The paved path ascends a series of switchbacks that hug the side of a sun baked mountain, then winds through the coolness of Refrigerator Canyon. After leaving the shady reprieve the trail climbs twenty-one, steep man made, switchbacks called Walter's Wiggles. This short zigzagging section of the trail ascends steeply to Scout Lookout where it bypasses the Angels Landing spur to continue uphill to Cabin Spring or sometimes referred to as the West Rim Spring. At this point, the trail has ascended 2400 feet, past panoramic views, to Cabin Spring.
West Rim Backpack at a Glance Photo Album:West Rim pictures Trail Map:West Rim Map-Backcountry Map-Overview Map Day Hike: Long day hike or a nice backpack. Day Hike Option:Grotto to Cabin Springs Trail Distance: 14.4 miles Average Hiking Time: 10 hours Permit: Permits are not needed for a day hike, but are needed for an overnight backpack. Trail Usage: Heavy Difficulty: Strenuous, but this is a maintained trail. Sun Exposure: Full Sun most of the way, with shade in Little Siberia and Refrigerator Canyon. Trail Conditions: Well maintained. November to May a narrow upper section of the trail called "Little Siberia" is usually snow packed and dangerous and Lava Point is usually inaccessible in the winter. Trailhead:Kolob's Lava Point Trailend: Grotto in Zion Canyon Trail Access: The Kolob Terrace Road closes after heavy snow in the winter which is where the trail begins. The trail ends in Zion Canyon. Usually from April 1st until October 30th Zion Canyon is accessed via the shuttle. Private cars are allowed in Zion Canyon the rest of the year. Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and ride the shuttle back to your car. The rest of the year, when the shuttles are not operating, drive into the canyon and park your shuttle car at the Grotto parking lot. Best Season: Mid-May after the snow clears from Lava Point and late spring when its cooler and the days are still long. November to May there may be snow and ice past Refrigerator Canyon and at Lava Point. The snow is usually heavy in Little Siberia even if you can get past Refrigerator Canyon. Off the Beaten Path: No Classic Zion Hike: Yes Elevation Loss: 3140 feet Starting Elevation: 7460 feet Ending Elevation: 4320 feet Restrooms: Scout Lookout Water: Usually available at Potato Hollow, Saw Mill Springs the West Rim Spring (Cabin Spring), but filter all water.Check at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to see if the springs are flowing at the time of your planned hike.
West Rim Trail History - The trail to Scout Lookout was built by the NPS in 1925-1926 and paved in 1929. Packhorses were used to haul 1240 gallons of oil, that was mixed with sand and rock to pave the trail. A hard surface is desirable on many of Zion's trails to prevent erosion and rutting. I have hiked Zion's southern most trails which are all dirt and the rutting from hikers trekking while its wet caused a multitude of deep holes. My feet had many blisters from those hikes. In the parks 1940's brochure they list this hike as a horse and foot path and horses would create a lot of rutting. In 1985 mules were used to carry material needed to resurface a great deal of the upper part of the West Rim Trail to Scouts Lookout. The animals got a rest when it came time to pour concrete on the path known as Walter's Wiggles when helicopters took up the task. In 2007 the NPS again used helicopters to update the path. They carried away the broken old surface and brought in supplies but the NPS decided not to repave the path above Scouts Lookout.
Directions to Zion National Park
From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance.
From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance.
From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. See restrictions for RV's.
Zion Photo: The zigazgging path of Walter's Wiggles that leads down from the West Rim Trail to the Grotto at the end of the trail.
Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.
West Rim Trail Directions - From the Grotto picnic area, cross the road and walk over the foot-bridge to the West Rim - Angels Landing trailhead. Climb the sun drenched switchbacks up the steep path as they wind back and forth takers hikers higher and higher. Eyes gaze upon the beauty of Zion Canyon as they follow the Virgin River flowing at the base of the trail.
Refrigerator Canyon - This is the part of the trail where hikers get a slight reprieve from the constant, steep grade of the West Rim Trail and the heat of the full sun. Towering canyon walls shade and cool the trail in this all too brief section.
Walter's Wiggles - Squiggle the wiggles, as they ascend the steep twenty-one sharp switchbacks from the floor of Refrigerator Canyon to Scout Lookout. Few make it up this part of the route without stopping for a couple of breathers. The Walter's Wiggles section was named after the first superintendent of Zion National Park, who in 1924-1925, helped engineer the twenty-one switchbacks.
Scout Lookout and Angels Landing - This is the 2-mile mark and the saddle at the junction of the Angels Landing and West Rim Trails. The views of Zion Canyon here are even more impressive than they were lower on the mountain. If you know where to look, several climbing routes can be viewed from this vantage point. There is a rest room at this junction, but during the last several years it seems to be out of order more than its working. If you have never been to the lofty perch of Angels Landing you should consider making your way along the half-mile fin. You return the same way you came, then continue your hike up the West Rim Trail.
Cathedral Mountain - The trail turns north after Scout Lookout, crossing a slab of smooth bedrock. Follow cairns through this portion of the hike. Cathedral Mountain is the large mountain to the left when leaving Scout Lookout. Watch for cross-bedding along this trail, similar to that on Checkerboard Mesa.
Little Siberia and Mount Majestic - Little Siberia is an open valley that gradually ascends into a small canyon north of Mount Majestic and eventually reaches the saddle between the West Rim and Mount Majestic. The saddle separates Little Siberia to the east and Behunin Canyon to the west. The dense vegetation that thrives in this cool valley includes big tooth maple, Douglas fir, spruce and gamble oak. In the winter this part of the trail may be impassible even with crampons or yak tracks.
Switchbacks - Out of the shade of Little Siberia, the narrow trail continues upward on two long switchbacks hugging the tall sandstone wall. The head of the slot canyon named after a pioneer in the park, Behunin, is seen on the left. Note the views of Mystery Canyon as you continue your hike upward.
Cabin Spring - Cabin Spring is just a little mud hole, but it does offer drinking water. The water seeps up from the ground but it must be filtered before drinking it. Longer hiking or backpacking options from this point are Lava Point via the West Rim Trail or the less scenic Telephone Canyon route. There use to be a NPS cabin, that burnt down in 1970, near the spring. which is how the spring got its name. Cabin Spring was named for a cabin that burned down in 1970. The name Telephone Canyon was used because in the past there was actually a telephone line from Lava Point down to the Temple of Sinawava in Zion Canyon.
Best Trail Features - From Scout Lookout many landmarks of Zion National Park can be seen including the Virgin River, Big Bend, the Organ, Cathedral Mountain, Observation Point and Cable Mountain. Past Scout Lookout is Behunin Canyon and Mystery Canyon.
West Rim Campsites
Campsite 9 - Saw Mill Spring: 1 mile from Trailhead. Water is usually available.
Campsite 7 & 8 - Potato Hollow area located about 5 miles from Lava Point. Water is usually available.
Campsite 4, 5 & 6 are about 7-8 miles from Lava Point and offers nice views of the West Canyon.
Campsites 1, 2 & 3 are about 9 miles from Lava Point.
Cabin Spring - Named for a park service cabin that burned down in the 1970s. The spring is often called West Rim Spring since the cabin burned down.
Mileage from
Mt. Carmel Jct.
Zion National Park 12
Bryce Canyon 60
Grand Canyon 85
Cedar Breaks 45
Grand Staircase 9
Dixie Forest 22
Sand Dunes 11
Coyote Butte 57
Red Canyon 47
Tuweep 90
Stay in the heart of the parks, Mount Carmel Junction, and visit the treasures of the Southwest and Utah.
This is my new favorite quote:
"I don't know who Mary Cisneros is, but I mean zionnational-park.com
It's a better site than the NPS's anyway."
Written by the authors of the book: Favorite Hikes in and around Zion National Park
