Most people arrive at Zen Nest thinking they’ll spend the whole trip at the property. They’re not wrong, the compound has a way of making the outside world feel optional. But when the urge to explore hits, Southern Utah delivers in a way that almost no other region in the country can match.
The difference here is that you’re not driving 2 hours to get somewhere. From Zen Nest’s door, the best of the region is 10 to 30 minutes away. You go. You come back. You’re in the hot tub by 5pm. Here’s your 48-hour playbook.
Day 1 Morning — Strawberry Point (15 min)
Start early. Drive 15 minutes to Strawberry Point and you’ll understand why locals consider it one of the most underrated viewpoints in Utah. At over 9,000 feet, you’re looking out over a vast canyon system that stretches to the horizon, no guardrails, no crowds, no entrance fee. The kind of view that recalibrates your sense of scale.
Go before 9am. The light is softer, the air is colder, and you’ll likely have it to yourself.
Day 1 Midday — Duck Creek Village & ATV Trails (5 min)
Back at Duck Creek Village, rent ATVs or UTVs from one of the local outfitters. Hundreds of miles of trails wind through alpine forests, lava fields, and ridge lines with views that would cost you a helicopter tour anywhere else. No experience required — the terrain is accessible and the local guides know the best routes for your group size.
If off-roading isn’t the move, the Virgin Rim Trail offers a quieter hike through pine and aspen with consistent views of the Pink Cliffs below.
Day 1 Afternoon — Navajo Lake (10 min)
Ten minutes from Zen Nest, Navajo Lake sits at 9,000 feet and feeds into lava tubes that drain underground rather than into streams, a geological quirk that makes it one of the stranger and more beautiful lakes in the region. Kayak rentals are available nearby. The fishing is good. The water is cold. The scenery is the kind you take a photo of and then put your phone away.
Day 1 Evening — Back at Zen Nest
This is the part you don’t plan. Someone fires up the pizza oven. Someone else finds the wine. The hot tubs fill up as the sun drops behind the canyon. The Milky Way appears by 10pm with zero light pollution. Nobody’s going anywhere.
Day 2 Morning — Cedar Breaks National Monument (25 min)
Cedar Breaks is Bryce Canyon’s quieter, less-visited cousin and arguably more striking in the early morning light. The amphitheater drops 2,000 feet from the rim, filled with hoodoos in shades of orange, red, and purple that shift as the sun rises. The drive from Zen Nest takes 25 minutes. Most guests who go say they should have gone twice.
Day 2 Midday — Cascade Falls Trail (20 min)
A 1.5-mile round trip that drops into a canyon and ends at a waterfall emerging directly from a lava field. Short enough for the whole group, surprising enough that everyone talks about it. Bring water. The trail starts at the Duck Creek Campground trailhead.
Day 2 Afternoon — Back to the compound
At this point, you’ve earned the afternoon. The sauna and cold plunge are there for a reason. So is the game room. So is the deck at golden hour.
Practical notes before you go: the nearest grocery store is about 40 minutes away in Cedar City, stock up before you arrive. Cell service in Duck Creek Village is limited; download offline maps. Most ATV rentals book out in advance during peak season (June–September) reserve before your trip.
→ Zen Nest is open May 1 – November 30. 2027 reservations are now open → TheZenNest.com
