Hiking in Zion National Park
Zion National Park was established in southwestern Utah in 1919 and has been on my list of places to visit for several years. I got the chance in April as part of this Western USA National Parks tour with Intrepid Travel. It was an amazing trip and our first stop was Zion!
Zion has a convenient shuttle system that will take you to trailheads throughout the park. The group I was with decided to head to the trail for Scout Lookout. You may have heard of Angel’s Landing. Scout Lookout follows the same trail via the West Rim as Angel’s Landing, but it stops just before the final section with chains that takes you all the way to Angel’s Landing. As of the writing of this post, a permit is required to go all the way to Angel’s Landing, so Scout Lookout is a great alternative!
Scout Lookout will provide quite the workout. The trail is 3.6 miles out and back with 1,115 feet of elevation gain. You are exposed to the sun for most of the trail, so wear appropriate clothing and be sure to bring plenty of water.
The trail features lots and lots of switchbacks, so be prepared to climb! The trail is fairly wide in most areas, so you can take breaks and allow others to pass as needed. We definitely took our time and stopped when we found a bit of shade. It is a pretty smooth trail overall, so you aren’t scrambling.
The amazing views make your efforts worthwhile. One woman who was on her way down told us, “It sucks every step of the way, but it’s worth it!” Hard to argue with her.
There is a section that is flat and shaded called Refrigerator Canyon when you are most of the way up. That was a nice break and much-needed refresher for the last stretch.
Enjoy the views from the top of the beautiful canyon below. The walk back down is steep at times but much easier and enjoyable.
Zion National Park is beautiful everywhere you look. We drove through the park and it is breathtaking. One of the famous landmarks is the Great Arch of Zion.
Other trails that are on my list for my next trip to Zion include the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk, Emerald Pools Trail and Zion Canyon Overlook Trail.
Have you been to Zion? What are your favorite trails there? Also check out Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
