Leave behind city lights for the peaceful Red Knoll Hilltop with East Zion Adventures. Combine a rugged Jeep ride with guided stories of stars, mythology, and the solar system while sipping hot chocolate beneath the night sky.
Leave behind city lights for the peaceful Red Knoll Hilltop with East Zion Adventures. Combine a rugged Jeep ride with guided stories of stars, mythology, and the solar system while sipping hot chocolate beneath the night sky.
Book with East Zion Adventures
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by East Zion Adventures · Orderville, Utah
Located just outside Mt Carmel, Utah, East Zion Adventures offers a distinctive night under the stars with their High Country Stargazing & Jeep Ride. This 1.5-hour experience transports adventurers away from light pollution atop Red Knoll Hilltop, a quiet vantage point famed for its clear, sweeping night skies. Unlike typical stargazing hikes, this trip includes a rugged Jeep ride that delivers you directly to the viewing spot—no strenuous trekking required.
Red Knoll Hilltop stands as a rare calm in Utah’s high desert panorama, where the dark sky reveals constellations, planets, and occasional meteor streaks overhead. The landscape around offers a rugged contrast of sandstone formations and sparse desert flora characteristic of the region near Zion National Park. Although less famous than Zion’s iconic cliffs, this elevated location is prized for its seclusion and minimal light interference.
East Zion Adventures crafts a personalized experience with passionate local guides fluent in night sky lore and astronomy. Storytelling intertwines with scientific insight, touching on mythological origins of constellations and the workings of our solar system. As temperatures dip, guests are offered hot chocolate and cozy blankets, turning the outing into a comfortable, memorable event.
This adventure is a standout for visitors drawn to both scenic drives and night sky appreciation, combining Utah’s expansive wilderness with a touch of comfort and expert commentary rarely found elsewhere. It’s ideal for families, couples, or solo travelers eager to quiet their days with night’s vastness and learn under a kaleidoscope of stars. For those lodging in nearby Orderville or St. George, this trip offers an accessible escape into a darker sky just minutes from civilization.
easy.
1.5 hours.
Minimal physical exertion required; suitable for all fitness levels including children and older adults.
No hiking is required; the Jeep will drive you directly to the stargazing spot.
Guests aged 3 and older are welcome, making it family-friendly.
There are no restroom facilities at Red Knoll Hilltop, so plan accordingly.
Bring warm clothing, a blanket, a red light headlamp, water, and closed-toed shoes.
While the Jeep ride minimizes walking, the terrain is uneven, and there are no seats or facilities at the site.
No refunds are provided within 24 hours of the tour departure.
Mt Carmel and the surrounding area have deep ties to early Mormon pioneer routes and are located near Zion National Park, established in 1919.
East Zion Adventures focuses on low-impact outings that respect the fragile high desert ecosystem by limiting group sizes and avoiding light pollution.
East Zion Adventures is a Mount Carmel, Utah–based outdoor operator offering guided backcountry tours and shuttle services focused on the East Zion corridor of Zion National Park. The company provides a mix of Jeep tours, UTV driving experiences, guided sunset hikes, and convenient shuttle connections from nearby resort properties. Signature offerings include the Pink Sands Sunset Jeep Tour and Pink Sands Jeep Tour (which includes a stop at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary), the Diana's Throne UTV Adventure featuring a customized 2022 Can-am Maverick, the Zion Sunset Jeep Tour to the Pine Knoll summit, the Top of the World Sunset Jeep Tour (adults-only), the Zion Mountain Sunset Jeep Tour, an easy Sunset Guided Hike, and shuttle services from Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort and Zion Mountain Ranch, plus Observation Point and Cable Mountain shuttle options. Guides provide safety briefings, helmet communication on UTV departures, guided narration about local geology and viewpoints such as The Beehive, the Escalante Grand Staircase, and Parunuweap Canyon, and curated photo stops at sunset viewpoints. Tours stage from Mount Carmel with pickup and drop-off at designated resort flagpoles where applicable. Third-party reviews and resort partnerships help visitors choose the right experience, while local guides offer area knowledge for a reliable, memorable East Zion outing. Booking is available online and through partner resorts for real-time availability and reservations, and customer support available.
Book with East Zion Adventures