West Rim Trail

The West Rim Trail is a 23 km point-to-point trail in Zion National Park, Utah, United States, descending from Lava Point at 2,405 m to The Grotto at 1,310 m and gaining roughly 400 m on its rolling plateau sections. Rated moderate to strenuous, it threads slickrock rims above Behunin Canyon and Phantom Valley before plunging 760 m into Zion Canyon.

About the West Rim Trail

The West Rim Trail is the classic backcountry traverse of Zion National Park, linking the high, forested Kolob Terrace with the floor of Zion Canyon. Most hikers walk it "top-down" from the Lava Point trailhead to The Grotto, a route of about 14.5 miles (23 km) that loses far more elevation than it gains. The starting point near Lava Point sits at 2,405 m, the highest accessible viewpoint in the park, while the finish at The Grotto Picnic Area lies near 1,310 m beside the Virgin River. The cumulative descent is roughly 1,100 m, broken by short climbs across the plateau that add about 400 m of ascent.

The trail is famous for its rim-edge walking. For several kilometres the path skirts sheer drops above Behunin, Heaps and Phantom canyons, with the towers of the West Rim falling away thousands of feet below. It also serves as the approach to Scout Lookout and the spur to Angels Landing, so the lower section is shared with one of the busiest day hikes in the United States. Done as an overnight backpacking trip, the West Rim Trail is one of the quieter wilderness experiences in a park that receives over 4.5 million visitors a year.

Difficulty is best described as moderate with a strenuous finish. The plateau is gentle, but the final 760 m descent through Refrigerator Canyon and Walter's Wiggles is hard on the knees, and water is scarce on the high ground. Strong day hikers complete the top-down route in 7–9 hours; backpackers usually split it over two days. If you are weighing a long single-push day against carrying overnight kit, our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day is worth reading before you commit.

The path itself dates to Civilian Conservation Corps work in the 1930s, when crews blasted the lower switchbacks and built the stone retaining walls you still walk on today. That engineering is why a route losing more than a kilometre of vertical height stays graded and walkable rather than technical. Navigation is straightforward — the trail is well signed at every junction, including the Telephone Canyon split and the Angels Landing spur — but the sheer exposure above Behunin and Phantom canyons demands steady footing and a head for heights on the rim sections.

Route Overview & Stages

The figures below describe the standard top-down direction, from Lava Point to The Grotto. "Elevation gain" counts only the uphill metres on each stage; the overall journey is dominated by descent.

Total distance is approximately 23 km with around 400 m of cumulative ascent and roughly 1,100 m of descent. Many backpackers camp on the plateau near Cabin Spring or Potato Hollow, splitting the route so the long downhill finish falls on a fresh morning.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Lava Point (2,405 m): The highest accessible overlook in Zion, offering a panorama across the park's main canyons before you even start walking.
• Sawmill Springs: An early water source at 2,186 m that is often dry by early summer, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan.
• Potato Hollow: A green, aspen-lined hollow around the 10 km mark, a welcome shaded rest stop with a seasonal spring.
• Horse Pasture Plateau: A broad, open tableland where the trail climbs back to the rim and the big canyon views begin in earnest.
• Telephone Canyon junction: The split between the shorter inland Telephone Canyon route and the scenic West Rim cutoff — take the rim for the views.
• West Rim viewpoints & Cabin Spring: A string of dizzying overlooks above Phantom Valley, plus the only reliable year-round water at Cabin Spring (2,053 m).
• Scout Lookout: The sandy saddle at 1,750 m where the Angels Landing chain-spur branches off and Zion Canyon opens beneath your feet.
• Walter's Wiggles & Refrigerator Canyon: The engineered 21 tight switchbacks and shaded slot that drop you down toward The Grotto finish.

Best Time to Hike the West Rim Trail

The West Rim Trail is best in late spring and early autumn, with the plateau holding deep snow through winter and the lower canyon baking above 38 °C in midsummer. The single best month is May: the snow has melted from the 2,400 m start, Cabin Spring and Potato Hollow still run, wildflowers cover Horse Pasture Plateau, and daytime temperatures on the rim sit at a comfortable 15–22 °C while the canyon floor stays bearable.

June through August are walkable but demanding — Sawmill and Potato Hollow springs typically dry up by mid-summer, so you must rely on Cabin Spring or carry the full distance. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July into September, and lightning on the exposed rim is a genuine hazard. As of 2026 the National Park Service continues to recommend an early start and turning back before storms build over the plateau.

Late September and October are the second-best window, with cooler air, golden cottonwoods in the canyon and quieter campsites, though water planning gets harder as autumn springs weaken. From November to April the upper trailhead is often inaccessible because the Lava Point road closes with snow, and only the bottom-up day hike from The Grotto stays open.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Overnight hikers camp at one of nine designated wilderness sites strung along the plateau, with group limits of 2 to 12 people. A wilderness permit covers the camping and costs roughly €13–€22 (US$15–25) depending on group size, on top of a small reservation fee. There are no huts or water taps at the sites, so plan around Cabin Spring. If you prefer a roof, Zion Lodge inside the canyon runs from about €230 (US$250) a night in season, while motels and hostels in nearby Springdale start around €110 (US$120). The first-come Watchman and South campgrounds near the south entrance charge about €28–€42 (US$30–45) per pitch and are the cheapest indoor-free base for a top-down start.

Getting There & Back

The nearest major airport is Harry Reid International in Las Vegas (LAS), about 270 km and a 2.5–3 hour drive away; St. George Regional (SGU) is closer at roughly 1 hour. Springdale is the gateway town. From April to November private cars cannot drive the scenic canyon, so you reach the lower finish at The Grotto via the free Zion Canyon shuttle (stop 6), a 40-minute ride from the visitor center. The upper Lava Point trailhead has no public transport and lies about 1 hour by road from Springdale via Kolob Terrace Road, so most hikers book a private shuttle operator (around €40–€55 / US$45–60 per person) to drop them at the top and walk back down to the canyon.

Permits & Fees

Park entry is €32 (US$35) per vehicle, valid seven days. A day hike of the West Rim needs no wilderness permit, but the Angels Landing spur requires a separate seasonal lottery permit. Overnight backpacking on the West Rim requires a wilderness permit, available as a calendar reservation or a last-minute walk-in, converted into a permit the day before or day of the trip. Full, current rules are published by the Zion National Park wilderness permits office, and the trail-specific route notes are on the official West Rim Trail page.

Gear & Packing List

Water is the defining challenge: between Cabin Spring and the canyon you may walk 8 km or more with no resupply, so carry 3–4 litres in summer and a reliable filter. Sun protection matters on the exposed plateau, and the long downhill finish rewards trekking poles and broken-in footwear. Keep your overnight load light — every kilogram tells on the climb out of Potato Hollow and the descent of Walter's Wiggles.

For a two-day trip a 50–60 litre pack is ample. The Arc Haul Ultra 60L keeps a fully loaded kit near a kilogram, while the ventilated Atmos AG 50 suits hikers who carry more water. Fast day-hikers tackling the full 23 km in one push can manage with a 2400 Windrider or a running-style ADV Skin 20 vest. If you are still choosing a pack, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven of these head to head. Round the kit out with a wide-brim hat, electrolyte mix, headlamp and a paper map.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the rim-edge drama of the West Rim leaves you wanting more American backcountry, several routes scratch the same itch — from canyon classics to alpine traverses. For a route with comparable exposure but bigger mountains, look to the Tetons; for desert grandeur, stay in the Southwest. Explore the linked trails below to plan your next walk.

• Teton Crest Trail — a hard, high alpine traverse in Wyoming for hikers who loved the plateau views.
• Bright Angel Trail — the Grand Canyon's iconic rim-to-river descent, a natural next step from Zion.
• Wonderland Trail — a long circuit around Mount Rainier for a full multi-day commitment.
• Mist Trail — a shorter, waterfall-soaked classic in Yosemite for a punchy day out.

Hunting for big descents further afield? Our write-up on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania covers a European day hike with a similar high-pass-to-valley character.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the West Rim Trail?
May is the standout month. The snow has cleared from the 2,400 m Lava Point start, the seasonal springs at Potato Hollow and Cabin Spring still flow, and rim temperatures sit around 15–22 °C. Late September and October are a strong second choice with cooler air and autumn colour, while the upper trailhead road usually closes with snow from November to April.

How hard is the West Rim Trail?
It is moderate overall with a strenuous finish. Walked top-down, the plateau is gentle and adds only about 400 m of climbing, but the final 760 m descent through Refrigerator Canyon and Walter's Wiggles is steep and hard on the knees. The main difficulties are heat, limited water and the trail's 23 km length rather than sustained climbing.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?
The full route is 23 km. Fit day-hikers cover it in one 7–9 hour push, but most backpackers split it into two days of roughly 10–12 km, camping near Cabin Spring or Potato Hollow. A two-day plan leaves the demanding 760 m downhill finish for a fresh morning and gives time for the West Rim viewpoints along Horse Pasture Plateau.

Where can I stay or camp on the trail?
There are nine designated wilderness campsites on the plateau, covered by a backpacking permit costing about €13–€22. None have water or shelters, so plan around Cabin Spring. For comfort, Zion Lodge inside the canyon runs from roughly €230 a night, Springdale motels and hostels start near €110, and the Watchman and South campgrounds near the entrance charge about €28–€42 per pitch.

Do I need a permit for the West Rim Trail?
A day hike of the West Rim itself needs no permit, but overnight backpacking requires a Zion wilderness permit, reserved online or taken as a last-minute walk-in. Park entry is €32 (US$35) per vehicle for seven days. The popular Angels Landing spur near Scout Lookout needs a separate seasonal lottery permit, which is not included in a wilderness permit.