Zion West Rim Day Hike

[Jimmy]

My wife and I are planning a long day hike in Zion, from Lava Point to the Grotto on the West Rim Trail. We're in relatively good shape, have done elevation hiking before, but want to know if two flat-landers should tackle this in one day in late October/early November, weather permitting. Depending on whom you ask, this is a 14 - 17 mile hike, mostly downhill but with some steep, strenuous sections. Since the shuttles most likely will not be running, we were going to hire a private shuttle to pick us up from the Grotto early in the morning, hopefully making it to Lava Point by 8:00 am or earlier.

Would like to do this as an overnight, but my cold weather camping gear is no longer up to snuff, and I'm unsure how much $$$ I want to spend on new gear right now.

Has anyone done this as a day hike? Any suggestions?

 

[Jammer]

I haven't done it that way -- but it's definitely doable if you are comfortable with that distance in a day. The absence of extra gear makes the walking that much easier. BUT... if you have the time/gear, camping up there is a great experience and many would consider worth the effort. It gives one a chance to slow down and soak it all in and see the spectacular views of the West Rim at sunset (and sunrise) as well as the city lights of St. George at night. The few times I've been able to watch the sun go down from up there have been unforgettable.

But... I'll admit the very first time I did it, I hiked it as a day hike from the bottom up and back out. So... whatever works for you.

BTW -- note that the spring at the mid-point of the hike was dry earlier this year and may still be.

Good luck!

 

[Jimmy]

Thanks for the info. The time is there, but the gear is not. My mummy bag is in brutal shape, and my wife doesn't have a good winter sleeping bag. Not sure I want to drop a ton of $$$ on cold weather gear when we don't do a lot of winter/cold camping.

All that said, it appears that Zion Adventures rents this stuff, so I'm tempted!

 

[Scott Chandler]

I did the West Rim in a day blah number of years ago sick as a dog (my dad and I had planned the experience for months so I wouldn't back out.) It was great and I want to do it again at 100% so that it would be greater. So if I were you I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'd suggest an early start (with the sun) and not rush it.

 

[DrNed]

I haven't done it that way -- but it's definitely doable if you are comfortable with that distance in a day. The absence of extra gear makes the walking that much easier. BUT... if you have the time/gear, camping up there is a great experience and many would consider worth the effort. It gives one a chance to slow down and soak it all in and see the spectacular views of the West Rim at sunset (and sunrise) as well as the city lights of St. George at night. The few times I've been able to watch the sun go down from up there have been unforgettable.

But... I'll admit the very first time I did it, I hiked it as a day hike from the bottom up and back out. So... whatever works for you.

BTW -- note that the spring at the mid-point of the hike was dry earlier this year and may still be.

Good luck!

@Jammer do you happen to have a TR of this? Looking into some overnighters to do early in the spring next year. Thanks.

 

[slc_dan]

Did it as an overnighter a few weeks ago. Potato Hollow is DRY.

 

[Jammer]

@Jammer do you happen to have a TR of this? Looking into some overnighters to do early in the spring next year. Thanks.

Sure -- check out my BCP trip report from my Around-Zion hike earlier this year.

I also camped up there on my cross-state hike back in 2009. Brief coverage of that leg of the route is available on my site:
Nevada to Colorado: Part 2

Potato Hollow is dry

That's a real bummer. I really hope this spring finds life again next year.

 

[Laura]

FYI-last year the shuttles ran everyday through October and on weekends in November.

 

[Yellowstone 1]

Definitely doable as a day hike if you start early. Brutal on the legs with a pack anyway! @DrNed I did it in May of 2012' with a few right here on BCP, here is also Nick's report http://backcountrypost.com/forum/threads/the-west-rim-of-zion-national-park.871/. Just in case you didn't see it yet..

 

[DrNed]

Definitely doable as a day hike if you start early. Brutal on the legs with a pack anyway! @DrNed I did it in May of 2012' with a few right here on BCP, here is also Nick's report http://backcountrypost.com/forum/threads/the-west-rim-of-zion-national-park.871/. Just in case you didn't see it yet..

Awesome! Thank you!

@Jammer Thank you! The first of November is when I plan my next years trips so I'm putting together my list now.

 

[Nick]

I'd second it being good as a day hike. Just give yourself plenty of time. It is definitely closer to the 17 mile mark. Several BCP'ers here have shared GPS info to come to that conclusion.

 

[Laura]

I haven't done it that way -- but it's definitely doable if you are comfortable with that distance in a day. The absence of extra gear makes the walking that much easier. BUT... if you have the time/gear, camping up there is a great experience and many would consider worth the effort. It gives one a chance to slow down and soak it all in and see the spectacular views of the West Rim at sunset (and sunrise) as well as the city lights of St. George at night. The few times I've been able to watch the sun go down from up there have been unforgettable.

But... I'll admit the very first time I did it, I hiked it as a day hike from the bottom up and back out. So... whatever works for you.

BTW -- note that the spring at the mid-point of the hike was dry earlier this year and may still be.

Good luck!

I am completely obsessed with this picture now. I'll be out there in a couple weeks and I was thinking about camping one night by LaVerkin Creek because I saw a scene last May on my trip with Lisa, Steve and Tess that might be beautiful in the fall, but after seeing this I'm considering camping on the West Rim just so I can shoot this instead. I can't decide which to do……!