The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National
Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park
maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna,
campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Directions to Zion National Park From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver.
Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east
entrance. From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona
and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east
park entrance. From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and
travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in
LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion
National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
The view of Zion Canyon from Observation Point. To the right
is Angels Landing and the West Rim: Cathedral Mountain, Castle Dome and the Three
Patriarchs. To the left is the East Rim: Cable Mountain, Great White Throne,
and the Watchman at the far south section of the park.
2 miles up the Observation Point Trail is the spur to complete the 10 mile
East Rim Trail. The East Rim hike is most enjoyable when starting near the East
Zion entrance station, so the trek along the steep path is downhill rather than
an uphill climb, and the views in that direction are impressive. The East Rim
Trail does not include the spur to Observation Point in the mileage.
East Mesa Trail option
To take the East Mesa spur, continue up the trail past the junction to the
East Rim Trail. Just a short distance from the trail end, .3 miles, there is
a sign directing hikers to the park boundary Turn here. This trail is less scenic
and is used mostly by canyoneers going to Mystery Canyon.
Hidden Canyon passes by some pools of water trapped in the rock and ends in
a hanging canyon. The canyon is a side ravine between Cable Mountain and the
north wall of the Great White Throne.
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering
information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike the trails in Zion National
Park. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced
Zion hikers and canyoneers like the La Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great
for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
Observation Point
Spend a day hiking a challenging trail complete with dizzying drop offs as and eye popping scenery. This well maintained path zigzags its way up the steep mountainside of the East Rim Trail, before venturing through Echo Canyon, a deep gorge filled with water gnawed sandstone pockets where water quietly trickles here and there. Past the familiar reddish Navajo Sandstone, near the top of the trek, is the white rock known as the Temple Cap formation. At the cliff-top point, canyon walls drops sharply, giving way to spectacular views. At the trails end is a spectacular display of stone sculptures contrasted by the bluest of skies. The West Rim can be seen to the right as well as lofty Angels Landing covering much of the white rock of Cathedral Mountain. A little farther down canyon the Three Patriarchs stand at attention. On your left is the East Rim, Cable Mountain, Great White Throne and far down canyon glimpses of the Watchman and even Canaan Mountain can be seen. The Virgin River forms a lush river valley below, where water skirts around Angels Landing and the Organ, forming Big Bend.
See our vacation planning section for classic Zion National Park trails or glance at our favorite Zion National Park trails list or choose from a complete Zion National Park hiking guide. Get on the Zion Canyon Shuttle to hike the trail on this page.
Observation Point at a Glance
Photo Album: Observation
Point Trail Map:Observation Point Map
Day Hike: Yes Distance: 8 miles round-trip Average Hiking Time: 5 hours round trip Difficulty:
The path is steep making it a strenuous hike. The trail gains elevation quickly, making it one of the most strenuous of the popular hikes in the park. Sun Exposure: Full Sun Permits:
not needed Trail Conditions:
Most of the trail is along carved slickrock or paved pathways and in full sun and the steep downhill return can be hard on toes and knees. Trailhead: Weeping Rock parking lot Trailend: Same as trailhead Trail Access:
From late March to late October park at the visitor center ride the shuttle to Weeping Rock TH. The rest of the year, drive into the canyon and park at the Weeping Rock parking lot.
.Off the Beaten Path: No Classic Zion Hike: Yes Best Season:
Year round as long as snow and ice aren't present on the trail. Get an early start in the hot summer months to take advantage of the western exposure and shade in the morning. Elevation Gain: Long steep climb. Peak: 6508' Hazards: Cliffs at high elevations. Water Availability: Echo Canyon is an unreliable source,
bring your own water.
Observation Point Trail
The trail ascends rapidly as hikers climb the long switchbacks of the trail. The Weeping Rock alcove can be seen during much of the hike and if you are lucky enough to be there after heavy rains, several waterfalls might be visible. The Hidden Canyon Trail intersects the Observation Point Trail and takes off on its own at about the 1.5 mile mark. Bypass this spur and continue north up the trail. Several more switchbacks lead even higher and soon the trail becomes fairly level as a right hand turn leads into Echo Canyon.
Echo Canyon
The hanging chasm of Echo Canyon is a delightful section of this trail. If water is running through the carved walls of the canyon then you will hear the rapid rush and cascading of the waterfalls. The first glance of this spectacular slot will be on the left side of the trail. The steep grade eases as the path leads to a lush setting and the trail becomes a wash. When the slot is dry, which is common during the summer months, it is possible to walk right into the slot canyon from this point and explore, but in the winter there is usually pools of frigid cold water forming unwanted obstacles.
East Rim Junction
All too soon the trail leads away from this delightful and flatter section of the trail, winding its way up the steep path towards the promontory of Mount Baldy. Open views are now the center of attention. Pass the spur to the East Rim Trail that ends near the park's east entrance.
The Mesa
The most stressful section of the trail is paved, but as the trail flattens out toward the top it turns to mixed sand and rock for about .75 miles. During winter months melting snow makes this area a slushy wet mess. Soon there is a signed junction where it is then 2.5 miles to the park boundary. Turn left at the junction, steering west and south toward Observation Point. At the end of the point the reward is some of the most impressive views in Zion National Park.
Observation Point
From the point,
Angels Landing and the West Rim are to the right. Cathedral Mountain, Castle
Dome and the Three Patriarchs are farther down the canyon but also to the right.
To the left is the East Rim: Cable Mountain, Great White Throne, and the Watchman
at the far south section of the park.
Trail History
Few in the park ever use the name of the mountain where Observation Point
sits, but is was named Mount Baldy in 1928 by Stephen S. Johnson. Before the
switchbacks were built, in 1922, the hike was a grueling 18 miles. From the uppermost
sections of the trail the Hidden Canyon, lower Observation Point and the West
Rim Trails can all be seen.
Echo Canyon is a fun little slot canyon with many high wall sections and erie lighting. There are some areas blocked by boulders that will be difficult to climb up and down. A good climber should be part of the group. Be prepared for pools of neck high cold and even stagnant water. The conditions in this slot canyon change and there is a flash flood danger. Check weather conditions before hiking. Permits are required to descend Echo Canyon.
Once in a while you find a place on earth that becomes your very
own. A place undefined. Waiting for you to bring your color, your self. A place
untouched, unspoiled, undeveloped. Raw, honest, and haunting. No one, nothing
is telling you how to feel or who to be. Let the mountains have you for a day ..
