Zion National Park Emerald
Pools Hike
There are three loops among the Emerald Pools trails
and graceful waterfalls. Being the most popular hike in the park, the Emerald
Pools trails are the most crowded. These trails are rated easy to moderate and
are some of the easiest hikes in Zion Canyon. The only hikes easier than this
are on a concrete path. Even through the ascent is only 69 feet to the Lower Pool
there are great picturesque views of Zion Canyon. The 3-mile loop containing the
Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools trails combined with the Kayenta and Grotto
trails is an easy enough hike so you don't see the same thing twice. But looking
at the same thing twice in Zion is pleasurable.
The Lower Emerald Pool trail
is paved but rugged. It continues behind the waterfalls that cascade from the
middle pools into the lower pool. The trail to the Middle Pools is unpaved climbing
to a sandstone ledge that parallels the lower trail but at a higher level. At
the pools there are slippery cliff edges. The 0.3 mile sandy and rocky trail to
the Upper Pool ascends 200 feet. It is worth the extra effort for the 300-foot
waterfall which runs out of Heaps Canyon. There is no swimming in any of the pools.
The Kayenta trail is unpaved climbing 150 feet to a sandstone ledge, connecting
to the Grotto trail which connects to the Zion Lodge. Click
any picture to see a bigger version.


Jason's thoughts - Most people's favorite
hike. There are three different ones, they are all easy. They are pretty but you
can't swim at the end so what's the point. Kelly's
thoughts - This is a nice hike, though I like hikes that are more challenging.
I suggest this one if you have limited time in the park. The Upper Pool is a nice
place to take a break. Ben's thoughts - It was boring at the
beginning but then as we got higher it got better because the view was good. And
when we got to the pools it was nice and cool. A squirrel tried to get in dad's
backpack. Map location of Zion
National Park. Click for main Zion National
Park or full-time rv diary. Visit Mount
Charleston, Nevada for more wonderful hiking trails.
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