A glistening garden growing in the desert
If you’re heading into the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, you’re going to pass the Court of the Patriarchs, a dramatic series of Navajo sandstone peaks, before reaching the Zion Lodge, the starting point of the Emerald Pool Trail.
The Emerald Pools Trail is a classic loop hike in the heart of Zion. This lush desert oasis offers beautiful views of the canyon and a fresh change from the arid scenery the park is known for. It consists of three sections: the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. You can hike the whole thing as one big three-mile loop or do just the Lower and Middle sections for little over 2 miles of scenic hiking.
From the Zion Lodge, get up on the paved trail, then drop into the Lower Emerald Pools. If you’re going through this section after a rainy day, you’ll have a waterfall rushing over your head. Just make sure to bring your hiking boots, maybe even microspikes, to combat the mud. The middle section, which reopened in 2020 after a decade-long closure, offers gorgeous views of the Great White Throne and Red Arch Mountain.
Even more options once you reach the top
In the Upper Emerald Pools, you can find some more wide panoramas and the exit out of Heaps Canyon, the big kahuna of canyoneering in Zion. The terrain here is rockier, with plenty of steps, and even a couple of exposed spots where a fall could prove quite dangerous. If you’re bringing children with you, please be extra careful.
There are two ways you can exit the trail. You can cut back upcanyon and connect to Kayenta Trail and West Rim Trail or simply go down and finish the loop at Zion Lodge. Consider bringing trekking poles for the final section if you have issues with hiking downhill.
All in all, this is one of the best Zion hikes for casual parkgoers. It’s available year round, there’s no significant elevation gain, and it’s got just enough excitement to please everyone.