Spooky Fall Adventures in East Zion

Fall is the perfect time to explore the spooky side of East Zion. With heart-pounding hikes and eerie ghost towns, there are plenty of spooky fall adventures to experience near Zion National Park!

Conquer Angels Landing

Photo: Mark Wade

Ready to conquer your fear of heights? Check out Angels Landing in Zion National Park. This thrilling trail features a series of 21 heart-pumping switchbacks known as Walter’s Wiggles. Brace yourself for the spine-tingling chained section, a narrow path with sheer drop-offs on both sides. The views from the top are unbeatable—if you dare to look down!

Permits are now required for the hike, but if you didn’t get one through the lottery or prefer a guided experience, East Zion Adventures offers guided hikes. Expert guides will ensure you have a safe and memorable experience on this iconic trail. Limited availability remains this fall, so don’t wait to book your spot!

Abandoned Mine Tour

If haunted hikes aren’t enough, how about an abandoned mine tour? Departing from Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, this tour takes you off-road to an old mining site just outside Zion National Park. A short .25-mile hike past antique mining equipment brings you to the mouth of the mine itself. Enter if you dare! Inside, you’ll find mine cart tracks and relics from the site’s historic past.

Explore Grafton Ghost Town

For a different kind of thrill, visit Grafton Ghost Town. Once a pioneer village established in 1859, Grafton faced numerous challenges, including floods and crop failures. By 1921, the town was completely abandoned, leaving behind remnants of its past.

As you walk past the empty buildings, you’ll sense the history of this eerie site. Grafton features an old schoolhouse, a barn, and a cemetery that tells the story of its former residents. It’s known as the most photographed ghost town in the West and has even served as a filming location for classic movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Visiting Grafton makes for an excellent day trip from Zion Ponderosa. Who’s ready to add this ghostly adventure, just seven miles from Zion Ponderosa, to their Zion itinerary?

Discover Jolley Gulch

If ghost stories pique your interest, make sure to check out Jolley Gulch. This scenic viewpoint tells the chilling tale of the Jolley family, who settled in East Zion in the early 1900s. 

Legend has it that if you stand at the edge of the gulch and feel the wind at your back, it’s Mr. Jolley trying to push you over. If the wind blows against your face, that’s his wife’s ghost trying to save you. Are you brave enough to visit this haunted spot? East Zion Adventures offers jeep and UTV tours that take you directly to Jolley Gulch—just ask us about it the next time you’re in the area!

Spooktacular Adventures Await

Whether you’re seeking exhilarating hikes or a fun fall getaway, East Zion Adventures and Zion Ponderosa have you covered. From the heights of Angels Landing to the ghostly remnants of Grafton and the eerie whispers of Jolley Gulch, your spooky fall adventures are waiting.