The Lower Emerald Pool Trail, in Zion National Park, is a 1.4 mile there and back hike and is rated easy.
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
The trailhead begins across the street from the Zion National Park Lodge.
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
Deer are very common around the lodge, and if you are lucky, you may spot them while hiking, as well.
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail brings you under the Middle Emerald Pool, which cascades over the rock ledge, creating a waterfall that you hike behind
Here’s a short clip of the falls.
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
Depending on the wind, you may get a little wet here. In the heat of the summer, it is a welcome relief!
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
There is a trail that will take you to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools as well, but we had already hiked the Riverside Walk Trail earlier in the day, so we opted to only do the lower pool hike.
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
We did not witness the “Emerald” color of the pool. I’m not sure if that’s because we were there in the middle of summer and the water was low, or because of the intensity of the sun during our visit. It was, nevertheless, a beautiful hike and I’d highly recommend it to others.
Things To Know Before You Go:
- The current entrance fee for U.S. residents is $35/car. The pass is valid for 7 days. Entrance to the park is also included in the America the Beautiful pass. Current prices can be found here.
- The park is open 24/7 365 days a year.
- During the peak season, driving is not allowed along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You must take a shuttle, which is free. You can find shuttle information here.
- There are bathrooms and water located at the Lodge, across the street.
- There is no reservation required to take this hike. However, the trail is very popular, so it’s unlikely that you will have it to yourself.
The next day had us off to The Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.
(All pictures are available as Fine Art Prints or Digital Downloads for purchase through Alamy. If you see something you like, click on the link. If you are unable to find it, use the Contact Me page and I will make sure the image is available.)
Things to See and Do in Utah
Driving Zion Park Scenic Byway
Hiking the Riverside Walk Trail in Zion National Park
Visiting Canyonlands National Park
Visiting Capitol Reef National Park
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The Lower Emerald Pool Trail
