On the west side of Zion National Park, nestled deep in a valley beneath red rock and volcanic mesas lies one of Utah’s oldest and most famous ranches; the Sunset Canyon Ranch. Cradled in a region held most holy by the Native Americans, the 750 acre ranch was originally homesteaded by the Mormons as one of the largest produce farms in Utah. It has also been a lumber mill and at one time became a very unique tent city with over 200 residents, multiple taverns and two cat houses during the oil boom. Those who followed utilized the area for raising cattle and race horses, and also as a private game reserve. Two of the previous owners were famous game hunters who spent a great deal of time in both Africa and Alaska – and a special section was built onto the main house to contain the trophies. A few remain to this day.

Old, thick, white wooden planks edge pastures dotted with grazing animals. The meadows are surrounded by ancient cottonwoods on hillsides that drop to a meandering stream below --- a scene providing a pastoral feast for the eyes, a peaceful hum to the ears, and a sense of attunement with the earth in the heart. Horses, cows, a donkey, wild birds, dogs, cats, ponds with fish, wild coyotes and an ample supply of desert critters are constant reminders that we live at-one with all life upon this planet and every single life is precious and reverenced here. Since the ranch is bordered by both the national park and BLM land, its magic seems to extend forever.

The natural beauty combined with the rustic human elements makes for an attractive draw for the movie industry. The ranch has been used as a primary location for a number of full length movies and television series episodes. Its fame continued to spread with descriptions of the ranch contained in Angelina Heart’s award winning novel, The Teaching of Little Crow.

Current owners, Hank and Vickie Moyle and family are especially accommodating and friendly as they welcome you and yours to partake of the peaceful lifestyle in their enchanted private world. The Moyle’s have continued the tradition of raising cattle and race horses since 1992.

Located a quarter mile from the main house are three houses which they offer to a very select clientele who wish to have a private, peaceful interlude with the majesty of Zion without the bustle of thousands of tourists. They do not advertise and the majority of their clients are referrals and returns, for once having touched this type of peace, people love to return again and again.