Trail to Peak: The Adventurous Path
Hiking, Exploring, Travel & Adventure
Observation Point: Our Favourite Zion Hike
“I wonder what’s around that corner?!” Famous last words…. And with that utterance, our half-day hike became a full-on, full day, 18km walk in the park. Without a lunch. Rookie mistake.
As we were coming down from Hidden Canyon, we came out on the main trail, high above the valley floor. The weather had cleared. It was no longer raining. Blue was appearing in the sky and there was a hint of sun peaking through the heavy cloud cover. A sign to keep going, perhaps?
Knowing that we were part way up the hard slog of switchbacks for the Observation Point trail, we thought we’d just head up to the shoulder, and see what the views of the other side might be like.
Well! One thing led to another and we found ourselves walking along an extremely deep slot canyon, entering a large canyon hemmed in by impossibly tall red and black streaked cliff faces, traversing a gentle stream, exploring a hidden valley, entering into the white sandstone area that floated high in the sky above Zion’s far off canyon floor, wandering up switchbacks that hang precariously from the side of the cliffs, and then finally, walking along the east rim of the main canyon itself with the most incredible views. Once we reached the turnaround point, we watched enviously as people ate their lunches at a view point that lay at the end of a rocky peninsula that hung out over the canyon.
Come along and see…
There, the Virgin River looked like a thread, far below us, and I gave Bill my last cookie. It probably seemed as miniscule as that river, compared to the size of our lunch-less appetites by that point. But I’d got us into this pickle, so to speak, with my “Just a little farther! Just a little higher! I wonder what’s around there! Isn’t this amazing?” diatribe.
[That’s true love, in case you were wondering…. Bill humouring my impulsive whims to explore and me giving up a cherished last cookie! True love, I say.]
Yup, this was the best hike we did during our time in Zion!
If you go…
- Get off at shuttle bus stop #7. There are pit toilets there. Many people at this trailhead are simply going to the Weeping Wall waterfall, so the crowds will thin, somewhat.
- This is a long, strenuous hike… only 13km return but with 654m of steep elevation gain that over quite a short distance, in two unrelenting bursts.
- They say on the signage that this hike is 5-6 hours long. We did it, not going fast at all, making plenty of time for photo-ops, in about 3.5hrs. However, in the heat of summer, you might need a lot more time.
- If you are afraid of heights, this is not the hike for you. The trail along the rim edge is very exposed on a cut ledge for quite a while. We passed some people struggling with the idea of that height, the narrowness of the trail in spots, those views and that drop off.
- Take FOOD. Salty food, too, as you are going to sweat lots.
- Take water. Take more than you think you need. The switchbacks are quite strenuous and seem to go on forever, in 2 very long, drawn out spots. There is no water at the trailhead.
- Sunscreen up and reapply it on the hike as you sweat it off. Wear a hat and sunglasses. There is little shade on this hike.
- Poles help with the downs. They save your knees and let you walk much more quickly. With most of this trail being protected with a top-coat of crude cement, it’s best to have rubber tips on your poles for this hike.
- For more detail on the Observation Point Hike, pick up Zion Guru’s Hiker’s Companion for Zion National Park. Ours was provided to us by the Driftwood Lodge, where we stayed.
Read More About our Time In Zion
15 Comments on “Observation Point: Our Favourite Zion Hike”
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Trail to Peak: The Adventurous Path 
Thanks Sheri, I’ve taken note of this hike. I may be down that way this summer -southern Utah and AZ… and southern CA/eastern Sierras. Enjoy the cooler weather up in the Canadian Rockies/Canmore areas. I enjoyed these posts!
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Thanks, Mike. There’s two more posts from our time in Zion coming… one that’s a hike you should do, and one that you really shouldn’t…. I hope they also give you good ideas for the time you’ll spend that way this summer. The next series to come is on Red Rocks… and then back to Utah with Moab. Will you be heading Moab’s way? The canyons there are spectacular (Dead Horse Canyon, in particular).
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I wouldn’t miss Moab -if I’m within a few hundred miles! Zion would be close enough… although with Arches and Canyonlands along the way, it might take me a few days or weeks to get there! Actually, I’ve camped in Dead Horse Canyon SP… quite the story goes with the name!
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I know!!! That story gives me the shivers. I was horrified reading about it as I looked out over the fin of land they used to corral those horses. But it is a spectacular place. I’d love to know the story behind Horse Thief Canyon… I can imagine what it is about, but do you know it?
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Can’t recall Horse Thief Canyon, but it’s been a few years… however I can about imagine the storyline. I’ll have to check it out too. 😉
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I love this hike!! It’s so cool
To wander through so much terrain and see everything isn’t it?! The views from the overlooks are beyond amazing! Your pictures are so fun and make me want to go back!!
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Then you should go! Glad you enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane. When were you there? What other hikes did you do?
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I follow a lot of blogs, but these photos are by far the most beautiful! Almost makes me think I might overcome my fear of heights just to see it in person. Almost…..
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Oh Ann! That’s music to my ears!
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You know that when you get repeated “Incredibles” from someone frequents the Canadian Rockies that you’re on to something. (Likewise, that might be why they suggest 5-6 hours of trail time – maybe that’s for flatlanders.) I’d have to agree though, that does look pretty incredible.
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Perhaps it’s enough to get you back there…. (but maybe not after you read the Angel’s Landing Post!)
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Wow, I can see why this is your favorite Zion hike! Beautiful views! I’ve done Angels Landing so I’ve seen the canyon from the top of the other side… it’s amazing how similar yet different it looks from Observation Point.
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I think that’s one of my favourite things to do in a landscape… get to know it from many vantage points. It’s what we do at home in the Rockies too. Each time it’s slightly different. It’s the same place, and yet it’s like deepening a friendship… getting to know the place more intimately, one step at a time.
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Beautiful hike, Sheri. If we ever go back to Zion, it would be mainly because of the Observation Point hike, which we haven’t done.
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It’s worth it!
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