ZION NATIONAL PARK WALKS AND HIKES

Park Trails Maintained trails in Zion are rated from easy to strenuous in the amount of energy they require. Most trails have drop-offs where you must be extra careful to watch your footing. Always stay back from the edges. Each trail description below indicates how strenuous the walk is and the severity of the drop-offs along the way. These descriptions apply only to the trails themselves, not to nearby areas. People uncertain about heights should turn around if they come to drop-offs that bother them.

Getting Started
Start at the Visitor Center. Tour the museum and watch the introductory A-V program. Rangers can answer your questions. Books, maps and other items are available to purchase.

Walks and Hikes
One hour or less (round trip)
Weeping Rock: Self Guiding walk to a spring and "hanging garden."
Canyon Overlook: Self-guiding walk to a canyon viewpoint.
Lower Emerald Pools: Easy walk to a waterfall.

One-two hours (round trip)
Riverside Walk: Easy walk along the Virgin River.
Middle Emerald Pool: Moderate walk to pools and waterfalls.
Watchman: Moderate walk to viewpoint of lower Zion Canyon.

Three-Four hours (round trip)
Hidden Canyon: Fairly strenuous hike to a hanging canyon.
Angels Landing: Strenuous hike to the top of Angels Landing.
Note: Neither of these trails is recommended for anyone fearful of heights.

Drives
(Milages are one-way from Visitor Center)

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive: Short drive along the canyon floor. (7 miles).
East Entrance Road: Steep drive up switchbacks and through tunnels to Checkerboard Mesa. (13 miles).
Kolob Terrace Road: Steep drive to Lava Point, a high country viewpoint. Not recommended for trailers or long vehicles. (40 miles).
Kolob Canyons: Scenic drive skirting the Kolob "finger canyons." (5 miles from Kolob Canyon Visitor Center; 45 minutes from Zion Canyon.)

Weeping Rock Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - Weeping Rock parking lot
Round Trip - 0.5 miles/0.8 Kilometers - 1/2 Hour average time
Ascent - 98 Feet or 30 Meters
Description - Easy, Minor dropoffs, Self guiding trail. Ends at Weeping Rock, a rock alcove with dripping springs. Hanging gardens of wildflowers decorate the walls in spring and summer.
Weeping Rock Map - Zion Map - Weeping Rock Picture

Canyon Overlook Trailhead - Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway just east of the long tunnel
Round Trip - 1.0 miles/1.6 Kilometers - 1 Hour average time
Ascent - 163 Feet or 50 Meters
Description - Easy. Long dropoffs. Mostly fenced. Self guiding trail. Guidebooks available at visitor center and trailhead. Ends at spectacular viewpoint of lower Zion Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon.
Canyon Overlook Map - Zion Map

Lower Emerald Pools Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive opposite Zion Lodge
Round Trip - 1.2 miles/1.9 Kilometers - 1 Hour average time
Ascent - 69 Feet or 21 Meters
Description - Easy to moderately strenuous. Long dropoffs on upper route. Lower route ends at lower pool and 3 waterfalls. Accessible to disabled people with assistance. NOTE: To protect the aquatic wildlife and preserve this fragile area, SWIMMING OR BATHING IS PROHIBITED IN ALL POOLS.
Emerald Pools Map - Zion Map - Walkway

Middle Pool Loop Trailhead - Same
Round Trip - 2.0 miles/3.3 Kilometers - 2 Hours average time
Ascent - 150 Feet or 46 Meters
Description - Easy to moderately strenuous. Long dropoffs on upper route. Lower route ends at lower pool and 3 waterfalls. Accessible to disabled people with assistance. NOTE: To protect the aquatic wildlife and preserve this fragile area, SWIMMING OR BATHING IS PROHIBITED IN ALL POOLS.
Emerald Pools Map - Zion Map - Walkway

Riverside Walk Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Temple of Sinawava
Round Trip - 2.0 miles/3.3 Kilometers - 1-1/2 Hours average time
Ascent - 57 Feet or 17 Meters
Description - Easy. Minor dropoffs. Follows Virgin River upstream to Zion Canyon Narrows where paved trail ends. Hanging gardens of wildflowers in spring and summer. Trailside exhibits. Accessible to disabled people with assistance.
Riverside Walk Map - Zion Map

Watchman Trailhead - Service road east of Watchman Campground Registration Station
Round Trip - 2.0 miles/3.3 Kilometers - 1-1/2 Hours average time
Ascent - 368 Feet or 112 Meters
Description - Moderately Strenuous. Mostly minor dropoffs. Recommended for early and late in the day. Ends at viewpoint of lower Zion Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon and town of Springdale.
Watchman Map - Zion Map

Hidden Canyon Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Weeping Rock parking lot.
Round Trip - 2.0 miles/3.3 Kilometers - 3 Hours average time
Ascent - 850 Feet or 259 Meters
Description - Moderately Strenuous. Long dropoffs. Not for anyone fearful of heights. Leads to narrow side canyon carved in joint of rock. Trail ends at canyon mouth; can hike beyond end of trail for another 1 KM (0.6 mi) to natural arch.
Hidden Canyon Map - Zion Map

Angel's Landing Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Grotto Picnic area.
Round Trip - 5.0 miles/8.0 Kilometers - 4 Hours average time
Ascent - 1488 Feet or 453 Meters
Description - Strenuous. Long dropoffs and narrow trails. Not for anyone fearful of heights. Ends at summit high above Zion Canyon Floor. Last 0.5 mile follows a steep narrow ridge; chains have been added.
Angels landing map - Zion Map

Sand Bench Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive opposite Zion Lodge
Round Trip - 3.6 miles/5.8 Kilometers - 3 Hours average time
Ascent - 500 Feet or 152 Meters
Description - Moderately Strenuous. Good views of lower Zion Canyon and the Three Patriarchs. Trail loops around through ancient landslide and past Streaked Wall.
Sand Bench Map - Zion Map

Observation Point Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Weeping Rock parking lot
Round Trip - 8.0 miles/12.0 Kilometers - 6 Hours average time
Ascent - 2148 Feet or 655 Meters
Description - Strenuous. Long Dropoffs. Climbs through Echo Canyon to Observation Point. Excellent views of Zion Canyon. Trail gives access to other East Rim plateau trails: Cable Mountain and Deertrap Mountain
Observation Point Map - Zion Map

West Rim Trailhead - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Grotto Picnic Area
Round Trip - 10.0 miles/ 17.2 Kilometers - 8 Hours average time
Ascent - 2640 Feet or 1095 Meters
Description - Strenuous. Long Dropoffs. Climbs to high country viewpoint of canyons and isolated mesa. Trail continues to Lava Point, an alternate starting point. Trip to Lava Point should not be attempted as a one-day hike.
West Rim Map - Zion Map

Kolob Canyon Trails

Taylor Creek Trailhead - Zion Canyons Road-2 miles from visitor center.
Round Trip - 5.0 miles/ 8.6 Kilometers - 4 Hours average time
Ascent - 450 Feet or 137 Meters
Description - Moderately Strenuous. No dropoffs. Follows the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek past two old homestead cabins to 2 miles from visitor center.

Kolob Arch Trailhead - Kolob Canyons Road-Lee Pass
Round Trip - 14.0 miles/ 22.0 Kilometers - 8 Hours average time
Descent - 699 Feet or 213 Meters
Description - Strenuous. No dropoffs. Follows timber and LaVerkin Creeks and ends at Kolob Arch, possibly the world's largest freestanding arch. This red rock span is 94 meters (310 feet) long.

Contact:: Zion National Park; Springdale, Utah 84767; Telephone: 801-772-3256