Choose Your Own Adventure

Recreation plus relaxation equals options, options, options at Red Mountain Spa

The words “adventure” and “spa” rarely unite. At Red Mountain Spa, it’s hard to separate the two. Whether you’re seeking solitude or sports, spiritual sanctuary or spa pampering, the southern Utah sky — perfectly accented by red rock cliffs — is the limit.

After a 3.5-hour drive from Provo, Red Mountain Spa’s adobe-style villas come into view just before the mouth of Snow Canyon State Park. An initial walk around the spa’s property gives a hint of the paradise that awaits — hiking boots, workout gear and swimsuits are standard apparel, inviting hammocks dot the sprawling landscape, and the smell of fresh, natural gourmet cuisine is in the air. This desert hideaway is the perfect rejuvenation for body, mind and soul.

Exercise your options
During one day at Red Mountain Spa, more than a dozen health and fitness classes are offered. Start with an early morning trekker hike. Varied distances, intensity and fitness levels are accommodated, and the hikes rotate daily through more than 30 trails, so you’ll have a new experience each time. One morning’s Trekker 2 hike might take you through slot canyons and slickrock, and the next day’s adventure could be among black lava bed gardens and desert flora.

Post-hiking, strip off your red-stained socks and shoes for a morning stretch or yoga class. In the afternoon, work up a sweat with cross-training cardio or balletone. Practice flexibility and relax tight muscles through Thai Chi on the rocks or Qi Gong. And just add water for an aqua strength and hydro challenge, which are perfect in the southern Utah heat.

Experience high adventure
Enhance your vacation further by joining an adventure trip to one of the local parks or recreation areas. Ride on horseback through Snow Canyon State Park or kayak in Gunlock State Park.

Engage your mind and your body while rock climbing on some of the best stone in the West. Hit the trail for a memorable mountain biking experience on the Bear Claw Poppy trail complex.

Or, for a custom adventure, try the Guide for Hire program for a personalized hike, climb, bike ride, trail run or archaeological adventure.

Practice nutrition awareness
Red Mountain’s cuisine is an extremely enjoyable — and still healthy — part of the adventure.

The Canyon Breeze Restaurant’s chefs have created menus featuring fresh and natural ingredients — herbs from the on-site organic gardens, wild game meats and select indigenous foods — and guests are encouraged to experience variety at each of the three included meals. Nutritional information is available for every food item — menus list calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat and fiber, so you can learn how easy it is to eat healthy without sacrificing taste.

Gear up for a morning hike with whole-wheat banana pancakes and pure maple syrup, breakfast burritos, and muffins with fruit butter. Refuel at lunchtime with fresh-baked multi-grain breads, hearty vegetable soups, and a create-your-own salad with delightfully unique dressings. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style.

A sit-down dinner at the restaurant is the best way to celebrate a long day of exploration. Start with the soup and salad bar, and don’t pass up the cold soup of the day — chilled watermelon cilantro is a favorite. Dinner also includes a choice of beautifully prepared vegetables, like a spaghetti squash nest with fresh basil and olive oil, or a fire-grilled medley with marinated squash, portobello and tomato. The entrée is the star of the evening, with a daily market fresh fish selection, and set menu items like prickly pear barbeque glazed pork tenderloin and red chile pecan slaw, and jerk spice rubbed duck with granny smith apple-cabbage.

For a light finish, try the frozen mango passion fruit mousse (just 77 calories) or the lemon cheesecake with graham cracker crust (200 calories).

Recharge your spirit
Red Mountain’s Sagestone Spa & Salon will take you to a place of deep relaxation and tranquility. And with an extensive menu of services — including dozens of Sagestone signature treatments — it’s easy to find one that renews you.

Signature treatments are inspired by health, wellness and beauty rituals practiced in diverse cultures of the world, crafted with desert botanicals, mineral rich muds, clays and salts, handcrafted essential oils, rich body butters, and other indigenous ingredients.

The Red Mountain Revitalizer is one of the unique signature treatments, featuring a heavenly scalp massage hair cleanse and condition, followed by a facial cleanse and full-body exfoliation and massage. For an even more adventurous spa experience, try the Four Directions — a Native American-inspired treatment with a full-body cornmeal/tobacco exfoliation and a relaxing cedarwood massage.

Visit www.redmountainspa.com for more information.

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