Utah - Day 11: Zion National Park
Big Bend to The Grotto
On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, I again arrived at the Visitor Center before 6am to catch the shuttle to the Big Bend stop. While shuttles don’t pick up here to go farther up the canyon, they do stop on the way back down, so it’s a great place to hop off and explore.
From the Big Bend stop, there’s a fantastic view of the Virgin River’s sweeping bend, The Great White Throne, Angel’s Landing, and Cable Mountain. I strolled along the river to The Grotto stop, enjoying the peaceful morning. I was even able to see a deer crossing the river! It was a magical moment in the quiet of the early morning.
Once I reached The Grotto stop, I caught the shuttle back to the Visitor Center parking lot to pick up my car for the next part of the day.
East Mesa Trail
After retrieving the car from the parking lot, I drove about an hour to the East Mesa Trailhead to hike East Mesa Trail to Observation Point, a quieter route on Zion’s upper east side that winds through a ponderosa pine forest before arriving at Observation Point. From the overlook, you can see a panoramic view of Zion Canyon, including Angel’s Landing, the Virgin River, and the scenic road going through the park.
A 4-wheel or all-wheel drive is highly recommended for reaching the trailhead, as it’s down a section of dirt road. There are only 15 parking spots, but if it’s full, shuttles are available from Zion Ponderosa.
I arrived at the trailhead around 11:30am and completed the 7.5-mile hike in about 3 hours. It was a wonderful way to spend the early afternoon.
Canyon Overlook Trail
After finishing East Mesa, I headed to the Canyon Overlook Trail, a short but rewarding hike that offers incredible views of Zion Canyon.
The trail isn’t accessible from the shuttle and can only be reached via private vehicle. The parking area is located on Highway 9, just east of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. Parking is limited right by the trailhead, but there are overflow lots further down the road. I arrived around 4:30pm, and luckily didn’t have any issues getting a parking spot.
The 1-mile out-and-back hike took me about an hour to complete, including time to admire the view at the overlook.
Sunset at The Watchman Trail
To wrap up the day, I drove back to the Visitor Center parking lot for one last hike: The Watchman Trail. I started around 6:30pm, giving myself plenty of time to reach the overlook before sunset.
The trailhead is conveniently located right by Visitor Center plaza. The hike itself is moderate, gaining elevation gradually as it winds up to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Watchman peak and the canyon.
It was the perfect spot to watch the sunset and end the Zion National Park portion of my trip.
