Overview: Featuring mild hiking, three optional loops, and elegant waterfalls, the Emerald Pools trail sees many visitors each day. On this walk, you can skirt behind thin veils of water, rock-hop across quiet streams, and gaze from a wide balcony onto perfect views of Mountain of the Sun and the gorge below.

Trailhead: Exit shuttle at Zion Lodge.

Mileage:
- Lower Pool – 1.2 miles (1.9 km)
- Middle Pool – 2 miles (3.2 km)
- Upper Pool – 3 miles (4.8 km)

Elevation Gain:
- Lower Pool – 69 feet (21 meters)
- Middle Pool – 150 feet (46 meters)
- Upper Pool – 400 feet (119 meters)

Approximate Hike Time:
- Lower Pool – 1 hour, round-trip
- Middle Pool – 1.5 hours, round-trip
- Upper Pool – 2 hours, round-trip

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Best Times of Day:
- Summer: Early morning (7 - 8 am) and late afternoon strolls feature shade and smaller crowds.

- Fall & Spring: Midday hikes catch the pools glittered with sunlight, making for great poolside-lounging.

Best Times of Year: Spring flowers splash this hike with color, and fall colors make this hike especially dramatic.

Crowds: Heavy traffic is common, as Emerald Pools is one of the most popular hikes in the Park.

Don’t Miss:
- The majestic and pristine Upper Pools, below a jaw-dropping 300-foot waterfall running out of Heaps Canyon

- Abundant waterfalls that evolve suddenly here during rainstorms

Special Notes:
- All distances, times, and elevation changes are based upon starting at the Lodge trailhead.

- The first mile of this trail is paved, creating easy hiking and possible wheelchair access.

- Leave your towel and swim suit behind; these pools are not for swimming or bathing.

- Much of the “balcony” area near the Middle Pool is exposed to slippery cliff edges – Take Care!