Zion Basecamp Tour

• Shuttle to trailhead: 1.5-hour drive from St. George, Utah
• Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
• Difficulty: easy to moderate
• Campground: Zion Ponderosa Ranch or Watchman Campground

On this Utah hiking adventure we start the first day with pick up in St George and shuttle to Snow Canyon State Park. Like a mini Zion, Snow Canyon (named after the man, not the precipitation) is in the same Navajo Sandstone layer as Zion, and cuts impressive walls from the lava-covered country above the rim through the slickrock country below. We will have a break for breakfast in the lower canyon, and continue along to the rim to start our hike from the bleached white rock cap through the red rocks and down to the base of the canyon. Along the way we’ll visit (and perhaps explore) young lava tubes and get a great introduction to canyon country. We’ll eat lunch on the trail. Our vehicle is shuttled to the bottom of the canyon; from there, it’s a 1 hr drive to Zion, while we’ll setup camp and cook dinner.

Please note: in the event of high water, the Virgin River Narrows hike will be rerouted to a different trail in Zion. The Park is full of unforgettable hiking and scenery, so it’s easy to find an excellent substitute. To learn how seasonal river flows can affect your hike of the Virgin River Narrows, please review this article.

• Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
• Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
• Campground: Zion Ponderosa Ranch or Watchman Campground

Today’s hike is up the East Rim Trail to Observation Point. This hike is by far the most challenging of this tour, but worth the view! It involves a lot of unrelenting uphill on a hard paved trail that was blasted out of the canyon walls. Along the way, hikers get a glimpse into Echo Canyon with its beautiful slickrock formations and stunning white cliffs. Hiking poles are very useful on this hike!

Once through Echo Canyon we continue further up a long series of steep switchbacks up Mount Baldy. The final ascent is rather exposed, where the walls surrounding us drop sharply which could be an issue for individuals who are concerned with heights. The trail levels out at the top of Observation Point, we’ll find some welcome shade and enjoy a well-earned lunch before descending back to our canyon basecamp for the evening.
Important Note: due to rock fall damage and temporary consequential trail closure, for the foreseeeable future the hike of Observation Point (described above) will be rerouted to a combination of Scouts Lookout and the Watchman. These alternate hikes provide comparable elevation gain and distance, and incredible views of both the upper and lower Zion Canyon.

• Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
• Difficulty: easy to moderate
• Shuttle to St. George

This final morning, we’ll eat breakfast, breakdown camp, and begin the culminating activity of our trip: hiking Virgin Narrows. Our hike starts with a stroll down the paved River Trail. Buttressed by water on our left and a 3,000-foot cliff face on the right, the River Trail gives us an up-close appreciation for the powerful hydrological forces that carved this incredible canyon.

After a mile of walking along hanging gardens and under the dappled shade of majestic cottonwoods, the sidewalk ends. Wearing seasonally appropriate water gear, we’ll enter the river. Hiking in moving water can be a new and exciting experience for many. We’ll take time to get our “stream legs” before walking another 1.5 miles upriver to our turnaround point at Orderville Canyon.

Before descending back downstream, we’ll be certain to get a few more photos of the Narrows’ majestic beauty and, of course, stop-off for a relaxing shoreline lunch before returning to the trailhead. Our bellies content and our spirits filled, we’ll load up and head back to St. George, where we’ll say our goodbyes and start scheming about our next adventure!

Extend your adventure with a day hike in the amazing “Miniature Zion Canyon” – Snow Canyon State Park! Click here to learn more.