Emerald Pools

The Emerald Pools rank among Zion National Park’s most popular and easily accessible natural wonders. Paths to the Lower and Middle Pools are wide and paved, making them an excellent option for families with kids or those with restricted mobility. Visitors looking for a more active experience can tackle the sandy, rocky, and somewhat steep trail leading to the Upper Emerald Pool. The Emerald Pools and several other Zion highlights are often included in multi-day tours of Utah’s national parks, which cover Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley as well.

• The Emerald Pools are a must-see for first-time visitors to Zion.

• Don’t forget to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of drinking water.

• Bathing in or walking through the water of the pools is prohibited.

• The Lower Pool is wheelchair accessible with some assistance.

The Emerald Pools Trail begins just across the road from the Zion Lodge. Three trails access the pools: a 1.2-mile (1.9-kilometer) loop to the Lower Emerald Pool, a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) round-trip hike to the Middle and Lower Pools, and a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) round-trip hike visiting all three. Free shuttles from Zion Canyon Visitor Center stop at Zion Lodge from April to October.

Since the Emerald Pools have become one of Zion’s most popular attractions, the trails can get congested during the high season in June, July, and August. To avoid the crowds, plan to visit on a weekday morning during the fall or spring shoulder seasons, and avoid school holidays.

While most visitors take the Emerald Pools Trail to the eponymous pools, the Kayenta Trail offers a lesser-known, slightly longer, and more scenic route to the popular site. The trail follows the west wall of Zion Canyon, linking The Grotto picnic area to the Emerald Pools and Angels Landing.

The Emerald Pools trailhead is easily reachable from the Zion Lodge within Zion National Park and via the park’s shuttle. Cross the street from the lodge (and the park’s fifth shuttle stop) and then cross the bridge. There you’ll find three trails that give you access to the Emerald Pools.

The difficulty level of the Emerald Pools hike depends on which trail you choose. There are three trails: a short loop to the Lower Emerald Pool, an easier hike to the Middle and Lower Pools, and a more challenging hike that goes to all three.

No, dogs aren’t allowed on Zion National Park’s Emerald Pools hiking trail, and, in fact, dogs aren’t allowed on any of the trails or wilderness areas within the Utah park.

No, there aren’t swimming opportunities available at Emerald Pools. These are natural pools in Zion National Park where swimming has been banned to make sure the ecosystem of the area doesn’t get ruined. You can, however, dip in the Virgin River along Pa’rus Trail within the park.

The best time of year to hike Emerald Pools is during the spring or fall. In summer the trail can be extremely crowded, and in winter ice may form on the paths. If you want to further avoid crowds in spring or fall, try for an early morning, weekday visit.

It depends on the trail you choose. The hike to the Lower Emerald Pool is about a 1.2-mile (1.9-kilometer) loop. The Lower and Middle Pool is a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) round-trip hike, and the trail that visits all three pools is about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long.