Zion National Park, visited by more than 2 million people a year, has hiking trail from the ease of a 10 minute riverside walk to climbing 1,500 ft. or more to the rim of Zion Canyon. When hiking in Zion prepare to be dazzled be high canyon walls and beautiful erosion-carved monuments. See the pictures here.
Weeping Rock to Observation Point
This is a serious day long hike that will take you from the floor of Zion Canyon to the cliff tops 2,000 ft above the trail head. The trail is 4 miles in length and climbs 2,159 ft. The trail starts at Weeping Rock and for the first half mile it follows the same trail to Hidden Canyon (see description bellow). I the split to Hidden Canyon bear left and continue through the switchbacks for another half mile. The sheer face of Cable Mountain towers above this section of the trail. The switchbacks end in the cool of narrow, Echo Canyon. After you pass through the canyon the trail begins a serious climb through many switchbacks cut in to the face of the cliff wall. The trail is about 6 to feet wide and requires caution when placing you feet. The trail finally reaches the top and levels out for the last half mile to Observation Point. The view from the point is amazing and is worth the climb to the top. (See the pictures bellow)
Canyon Overlook
This is an easy half mile walk on the Mount Carmel Highway. The trail start with s series of seep steps which climbs most of the 126 ft elevation gain of the whole trail. The trail get hard to follow toward to end so look for rock cairns to guide you way. I would suggest taken this trail at sunrise or sunset. I hike at sunrise and had the trail and overlook to myself for almost an hour. This is a great quick hike to great view of the canyon.
Riverside Walk
This is an easy 1 mile walk along a paved trail that follows the Virgin River. The trail passes hanging gardens and has trail side exhibits. The trail ends at the beginning of the narrows.
The Narrows
Plan on getting your feet wet if your going to hike this trail. The total length of the narrows is 16 miles. Much of the time you spend wading through the Virgin river. I have never done more than a few miles up the narrows. In the spring, when I have visited, the water is high, swift, and cold. Even after a few miles the cliff walls of the narrows are quite wide but still impressive. If your going to hike the whole distance plan on spending a night in there. Talk to a park ranger to get the weather info and other information, you don't want to be caught in a flash flood.
Emerald Pools
This is a good moderate hike to some beautiful waterfalls and calm pools. The trip to the lower pools is 1.2 miles and has a few long drop-offs. The trail also can be slick from the mist of the waterfalls. The trail to the upper pools is another mile up from the lower pools. The trail is a little more strenuous but you come this far you might as well go the rest of the way up. The view won't disappoint you, the upper pool sits at the base of a high cliff wall.
Hidden Canyon
This is one of the lesser traveled hikes in Zion Canyon. This has been my favorite trail hike so far at Zion. The trail starts at Weeping Rock and climbs high onto the canyon walls. The trail is steep and at points the parks service has bolted chains into the side of the cliff. You'll be glad that they did because the trail is only 2 to 3 ft. wide and drops off for a few hundred ft. It is a little nerve racking when someone passes you on the trail. If you are afraid of heights skip this hike! The trail stops at the mouth of Hidden Canyon and over all you have come 2 miles and 850 vertical ft. You can continue up Hidden Canyon for another mile or so. This involves few rock scrambles and a few area that you need to climb. This is a great hike a lot of fun and a recommend that you out this on your "things to do list" while at Zion.
Click on an image to see larger size.
Pictures of Observation Point Trail
Photos By Paul Rivers
|