Zion's Emerald Pools Trail
Zion's most popular family hike — spring-fed pools and seasonal waterfalls across from Zion Lodge, with easy, middle, and upper options.
Zion's Emerald Pools Trail
The Emerald Pools are Zion's most popular family hike — a series of spring-fed pools and seasonal waterfalls tucked into the canyon wall across from Zion Lodge.
The three pools
- Lower Emerald Pool: an easy, mostly paved 1.2-mile round trip to a pool beneath a misting waterfall you walk behind
- Middle Emerald Pool: a bit more climbing to pools at the top of the falls
- Upper Emerald Pool: a steeper, rockier push to the largest pool, backed by towering cliffs (~3 miles round trip for all three)
Tips
- Take the shuttle to Zion Lodge (stop 5); the trail starts across the road
- The waterfalls are best in spring and after rain — by late summer they can slow to a trickle
- Trails can be slick near the water; wear real shoes
- Don't drink or swim in the pools; they're fragile and protected
An easy, scenic introduction to Zion's canyon.