward wild beauty, slow off-grid living, and the stewardship of sacred land.

Landscape-First Design
Each luxury camp rises lightly from the desert floor, preserving native vegetation, respecting wildlife corridors, and allowing the terrain to breathe.

Water Stewardship
In a region where water is precious, every drop counts. Open Sky employs native xeriscaping — rainwater is respected, runoff is managed naturally, and nearby water sources are carefully protected.

Native Plant Preservation
The grounds are a love letter to Southern Utah’s ecology. Instead of lawns or ornamentals, guests move through a thriving desert garden of prickly pear, cliffrose, and creosote — rewilded and tended to support native pollinators and biodiversity.

Solar-Powered Living
The sun — fierce and ever-present — powers a significant portion of the property. Solar energy supports lighting, climate control, and on-site transportation, allowing guests to experience comfort in harmony with the environment.

Low-Impact Materials
From sustainably sourced woods to luxury linens and earth-toned finishes, every detail is chosen with intention. Local artisans contribute where possible, weaving craft and place into each structure.

Dark Skies
Open Sky is proud to operate within a certified Dark Sky region — meaning guests don’t just sleep under the stars, they see them. Outdoor lighting is minimal, warm-toned, and downward-facing to protect nocturnal wildlife and preserve the celestial show overhead. Guests are invited to reconnect with the night through stargazing experiences, guided astronomy, or simply stepping outside in silence.

Leave No Trace Hospitality
Guests are invited to participate in Open Sky’s ethos — with curated regenerative experiences, sustainable amenities, and gentle reminders that beauty is worth protecting.

Photos property of Open Sky Zion