Zion’s stunning emerald pools
No matter the season, the Emerald Pools Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Zion. The trailhead can be conveniently accessed from the Zion Lodge, making it a great option for first-time visitors staying in the park. The trail is divided into three parts: the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. Each section offers a unique perspective and a different level of difficulty.
The Lower Emerald Pool is the easiest section of the trail, making it accessible to hikers of all levels. After a brief half-mile hike, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a stunning alcove behind a 110-foot waterfall falling into the lower pool. Visitors can continue to the upper pools from the waterfall or take the path back for an almost 1.5-mile round-trip hike. In case of bridge or path closures, this trail can be accessed via the Kayenta trail.
The Middle Emerald Pool, located just above the Lower Pool, offers a more challenging 2.2-mile hike. After being closed for nearly a decade, the trail opened again to visitors in 2020. The newly reinforced course becomes steeper and narrower following a ledge above the lower trail, so depending on how well you handle heights, take it with caution or turn back to follow the lower pathway. To get to the Upper Emerald Pool, it is another additional 1-mile trail with even rougher terrain. High cliffs surround the Upper Emerald Pool, and a tall waterfall feeds the upper pool.
Experience Zion’s other waterfall trails
In addition to the mesmerizing emerald pools and their falls, Zion National Park is known for many other impressive cascades around the park. Take the Zion shuttle to Stop 9 – the Temple of Sinawava stop – to explore the 2-mile round-trip Riverside Walk leading to the Virgin River, home to Mystery Falls. From the end of the Riverside Walk, you’ll venture an additional half-mile wading through the (typically) shallow river to get to the 120-foot Mystery Falls. This hike is one of the best reasons to visit Zion.
Continue along the course of the river to make it to the alcoves and the hike’s famous Wall Street section, but during the winter and early spring, water levels in the river rise, often leading to a temporary closure of the area. Opt for a summer trip for the best chance to see each site of the hike. Some of Zion’s more difficult waterfall trails aren’t as accessible for the everyday hiker. Archangel Falls in the park’s lesser-visited Kolob Terrace section includes a 9-mile hike that requires canyoneering and rappelling skills.
One of the most accessible waterfalls can be found along the 0.4-mile Weeping Rock Trail. The Weeping Rock Trail is a short, paved path near Stop 7 on the shuttle route. It leads to an alcove where water seeps from the rocks above. The fall is most active in the spring and fall and can be closed due to ice in the winter.
