Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
This is the Zion hike you can do with a toddler and still feel like you saw something. The lower trail leaves from across the road at Zion Lodge and runs 0.6 miles, almost entirely on concrete, though a couple of pitches steepen enough that a stroller becomes a two-person job. The waterfalls are seasonal, so in a dry stretch expect a drip rather than a curtain. Going on to the middle and upper pools trades pavement for dirt and real climbing.
The Trail
Waterfalls dripping over alcoves into green pools. Lower pool is stroller-ish.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Easy)
Water bottle, sunscreen, hat, snacks, comfortable shoes.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: South Campground (Zion) (Camping, 4 mi) · Watchman Campground (Camping, 4 mi) · Lava Point Campground (Camping, 10 mi) · Kolob Reservoir (Fishing, 14 mi)
More hikes nearby: Angels Landing (Hike, 1 mi) · The Narrows (Bottom-Up) (Hike, 2 mi) · Riverside Walk (Hike, 2 mi) · Canyon Overlook Trail (Hike, 3 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Emerald Pools hike?
- 3 miles round trip with 620 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Emerald Pools?
- Easy. Kid rating: 5 out of 5.
- When should I hike Emerald Pools?
- Best season: All year.
- Why hike Emerald Pools?
- Because it packs hanging water, shade, and a short walk into one stop near the lodge, which is rare in a park this vertical. Swimming is not allowed and the pools are a wildlife water source, so keep kids on the bank. In winter the concrete ices up.