37° 22' 53.5" N 113° 01' 22.8" W

Route Type: Point-to-Point 

Distance: 14.2 miles

Trailhead: West Rim Trailhead, Springdale UT

Permits Required: Yes

Recommended Duration: 2 days/1 night

Post-Hike Beer: Zion Brewing Pale Ale

The Hike:

Backpacking the West Rim Trail requires a 14.2 mile point-to-point route beginning from the West Rim Trailhead near Lava Point and ending at the Grotto in Zion National Park. The hike can be completed as a long day hike but it is recommended to spend the night in the backcountry for a more relaxed pace.

Logistics:

The NPS requires permits to reserve backcountry camping sites and are issued online or in person, on a first come first served basis. In person permits can be obtained on the day of, or the day before your trip begins. For the West Rim Trail, half of the available campsites are available for booking online (even numbered sites) three months in advance, beginning on the 5th of each month at 10am MST. For instance, permits would be available for September start dates (09/01-9/31) on July 5th. Permits sell out VERY quickly as soon as they are released. Odd numbered sites are available as walk-up permits ONLY and are available the day before or the day of your hike (unlikely to be available the day of). Expect to arrive at the Visitor Center as close to opening as possible to reserve your campsite for odd-numbered sites the day before your trip. Permits must be picked up on the day of, or the day before your hike begins at the Visitor Center.

From a logistical standpoint, sites #1-6 are recommended.

This is a point-to-point hike requiring a shuttle from Springdale to Lava Point. Shuttle service can be arranged from Zion Adventure Company ($39.00).

Breakdown:

Day 0

The day before starting your hike, it is necessary to pick your permits up from the backcountry permit desk located in the Welcome Center. While at the backcountry permit desk, be sure to ask for an overnight parking pass for the lot adjacent to the Welcome Center. Keep in mind that the parking lot fills up quickly in the morning so it is important to arrive early to ensure you are able to get a spot and avoid having to pay for parking at Zion Adventure Company ($20/day, Cash Only). Once you have your permit and parking pass secured, use the rest of your day to explore a short day hike or simply return to your lodging and relax before getting an early start in the morning.

Day 1 (6.8 - 9.8 miles)

In order to arrive early enough to get a parking spot at the Welcome Center, you will need to plan how early you need to leave. This will depend upon where you choose to stay the night before your hike (I stayed in Kanab, UT). Kanab is a 1 hour drive to the Welcome Center so I left by 6am in order to be at the parking lot by 7am and there were still plenty of spots available. When picking up your permit at the backcountry permit desk, ask the ranger what time the parking lot is usually full by, as this will vary with how busy the current season is. After securing a parking spot, walk down the road a short ways to the Zion Adventure Company and check in. You will have a lot of time to kill before your scheduled departure at 10am which you can use to grab a hot breakfast from one of the shops/restaurants in the area, purchase forgotten supplies, or check out the gift shop at the Welcome Center. The bus ride to the Lava Point Trailhead will take ~45 mins.

Once you arrive at the Lava Point Trailhead, you are set to begin your hike along the West Rim Trail! Your mileage for the day will vary based upon which campsite you were able to reserve. The recommended campsites are numbers 1-6 (I reserved campsite #2) as this will be a more even split of the daily mileage.

The first day of hiking begins with an easy section of trail through a lightly forested section on the upper plateau of the Kolob Terrace before eventually making it to one of the first viewpoints of the canyons that the West Rim Trail is known for. Continuing on downhill will bring you to the valley called Potato Hollow which features a pleasant meadow and the site of the first logical campsites from a logistical standpoint (7 and 8). It is recommended to refill your water at Potato Hollow Spring (The Ranger will give you information on the current conditions of the springs) if you are staying at any of the campsites other than Campsite 1 or 2 (Cabin Spring is in close proximity to these campsites). The next section will bring the first stretch of fairly significant elevation gain as you wind your way up towards Horse Pasture Plateau, a high ridge that provides great views of the surrounding valleys and peaks. Be sure to stay to the right when you reach the junction for Telephone Canyon Trail, as all of the remaining campsites lie on the West Rim Trail. Campsites 1-6 all lie within the next 3.0 miles of the trail.

Day 2 (4.4 - 7.4 miles)

Begin Day 2 by winding your way down from the plateau along switchbacks through the white cliffs portion of the trail before eventually ascending towards the extremely popular Angel’s Landing. If you are feeling up for it, Angel’s Landing provides a great viewpoint, although you will have to deal with large numbers of day hikers and treacherous exposed terrain to reach the top. Due to the extreme popularity of this hike it is recommended to leave camp as early as possible if you plan on making the side trip. From campsites 1 and 2 you can theoretically reach Angel’s Landing in 1.5 hours. For the Angel’s Landing day hike, the first shuttle bus departs from the Visitor Center at 6 am and therefore the first day hikers should not arrive before ~7 am. By getting an early start from your campsite you can potentially beat the majority of day hikers to Angel’s Landing and enjoy a significantly less crowded hike.

From Angel’s Landing you will begin your descent back into Zion where you are treated to spectacular views of the main canyon. This section of the trail becomes paved and features the iconic ‘Walter’s Wiggles’ portion of the trail with tight twisting switchbacks. The strain on the day hikers’ faces as they struggle uphill provides motivation as you breeze your way down to the end of the trail at the Virgin River and your completion of the West Rim Trail.

Best Time to Go:

The WRT is hikeable from spring through fall. Since the trail is at a higher elevation, summer temperatures remain fairly mild in comparison to the canyon floor. Spring and fall can bring the potential for low overnight temperatures.

Good to Know:

Parking

Parking is available at Zion Adventure Company for an additional $20/day (Cash Only). To avoid the payment, ask for an overnight parking pass at the Visitor Center when picking up your backpacking permit. The parking lot at the Visitor Center is on a first come, first served basis and fills up quickly in the mornings (typically by 7:30am). Arrive as early as possible to ensure you are able to get a spot and avoid having to pay for parking. The shuttle pick-up at Zion Adventure Company is a short walk from the Visitor Center.

Campsites

Mice are common at all of the campsites throughout the WRT and WILL get into your food if left unprotected (hang backpack/food from tree and do not leave empty food wrappers in your tent or backpack as they will chew through to get to them).

Water

There are 3 water sources on the WRT and all water should be purified before consumption. Check with the Wilderness Permit desk for up to date conditions.

• Sawmill Springs

• Potato Hollow Spring

• Cabin Spring

Waste

You are required to pack out all trash and solid human waste. You will not be provided with ‘Wag Bags’ and must purchase them from a shop in town.

Side Trip

The WRT will take you past the extremely popular Angel’s Landing hike during your second day (From Campsite 2, < 3.0 mi) on your way to the terminus at The Grotto. It is possible to depart early from Campsite 2 and make it to Angel’s Landing before it gets overly crowded. Accounting for shuttle departure times from the Visitor Center and the steep hike up to the beginning of Angel’s Landing, the first day hikers are not expected to arrive until ~7:40am at the earliest. By departing your camp at ~6am, you can theoretically beat most or all of the day hikers to Angel’s Landing.