West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout and beyond
The West Rim Trail in Zion National Park is a popular backpacking and day hiking route, known for its stunning views and diverse ecosystems. We did the bottom-up direction, going from the Grotto (shuttle stop 6) up past Scout Lookout and another 2 miles or so, making it a nice 8 mile round trip, 1,700 ft elevation gain hike.
It was going to be a hot day (fcst high 104 degrees), so we got an early start, crossing the bridge over the Virgin River at the Grotto while it was still in the shade cast by the east canyon walls …
… yet looking up to the now fully illuminated Angels Landing …
The trail follows the west bank of the Virgin River before ascending a series of switchbacks …
… with nice views looking back down Zion Canyon …
Refridgerator Canyon is a little hidden gem, carved deep into the cliffs below Angels Landing, where it receives little sunlight and is noticably cooler …
Here’s the start, looking back to Zion Canyon …
Exiting the Refridgerator Canyon we start on Walter’s Wiggles, a series of 21 steep (19% grade) switchbacks …
You can see all the switchbacks on our route from Strava …
When we were done “wigglin’”, we emerged at Scout Lookout. Lots of folks milling about here, but rangers only allow those with permits to continue on the last half-mile to Angels Landing itself …
We continued on West Rim trail, heading north, climbing slickrock …
And eventually looking back and down on the folks on Angels Landing …
… and at Big Bend (shuttle stop 8) …
… and at the Temple of Sinawava (shuttle stop 9) and Riverside Walk …
We found a nice quiet shaded spot under a pine tree for lunch…
… where we enjoyed condors soaring overhead [CORRECTION: A bird-spotting volunteer corrected us that this bird was really a common turkey vulture, not a condor. Ugh, oh well, we were still excited to see it. Here’s how to tell the difference between a condor and a turkey vulture.] …
… a daytime moonset …
… and views from this high perch …
If you go on a hot day like we did, plan to start early and take plenty of water; we carried 3 liters each, and drank almost all of it!