Zion West Rim Day Hike

Jimmy

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2014
Messages
98
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?
 
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.

P1050627.jpg


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!
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.

P1050627.jpg


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.
 
Did it as an overnighter a few weeks ago. Potato Hollow is DRY.
 
@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.
 
FYI-last year the shuttles ran everyday through October and on weekends in November.
 
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.
 
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.

P1050627.jpg


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……!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Ellen Zion West Rim Trail, December 2022 Trip Planning 3
chandlerwest Zion - West Rim Loop...........in July???? Hiking & Camping 7
M Zion West Rim Trail, Early April 2019 Trip Planning 40
Outdoors24 Zion West Rim Trail in winter Trip Planning 6
I Zion Trip Planning: Misery Canyon --> The Barracks --> West Rim Trip Planning 5
TIMP Zion West Rim Trail Trip Planning 12
Jim Zion NP West Rim Trail Report Hiking & Camping 1
powderglut Zion-West Rim Campsite Trip Planning 4
Cody Zion West Rim Backpacking 6
Nick West Rim Trail, Zion National Park Trip Planning 4
Seldom Seen Anderson West Rim, Zion National Park Hiking & Camping 14
Nick The West Rim of Zion National Park Backpacking 13
pixie1339 Invite Zion West Rim Backpack May 12th - 13th Meet Up (Members Only) 10
Tyler Zion West Rim backpacking September 2009 (Lava Point to the main canyon) Backpacking 7
Nick Zion West Rim Backpacking Trip Planning 42
Ross Misery Canyon just east of Zion - west or east fork? Trip Planning 5
TrailScot Day hike in the Upper East Side of Zion - October 2023 Hiking & Camping 5
TrailScot Public bus from St George to Zion NP in 2024 General Discussion 7
Bob Zion Fees UP Trip Planning 14
fossana New Zion NP advisory for toxic cyanobacteria 11.08.2023 General Discussion 6
zionsky Roaming around Zion Fall 2022 Hiking & Camping 4
canadug Hiker death in Zion National park :( Hiking & Camping 32
zionsky Flash Flood in Zion General Discussion 3
TrailScot Zion backpacking permit changes General Discussion 3
G Dispersed camping near Zion? Trip Planning 5
G Zion trail report please Trip Planning 6
G Zion (half) traverse in April '21? Trip Planning 31
zionsky November in Zion Hiking & Camping 8
chandlerwest Zion Nat'l Park - October Adventures 2020 Hiking & Camping 16
Yvonne Zion Wilderness Permits and Canyoneering permits opened up again General Discussion 11
zionsky Vandalism in Zion General Discussion 4
zionsky Zion to Resume Shuttles July 1 General Discussion 2
Yvonne Hiking Connector Trail to Northgate Peaks on Zion Opening Day, May 13 Hiking & Camping 8
wabenho Zion Front-country - Nov. 2019 Hiking & Camping 5
Yvonne A misty Thanksgiving Hike, Zion NP Hiking & Camping 11
fossana 24 Aug rockfall and E Rim trail closure in Zion (again) General Discussion 3
fossana Eastern Sun Canyon to the Narrows (Zion NP) Canyoneering 4
zionsky Fatality in Zion National Park General Discussion 1
zionsky Zion Scrambles March 2019 Day 4 Hiking & Camping 5
zionsky Zion Scrambles March 2019 Day 3 Hiking & Camping 4
zionsky Zion Scrambles March 2019 Day 2 Hiking & Camping 2
chandlerwest Continuing Adventures in Eastern Zion National Park Hiking & Camping 31
zionsky Zion Scrambles March 2019 Day 1 Hiking & Camping 2
I Zion-South Utah Spring Break - March 9th-March 14th Trip Planning 15
C Route 9 Through Zion closed indefinitely. General Discussion 25
zionsky Snowshoe Rental in Zion Gear 2
fossana Kolob Canyons (Zion NP) still closed for road construction Trip Planning 2
Yvonne Snowshoeing Northgate Peaks, Zion NP, December 2018 Winter Sports 10
J Zion Traverse in early December Trip Planning 19
D Zion NP in the winter Trip Planning 7

Similar threads

Back
Top