The West Rim Trail in Zion in Photos

Most people who visit Zion National Park never leave the main canyon, and it’s easy to see why. With spots like the Narrows and Observation Point, there is plenty to keep you busy in that section of the Park. Up until now, I had ventured outside the main canyon to hike the Subway, but I had never done any kind of overnight trip anywhere else in Zion.

In May, I joined eight of my friends on a two day backpacking trip on the West Rim in Zion National Park. The West Rim is located up Kolob Terrace Road west of the main canyon. It starts at Lava Point which is the highest point within the Park and drops 2,500 feet over 14.5 miles, ending in the main canyon at the trailhead that leads up to Angel’s Landing.The West Rim Trail is a beginner-friendly backpacking trip and is packed with awesome views of Zion and the surrounding area. Hiking the West Rim Trail makes you realize how vast the Park really is. It is so much bigger than what you see in the main canyon. In this post I round up my favorite West Rim Trail photos from the trip, and

The West Rim Trail is a beginner-friendly backpacking trip and is packed with awesome views of Zion and the surrounding area. Hiking the West Rim Trail makes you realize how vast the Park really is. It is so much bigger than what you see in the main canyon. In this post I round up my favorite West Rim Trail photos from the trip, and this follow up post, I share all the details about permits, car shuttles, and more, in order to help you plan your own West Rim Trail backpacking trip.

We arrived at the Lava Point trailhead in the mid-morning. The wind was blowing and the weather was not looking good. We even encountered some wet snow flurries, with the temperature hovering around 40 degrees when we set off. But we were in high spirits and excited to experience a new side of Zion at 7,800 feet above sea level. The high alpine vegetation and the cool mountain air felt nothing like the Zion that I knew.

The weather was a bit intimidating, but I felt prepared for the worst. As part of the Mountain Hardwear Ambassador Program, I was sent a few pieces of bombproof gear that I was confident would protect me from the elements. This included the waterproof Ozonic 50 OutDry Backpack and the ultra lightweight Stretch Ozonic Rain Shell. (*On a side note – this was the first time I’d ever been able to cram all of my gear into a 50-liter pack, and I will likely be writing a detailed post on how I downsized.)

Around lunch time, the sun broke through the clouds, and it looked like the rain was on its way out. We stopped at Potato Hollow in hopes of finding water but had no luck. Water availability is limited on the trail, and you should plan on bringing enough to get you to Cabin Spring which is located near campsite 2 and typically flows year round. More info on water sources will be included in my follow up post.

After Potato Hollow, the views started to open up, and it only got better as we continued.

The view of Imlay Canyon:

The Right Fork of North Creek:

Around 4:30 we reached our designated campsite. Campsite 4 is a group site, and permits are available either by advanced reservation or by walk-up.

Our campsite was one of those affected by the 2007 fire, but it was still completely awesome. Despite being exposed, we were shielded from the strong winds that were whipping along the rim just a couple hundred feet away. For a group of 8, the site was huge and we had plenty of room to stretch out. On this trip, I brought along my Mountain Hardwear SuperMega UL 2 tent, which weighs just over 2 pounds and packs down incredibly small. 

We hung out at camp for a while, mixed some camp cocktails, and then made the 5 minute walk out to the rim of the plateau to watch the sunset. 

If the sunset wasn’t good enough, when we returned to camp, we were greeted by a cute family of deer that decided to stroll through camp and check us out.

If you are interested in night photography, the West Rim Trail in Zion offers unobstructed views of the night sky. I took the opportunity to practice this new hobby of mine with a Sony A7S mirrorless camera.

On Day 2 I woke up to this sunrise view from my tent. It was so cool being able to see both the sunset and the sunrise from camp. 

We had a lazy morning, hitting the trail around 10:45. That’s the beauty of taking two full days to hike the West Rim Trail. There’s no need to rush, and you can take your time to soak in the experience. 

About an hour after leaving camp, we stopped to fill up our water at Cabin Spring, which is located just a few feet from this  vertigo-inducing cliff.

After leaving Cabin Spring, the vegetation thins out and the slick-rock trail, which was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Core, hugs the side of the cliff. Here you get the most dramatic views of the entire hike.

As you reach the end of the trail, it spits you out right at Scout’s Lookout and the junction to Angel’s Landing. If you have time and energy, a side hike up Angel’s Landing is possible.

As you make your way down into the main canyon, you’ll encounter a lot of people on the trail who are making their way up. Enjoy the last bit of views and make sure to take a dip (or at least cool off those feet) in the Virgin River on your way to the shuttle bus.

For a beginner-friendly backpacking trip, the West Rim Trail in Zion was so much bang for the buck. Non-stop views, relatively few people, and awesome camping made this trip so much fun. If you are interested in doing this trip yourself, check out my West Rim Backpacking Guide with all of the logistic info about this trail. 
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