Orderville: East Zion Slot Canyons Award-Winning UTV Tour

East Zion’s Upper and Lower Red Cave Slot Canyons give this two-hour outing its real purpose. You ride a Can-Am UTV over rough ground, step out near the canyon entrance, and walk about a quarter mile through narrow red-rock formations before riding back to Orderville.

I like two things here: your guide does the driving, so you can watch the scenery and take in the rough ride, and the short canyon walk makes the outing manageable for many ages. Guides such as Ted, Jack, Deanna, and Denis have been praised for local knowledge and helpful photo advice. The main drawback is that the UTV route may feel less exciting than the canyon itself, and the rock formations may look more dramatic in photos than they do in person.

Key points before you book

• Two slot canyons in two hours: You visit the Upper and Lower Red Cave areas without committing to a full-day hike.
• Guide-driven Can-Am UTV: You ride with a guide rather than operating the vehicle yourself.
• Short walk, real scenery: The canyon portion covers about 0.25 miles and includes unusual rock shapes and red colors.
• Strong guide service: Ted, Jack, Deanna, and Denis have been singled out for fun commentary, area knowledge, and photo help.
• Bring the right gear: Hiking shoes and a camera are recommended. Goggles and neck gaiters cost extra or are not included.
• Good value for a short outing: At $104 per person, the price makes the most sense if you want both off-road transport and a slot canyon visit in one compact trip.

Starting beside Highway 89 in Orderville

You meet at the ROAM East Zion storefront just off Highway 89. It shares a parking lot with Archies Food to Die For food truck and sits next door to East Zion Resort, so the location is fairly easy to identify once you reach Orderville.

Give yourself enough time to find the storefront and get ready. The tour lasts two hours, but the clock begins with the scheduled departure, not with a leisurely search for the meeting point. You should also remember that this area uses Mountain Standard Time. Las Vegas and Arizona are one hour different, so check your watch carefully if you are driving in from either direction.

The tour includes water, a guide, and the UTV ride. Bring a camera and hiking shoes. The supplied information does not promise lockers, changing facilities, or a place to store loose items, so keep your personal gear simple and secure.

The Can-Am UTV ride into East Zion

The main transport is a guide-driven Can-Am UTV. You are not handed the keys, and that is an advantage for many people. You can concentrate on the views, the vehicle’s movement over rough ground, and the commentary instead of managing the route.

Expect an off-road ride rather than a smooth shuttle. The rugged approach is part of the attraction, but it is also where expectations matter. One experience felt the ride to and from the canyon could have offered more excitement and more sights. If you are choosing this mainly for a long, wild motor adventure, two hours may feel brief.

I see the UTV as a practical link between two experiences. It gets you toward a remote canyon entrance without asking you to make a long approach hike, then returns you after the walk. That is useful for families and mixed-age groups, or for anyone who wants red-rock scenery without signing up for a demanding day outdoors.

Your guide also sets the tone. Ted was praised for finding good spots and quieter places, while Jack was credited with making the trip especially enjoyable. Deanna added historical and geological information and helped with phone photography. Denis was also praised for driving and guiding around the slot canyons. Guide assignments can change, but these comments point to the value of an engaged guide rather than just a driver.

Reaching the Upper and Lower Red Cave Slot Canyons

The road leads through rugged East Zion terrain toward the canyon entrance. The supplied details do not give a full list of roadside stops, so think of the approach as a scenic transfer with off-road motion, not as a series of formal viewpoints.

The reward comes when you leave the UTV and begin the walking portion. You cover approximately 0.25 miles through the Upper and Lower Red Cave Slot Canyons. That distance is short, but the setting changes the pace. You slow down to look at the walls, study the shapes, and frame photographs.

Slot canyons are built for close viewing. Instead of a wide overlook, you get rock surfaces, shadows, curves, and changing bands of color at eye level. The photos supplied with tours of this kind can make every wall look polished and dramatic, so keep your expectations grounded. One person found the canyons less striking in person than in pictures, though still considered the visit worthwhile.

That is a fair warning, not a reason to skip the stop. The canyon is a geological sight best understood by being inside it. The short route also means you are not spending most of the tour marching toward the feature you came to see.

Why the short canyon walk works

At roughly a quarter mile, the walk is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You get time to see the formations without needing advanced hiking ability, and you still retain enough time for the ride in both directions.

The tour is described as suitable for adventurers of all ages, but that does not mean every person will find the rough ride or uneven canyon ground comfortable. Hiking shoes are the sensible choice. Pregnant women and people with back problems should not book this experience.

The guide may help you make more of the short route. Deanna was praised for explaining the area’s geology and history, then helping set up good phone photos. Denis was also praised for guiding visitors through the slots. Ask your guide for suggestions if you want stronger pictures, especially when the rock walls look similar at first glance.

A useful photo tip from the experience is to use the panorama setting vertically. Slot canyon walls rise above you, so a vertical panorama can capture more of the shape than a standard horizontal phone photo. Bring a camera, but do not forget that your phone may be the easiest tool to use in the narrow spaces.

Color, texture, and photo opportunities

The Red Cave formations are the visual center of the tour. You can expect unusual shapes and strong red tones, though the exact look will depend on light and your position inside the canyon.

I would plan to take both wide views and close details. Wide shots show the scale of the walls, while close images can pick up curves and layers in the stone. Your guide may know where to pause for a better frame, which is especially useful if you are traveling with a phone rather than a larger camera.

Do not judge the site only by a few dramatic images online. Photos often emphasize the best angle, the strongest light, and the most sculpted wall. In person, you may find some parts quieter or less striking. The value is in seeing the formations from several angles and pairing that walk with the UTV approach.

The tour can also work well for people who want pictures without spending hours on a major hiking route. You have enough time to compose shots, but the schedule is compact enough to fit around other East Zion plans.

Guide commentary can change the quality of the trip

A guide is included, and the strongest experiences appear to come when the guide adds more than directions. Deanna’s explanations covered both geology and local history, while Ted was praised for taking people to good spots and giving them some space to enjoy the setting.

That matters because a slot canyon can be easy to photograph but harder to understand. A short explanation of how the rock formed, why the walls have their shape, or what you are seeing in the surrounding area gives the stop more meaning.

The experience is conducted in English. If you enjoy asking questions, use the ride time for that. The available information does not promise a set commentary program, a particular number of stops, or a guaranteed guide, so the amount of explanation may vary from one departure to another.

It is also worth budgeting for a tip if your guide gives you helpful photo assistance or adds strong local context. One past participant specifically advised remembering the guide in this way.

Price, time, and what you receive for $104

The price is $104 per person for two hours. That is not the cheapest way to see a red-rock formation, but you are paying for more than a walk. The cost includes the guide, guide-driven UTV transportation, and water.

I think the value is strongest for three types of people. First, you want a short activity that combines transport and scenery. Second, you prefer not to drive an off-road vehicle yourself. Third, you want to reach a slot canyon without spending a large part of the day hiking to it.

The value is less convincing if your main goal is an extended UTV ride. The route to and from the canyon may feel tame to someone seeking constant action, and the full activity ends after two hours. It is also not the right pick if you want a long, strenuous canyon hike.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your East Zion schedule is still shifting. Check the available start times when booking, since departure times are not fixed in the information provided.

What to bring and what not to expect

Pack hiking shoes and a camera. Water is included, so you do not need to buy a bottle for the tour, though you may still want to bring personal items that suit your day in the desert.

Goggles and neck gaiters are not included. Because this is an off-road UTV outing, you may prefer to arrange those items if dust or blowing grit bothers you. The supplied details do not say that they are required, only that they are not part of the included package.

Wear clothing you can move in and do not bring anything fragile that cannot be secured. The tour provider does not list personal expenses as included, so plan to pay separately for food, gear, tips, or other purchases.

The most important health note is clear: this activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems. The guide-driven format removes the need to operate the UTV, but it does not remove the movement of an off-road ride.

Who will enjoy this East Zion outing

I would recommend this for families, couples, and small groups looking for a manageable outdoor activity near Orderville. It gives you a taste of off-road travel and a short canyon walk without requiring a full day.

It also suits photographers who like strong rock shapes and want help finding good phone angles. The vertical panorama suggestion is simple but useful, and a guide such as Deanna may add both shooting advice and context about the rock.

This is less suited to someone seeking solitude, a long hike, or a high-adrenaline motor tour from start to finish. The tour is guided, time-limited, and centered on a particular canyon area. One person wanted more excitement and more sights along the ride, so I would choose a different activity if the vehicle portion is your top priority.

The rating of 4.9 from 35 reviews reflects a very strong overall response, with repeated praise for the guides, the canyon views, and the value. Still, the less favorable experience is useful: the ride may not thrill everyone, and the actual formations may not match the most flattering photographs.

Should you book the Red Cave UTV tour?

Book it if you want an efficient East Zion outing that pairs a guide-driven Can-Am UTV ride with two slot canyons. At $104, the package makes sense when you value convenience, guide commentary, photo help, and a short walk more than a long day in the backcountry.

I would especially choose it for a first look at East Zion, a family group with mixed energy levels, or anyone who wants a canyon visit without a lengthy approach. Bring hiking shoes, use a vertical panorama for phone photos, and keep your expectations realistic about the ride.

Skip it if you have back problems, are pregnant, or want a full-length off-road thrill. For everyone else, this is a compact and appealing way to see the Upper and Lower Red Cave Slot Canyons, with the guide quality likely to shape how much you get from the two-hour trip.

FAQ

How long is the East Zion UTV tour?

The activity lasts two hours, including the UTV ride to and from the canyon area and the walk through the Upper and Lower Red Cave Slot Canyons.

How far do you walk during the tour?

You walk approximately 0.25 miles through the slot canyons.

Who drives the Can-Am UTV?

The tour is guide-driven. A guide operates the Can-Am UTV while you ride along.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the guide, the UTV tour, and water.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera and hiking shoes. Goggles and neck gaiters are not included.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

The experience is described as suitable for adventurers of all ages, but it is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems. The tour is conducted in English.