RT Emerald Pools

Series of spring-fed pools, waterfalls, and lush hanging gardens connected by scenic trails beneath towering sandstone cliffs.

General Information

Length:

Up to 3 miles round trip

Elevation Gain:

Approximately 200 feet

Difficulty:

Easy to Moderate

Hours:

Open year-round, accessible any time of day

Fees:

No trail fee
Zion National Park entrance fee required

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed on the trail

Closest cities with hotels:

Springdale (1 mi)

Seasons:

All year

Location:

Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, UT

Website:

nps.gov/zion

Overview

The Emerald Pools Trail starts at Zion Lodge and leads west past waterfalls and hanging gardens to Lower Emerald Pool, built in 1932 using only hand tools, with an extension to the Middle and Upper pools. It is one of Zion's most popular family hikes, and it is best in spring and after rain, when water falls from the alcove.

Top Trails

Trail	Length	Elevation Gain	Highlights
Lower Emerald Pool	1.2 miles round trip	69 feet	Paved, easy, and you can walk behind the waterfall
Middle and Upper Emerald Pools	2.4 to 3 miles round trip	About 400 feet	A rocky climb to a pool under a cliff

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Historical buildings and structures of Zion National Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0