Lower Emerald Pool Trail

The Lower Emerald Pool Trail is a 0.6-mile paved path in Zion Canyon that ends at a shallow pool fed by a dripping sandstone alcove. It's one of the most walked trails in the park for good reason: the tread is mostly hard concrete, the grade stays manageable outside a few steeper pitches, and the payoff (a hanging garden of ferns and moss dripping water onto the rock below) shows up fast. Start at the Emerald Pools Trailhead across from Zion Lodge, follow the sidewalk to the crosswalk, and take the trail's right fork toward the Lower Pool.

What to expect

• 0.6 miles one way, roughly 131 feet of elevation gain
• Typical grade around 7%, with a few short sections steeper than 25%
• Surface is nearly all concrete, with one narrow 25-foot stretch and a bridge crossing
• Wheelchair accessible with assistance

Do not enter the pool or the alcove above it. The rock stays wet and slick year-round, swimming is prohibited to protect the ecosystem, and winter visitors should expect ice on shaded sections of pavement. Waterfalls here run best during spring snowmelt or after rain; by late summer the drip can slow to a trickle. This trail connects to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools trails for hikers who want to keep going.