Epic Emerald Pools Hike in Zion National Park (lower, middle, and upper pools) 2024
During my visit to Zion National Park in Utah with my family, we wanted to explore one of the most popular waterfall hikes in Zion, and Emerald Pools was an easy choice.
The Emerald Pools hike in Zion combines Kayenta Trail with the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools Trail and rewards you with spectacular views of the Virgin River, the West Canyon, multiple emerald-colored pools, and occasional waterfalls.
So, let’s jump into the details of how to do one of the best hikes in Zion National Park.
How to get to Emerald Pools Trailhead
When we visited Zion in January 2024, the Emerald Pools Bridge across the Zion Lodge (Shuttle Stop #5) was closed indefinitely, so we had to start the hike from The Grotto (Shuttle Stop #6) by taking the Kayenta Trail.
Until the bridge across the lodge is repaired, the best way to reach all three Emerald Pools is from The Grotto or Shuttle Stop #6.
This was a bummer as we were staying overnight at the Zion Lodge. We could have just walked across the Lodge to the bridge, but instead, we had to drive to the next stop and find parking there.
From March to November (and during the winter holidays), when the Zion Canyon Shuttle is running, the only way to reach The Grotto stop is by taking the Zion Shuttle.
We visited in January, and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive was open to private vehicles. We parked at The Grotto’s parking lot and reached the trailhead that starts from across the road.
Emerald Pools Hike Overview
The Emerald Pools out-and-back hike via Kayenta Trail to Upper Emerald Pools is a total of 3 miles round trip with around 325 feet of elevation gain.
Most of the elevation gain is towards the end while going from the Middle to the Upper Emerald Pools.
This hike starts at the Kayenta trail, and around a mile into the hike, you will reach a fork. From there, you can take the trail down to the Lower Emerald Pools or take the trail up to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools.
Lower Emerald Pools via Kayenta Trail:
- Round trip Distance – 2 miles
- Time needed – around 1.5 hours
- Elevation – Around 70 feet
- Difficulty level – Easy to moderate, with uneven terrain and rock steps
Middle Emerald Pools via Kayenta Trail:
- Round trip Distance – 2 miles
- Time needed – around 1.5 hours
- Elevation – Around 180 feet
- Difficulty level – Moderate, with uneven terrain and rock steps
Upper Emerald Pools via Kayenta Trail:
- Round trip Distance – 3 miles
- Time needed – around 2 to 3 hours
- Elevation – Around 325 feet
- Difficulty level – moderate, with uneven terrain and uphill rock steps
We first visited the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools and then the Lower Emerald Pools. Finally, we returned via the Kayenta Trail, the same way we came. We could not do the loop as the bridge to the Lodge was closed.
Even if you have only one day in Zion, I think the Emerald Pools should be on your list to explore.
Hiking the Emerald Pools Trail in Zion
The Emerald Pools hike was the first hike I did in Zion and my first experience with the amazing landscape of Zion. I was in constant awe of the views of the massive red canyons and the Virgin River on this hike.
Being a Californian, I always thought that Yosemite was the most beautiful National Park, but Zion took my breath away with its unique red sandstone cliffs sprinkled with green vegetation.
We started this hike in the late afternoon in January, so we only had about 2 hours of daylight left, and we were on a mission to see both the Upper and Lower Emerald Pools.
To reach the trailhead, we crossed the Zion Canyon Road at The Grotto (Stop #6). There is a nice bridge here (great photo op) that takes you over the Virgin River.
At the other side of the bridge, there is a fork. You take the left for the Emerald Pools via Kayenta Trail. The right here goes to the popular Scout Lookout and Angels Landing trails.
Kayenta Trail
The first part of the Emerald Pools hike is the Kayenta trail. This is an unpaved trail with red loose sand and uneven rocky terrain. The trail was dry and not muddy when we went, as it hadn’t rained that week.
The trail starts with climbing some rock steps, but then it’s mostly flat till you reach the fork for the Middle and Upper pools.
The initial part of the Kayenta trail is parallel to the Virgin River and Zion Canyon Road and has excellent panoramic views of Zion Canyon.
As we went in the evening, there were shadows of the canyon walls on the view, but it was peaceful and serene.
After about 0.8 miles, the trail begins to turn inward toward the canyon and away from the main road.
You will soon reach a fork in the path, and taking right and up will take you to the middle and upper pools, while left and down will take you to the lower emerald pools.
We took the path to the Upper Emerald Pools. The entire trail is well-marked, and there are signs at major forks in the path.
Middle Emerald Pools
The Middle Emerald Pools arrived quickly after the fork, and there wasn’t much to see there.
There was a shallow pool that was roped off and a very small trickling waterfall here. We continued on to the Upper Emerald Pools.
Upper Emerald Pools
Getting to the Upper Emerald Pools is where most of the incline part of this hike is. We kept climbing a series of uneven stone steps till we reached the Upper Pools.
The Upper Emerald Pools is deep inside the canyon and surrounded by canyon walls. It was a sight to see.
The still pool with emerald-colored water and the massive canyon around it was really beautiful. Worth the uphill hike to reach it!
There is usually a waterfall here, but there was no waterfall when we went as it hadn’t rained that week.
Lower Emerald Pools
After seeing the upper pools, we then went back towards the Middle Pools and finally took the path down to the Lower Emerald Pools.
Again, there are many uneven stone steps to descend. Somewhere along the midpoint, there is a viewpoint to the left that allows you to see the canyon walls from afar.
You can then continue along the path to the Lower Emerald Pools. In the last part, you will be walking under a canyon wall canopy with guard rails.
There was a trickle of waterfall here that dropped into the Lower Emerald Pool. This part of the trail was muddy because of the water dripping from the canyon walls.
We finally climbed back up to the Kayenta Trail and returned to The Grotto parking lot. We made it back just in time before it got dark. We had to rush a bit at the Lower Pools to get back to our car before dark.
We finished the total Emerald Pools hike in around 2.5 hours, with breaks at the Upper and Lower Pools for photos.
FAQs about Emerald Pools Hike
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about hiking the Emerald Pools trail.
How long is the hike to Emerald Pools in Zion?
From The Grotto stop via Kayenta trail, the hike to the Lower Emerald Pools is around 2 miles, the hike to the Middle Emerald Pools is around 2 miles, and the hike to the Upper Emerald Pools is around 3 miles.
The Emerald Pools trailhead across the Zion Lodge was closed when we visited and remains closed until further notice, as per the NPS website, so the Kayenta Trail is the way to go.
What is the best time to hike Emerald Pools?
Although Zion sees most visitors during the summer months, I think the best time to hike to the Emerald Pools is during Spring, Winter, and Fall when the weather is mild and the crowds are thinner. If visiting in the summer, go early in the day or later in the evening to avoid the afternoon sun.
We visited in January, and there were very few people on the trail. We didn’t see any waterfalls because there was no snow or rain yet. Visiting in Spring might be best, as the weather will still be nice, and you will have a higher chance of seeing waterfalls at the pools.
Is the Emerald Pools hike worth it?
I loved the Emerald Pools hike because it involves little effort and goes deep into the canyon, where you can see the stunning Upper and Lower Emerald Pools. The uneven rocky terrain and views of the Virgin River make it more interesting. The Upper Emerald Pools was my favorite as it was a small emerald-colored pool surrounded by canyon walls. It was well worth the uphill hike!
Can you swim in Emerald Pools in Zion?
As per the signage at the trailhead, swimming is not allowed at any of the Emerald Pools.
Is a permit needed for Emerald Pools?
No, we didn’t need any permit for hiking the Emerald Pools. As this hike is inside Zion National Park, we needed to pay the National Park entrance fee at the gate, which is around $30 per vehicle. We had a valid ‘America the Beautiful’ annual pass ($80 for a year), so we didn’t have to pay the entrance fee.
Is the hike to Emerald Pools kid-friendly?
The Kayenta Trail has some moderate drop-offs, but it is quite wide. Kids under five might need to be watched or held. Also, the stone steps to the Upper Falls could be tiring for very young kids. My teen kids loved the trail as they usually like such unpaved trails with varied terrain.
What else can you do after the Emerald Pools Hike?
We stayed in Zion National Park overnight and explored several other trails and attractions during our trip:
- The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
- Driving on Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (this was epic!)
- Hiking The Canyon Overlook Trail (mindblowing view from the top!)
- Took an easy stroll along the Parus Trail.
- Staying at the Zion Lodge overnight.
Apart from this, the most popular hikes in Zion are Angels Landing and the Narrows. Both of these hikes were not suitable during winter, so we skipped them.
Tips for hiking the Emerald Pools
The tips below will help you plan your Emerald Pools hike.
Final Takeaways: Emerald Pools hike in Zion
Overall, I am so glad we were able to hike both the Upper and Lower Emerald Pools in Zion National Park. This was the first hike we did in Zion and was a great introduction to the epic red sandstone canyon views that Zion is famous for.
Any hike with water features like waterfalls and pools always feels more rewarding to me, and the Emerald Pools hike provides access to three different pools with moderate effort.
Up next, check our more easy to moderate hikes in Zion National Park.