FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your booking is 100% refundable up to 48 hours in advance. We do not provide refunds for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance of your scheduled tour. We provide 100% refund if we cannot complete the tour due to weather or any other reason. Cancellation and refunds must be requested by email.
For our Zion National Park night sky tours, start times always begin meeting just after, or around sunset, unless notified otherwise. Times are listed under the bookings under our Book Now tab. You will receive an email confirmation with the Zion Stargazing tour start time, and then a follow-up email or text from staff about final reminders and logistics prior to your trip.
Please note that tour times can change on the day of the tour due to weather, special night sky events, and times for astronomical twilight and darkness. The duration of this Zion guided tour is approximately 2 hours.
If the weather does not cooperate on your scheduled night we will attempt to reschedule your experience. Back up dates are on a space available basis. We do not guarantee back up dates. If we cannot get you rescheduled we will provide a 100 percent refund.
Please note that this experience is weather dependent. Cloud cover and other inclement weather determines if we are able to operate. Our team meets daily at 12pm MST to review the radar and forecast for the evening. In the event that the weather is uncertain or does not cooperate the day of your tour, we notify guests no later than 3pm MST, or often earlier the day of. Weather shifts quickly out here in the desert and we do our best to ensure an enjoyable experience.Â
Yes! On evenings with the full moon, we are still able to view planets, stars, and deep space objects with our telescopes. The moon's brightness does impact the amount of stars we see compared to a completely dark night, but often times it is still more stars than what most people are able to view at home in a city. When it is a full moon, we also spend some time looking at the moon up-close with our telescopes. Stargazing near Zion during the full moon is still an incredible experience to discover the universe!
We are located in one of the best places in Utah for stargazing! A remote area on private property near the western boundary of Zion National Park. We do not provide transportation, so all guests need to drive their own vehicles to our meeting location.
Our Zion Stargazing tours begin with meeting at the Lambs Knoll Climbing BLM Site parking lot, just off Kolob Terrace Road. We are about 30 minutes from Springdale, 30 minutes from Hurricane, 50 minutes from St. George, 20 minutes from La Verkin, and 15 minutes from Virgin. Kanab is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from our location.
Directions are included in your booking confirmation email, and again in your booking reminder email. Our guides walk you from the parking lot about 10 minutes to our observation site.
There is one restroom option during our tours. At the meeting spot is a portable toilet that is accessible prior to our departure, or on our return. Keep in mind that the walk to and from the observation site is about 10 minutes.
Comfortable clothing is key for a positive stargazing experience in the Utah desert. With tours being in the evening at nearly 6,000 feet of elevation, we recommend long pants, closed-toed shoes, and a jacket. Always be prepared for chilly weather in Zion. In the Summer a light jacket and long pants are appropriate. Gloves and warm hats are highly recommended from April though May, and September through October. Wear flat shoes as our observing site is on a sandy field. We have blankets and chairs for everyone.
Our location is on private property. You may bring your own beverages and food. We do provide hot chocolate, coffee and tea.
Smoking is prohibited at our location. Fire danger in the desert is very real and we ask that you be a good steward of our environment and keep our community safe.
Please leave no trace.
We provide hot water for hot chocolate, coffee and teas. You are also welcome to bring your own beverages.
Our experience requires walking on sandy dirt, and sitting and standing to look through the eyepiece of the telescope. Some objects require a short step ladder. We are not considered handicap accessible due to the nature of our experience.
We love pets but out of respect for our guests who might not like pets we do not allow pets on our tour.
In addition, the desert is very unforgiving to domestic pets. Especially at night when most of the nocturnal predators are active.
Due to being a small business, our operations accommodate a minimum of at least 4 guests, and a maximum of 18 guests for reservations. Our tours are designed for intimate gatherings under the night sky to allow individuals a truly special experience. If you wish to book a private tour, or groups larger than 18, please contact us directly at info@stargazingzion.com.