THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Explore dinosaur tracks, authentic petroglyphs and wide-open viewpoints on a six-hour guided loop across Gooseberry and Wire Mesa. Short hikes and easy dirt roads make this a photo-rich outing with geological and cultural highlights.
Explore dinosaur tracks, authentic petroglyphs and wide-open viewpoints on a six-hour guided loop across Gooseberry and Wire Mesa. Short hikes and easy dirt roads make this a photo-rich outing with geological and cultural highlights.
You crest a low red bench of sandstone and the valley opens — Zion's cliffs sit distant and aluminum-blue, while the trail underfoot crunches with desert grit. The morning light turns the mesas incandescent; a guide points out a shallow trough in the rock and you suddenly see the fossilized impression of a dinosaur step, a tiny echo of a prehistoric march.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Land Beyond Zion Tours · Hurricane, Utah
You crest a low red bench of sandstone and the valley opens — Zion's cliffs sit distant and aluminum-blue, while the trail underfoot crunches with desert grit. The morning light turns the mesas incandescent; a guide points out a shallow trough in the rock and you suddenly see the fossilized impression of a dinosaur step, a tiny echo of a prehistoric march.
This route threads two nearby public areas outside Zion: the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and the exposed benches of Gooseberry and Wire Mesa. Geologically you’ll pass Navajo Sandstone layers shaped by ancient dunes and wind-polished surfaces where dinosaur tracks survive as natural castings. Cultural traces—the petroglyph panels etched by Southern Paiute ancestors and later peoples—offer direct human connection to the landscape.
Walks here are short but rewarding: 10–30 minute hikes on well‑established dirt trails and compact sandstone slickrock that demand steady footing but little route‑finding. Expect desert shrub, pinyon-juniper outcrops, and expansive viewpoints ideal for panoramic photos of Zion's western rims.
Practical guidance: travel on a short 4x4 dirt spur to trailheads, wear supportive shoes with good traction, carry 2+ liters of water, and time outings for morning or late afternoon to avoid peak heat and harsh light. Dogs are allowed on this tour; service animals are accepted. Respect petroglyph panels—do not touch—and follow Leave No Trace for fragile desert soils. With moderate fitness and simple preparation, this combined driving-and-hiking tour makes archaeology, paleontology and grand vistas accessible in a single six‑hour loop.
moderate.
6 hours.
Moderate — able to hike 15–30 minutes on uneven terrain and handle short elevation changes
Yes — this tour is dog friendly; handlers should keep dogs leashed and bring water and waste bags.
Most hikes are short (15–30 minutes) on established dirt or slickrock trails and are suitable for beginners with moderate fitness.
The tour uses a short 4x4 dirt spur; the operator provides transport from Hurricane, so guests don't need their own 4x4.
Admission to Zion National Park proper may require a fee, but the specific mesas and conservation areas visited are generally on public land—confirm with the operator if Zion entry is part of your itinerary.
Petroglyphs in the region are attributed to Southern Paiute people and earlier inhabitants; the mesas also preserve footprints from Mesozoic reptiles in well-cemented sandstone layers.
These sites are sensitive: petroglyphs, tracks and cryptobiotic soils are non-renewable—stay on durable surfaces, avoid touching rock art, and pack out all waste.
Land Beyond Zion Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You crest a low red bench of sandstone and the valley opens — Zion's cliffs sit distant and aluminum-blue, while the trail underfoot crunches with desert grit. The morning light turns the mesas incandescent; a guide points out a shallow trough in the rock and you suddenly see the fossilized impression of a dinosaur step, a tiny echo of a prehistoric march.
You crest a low red bench of sandstone and the valley opens — Zion's cliffs sit distant and aluminum-blue, while the trail underfoot crunches with desert grit. The morning light turns the mesas incandescent; a guide points out a shallow trough in the rock and you suddenly see the fossilized impression of a dinosaur step, a tiny echo of a prehistoric march.
This route threads two nearby public areas outside Zion: the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and the exposed benches of Gooseberry and Wire Mesa. Geologically you’ll pass Navajo Sandstone layers shaped by ancient dunes and wind-polished surfaces where dinosaur tracks survive as natural castings. Cultural traces—the petroglyph panels etched by Southern Paiute ancestors and later peoples—offer direct human connection to the landscape.
Walks here are short but rewarding: 10–30 minute hikes on well‑established dirt trails and compact sandstone slickrock that demand steady footing but little route‑finding. Expect desert shrub, pinyon-juniper outcrops, and expansive viewpoints ideal for panoramic photos of Zion's western rims.
Practical guidance: travel on a short 4x4 dirt spur to trailheads, wear supportive shoes with good traction, carry 2+ liters of water, and time outings for morning or late afternoon to avoid peak heat and harsh light. Dogs are allowed on this tour; service animals are accepted. Respect petroglyph panels—do not touch—and follow Leave No Trace for fragile desert soils. With moderate fitness and simple preparation, this combined driving-and-hiking tour makes archaeology, paleontology and grand vistas accessible in a single six‑hour loop.