Kayenta Trail in Zion National Park: A Guide
The Kayenta Trail in Zion National Park provides some of the prettiest views of Zion Canyon on a hike that nearly anyone can do.
Compared to Angel’s Landing, which shares a trailhead with Kayenta Trail, but is much more strenuous and difficult, Kayenta Trail is a great way to take in the splendor of the canyon and of the nearby Emerald Pools without worrying about the technical aspects of Angel’s Landing or needing a permit.
In the trail guide below, I’m sharing everything you might want to know about the trail, including general hiking conditions, parking and trailhead access, what you’ll see along the way, and why this hike is such a good one in Zion.
The sun coming over the top of Zion Canyon as seen from the Kayenta Trail
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Hike Overview
Trailhead Location: Inside Zion National Park, approximately 5 miles from the visitors center
Trail length: up to 2.1 miles round trip, depending on exact route
Trail difficulty: moderate
Elevation gain: approximately 150 feet
Starting the Hike: Parking and Trail Information
To get to the Kayenta Trail, you’ll need to head deep into Zion Canyon. And that’s where you have to start making decisions.
Our e-bikes near the Kayenta trailhead
For most of the year, cars aren’t allowed past shuttle stop #3 at the intersection of Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and Zion Canyon Road.
Anytime that the park shuttles are running, Zion Canyon Road is closed to cars, forcing visitors to either 1) take the shuttle buses, 2) bike in, or 3) hike in.
The shuttle buses are often crowded with a long wait time, especially if you’re visiting during peak times. Hiking in means that you’d be walking 5 miles before even starting the hike, which isn’t appealing to most visitors.
That leaves biking in, which is what I’d encourage you to do. Biking in Zion National Park is my preferred way of getting around, as you no longer have to wait around for the buses and can better navigate the crowds.
Plus, if you ride your bike into the park, you get to use the special pedestrian entrance.
If you’re using the shuttle, be sure to get to the visitors center very early to get one of the limited parking spots. Otherwise, you’ll need to use the paid parking in Springdale, and then access the park by walking in. (If you’re staying at my recommended campground, you can use the Springdale shuttle. Check out my full Zion Canyon Campground and RV Park review here.)
Whether you bike or take the shuttle to the Kayenta trailhead, you’ll want to stop at shuttle stop #6, the Grotto.
There is ample bike parking on both sides of Zion Canyon Road, if you need to chain up your bike while you hike.
There are also bathrooms here with options for both men and women, plus several larger single stalls for families.
If you need to fill up your water bottle, there is a free water refill station near the bathroom entrance.
The Grotto area has about a dozen or so picnic tables if you’d like to rest or have a snack before or after your hike.
This trail is great for older kids! Get more suggestions on how to visit Zion National Park with kids here.
Kayenta Trail vs. Emerald Pools Trail
The Kayenta Trail and the Emerald Pools Trail both end up at the Emerald Pools, just from different directions.
Overall, the Kayenta Trail is less confusing than the Emerald Pools Trail, the latter of which wanders all over and has multiple ways to get to the 3 pools (lower, middle, and upper).
The Kayenta Trail, on the other hand, is straightforward, though it does split into the Upper Kayenta Trail and Lower Kayenta Trail just before getting to the turn off for the upper and middle Emerald Pools.
You can make a loop between the Upper and Lower Kayenta Trails by hopping onto the Middle Emerald Pools trail for a short time.
Confused yet?
I promise, it’s actually much easier to hike than it sounds. The trail is incredibly well marked with little signs pointing the way to each of the trails and pools.
If you’re a visual learner like I am, here’s a basic overview of what the trail looks like in that weird area towards the end.
See how to make the loop to head back to the trailhead?
Kayenta Trail Guide
The Kayenta Trail pedestrian bridge and initial switchbacks
Your hiking journey starts at the Grotto picnic area, and you’ll cross the metal and wooden bridge over the Virgin River to get onto the trail.
The trailhead for the Kayenta Trail is shared with one of the West Rim Trail’s starting points (it’s a point-to-point hike between Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon).
The West Rim Trail is also the way that you get to the famed Angel’s Landing, which splits from the West Rim Trail at Scout Lookout, roughly two miles down that trail.
Because of these options, the trailhead is often quite busy.
When you get to the side of the bridge away from the Grotto, you’ll go right to access the West Rim Trail and Angel’s Landing, and left to do the Kayenta Trail.
As soon as you begin the Kayenta Trail, there is a series of switchbacks that help you quickly gain elevation as you rise above the canyon floor.
By the time you’re 1/3 of a mile onto the trail, you’ve ascended far enough that the Virgin River begins to look small below you, the tree canopy falls away, and you’re treated to some truly beautiful views of Zion Canyon.
At this point, the crowds seem to thin out as the less committed hikers get intimidated by the elevation, so you’re left with those who are truly interested in the experience.
The author’s son near some of the more obvious drop-offs on the trail
The trail itself gets narrower around the half-mile mark, and there aren’t any guardrails or walls here. If you’re nervous about heights or are hiking with younger kids, move to the inside of the trail, so that you can be next to the hilly cliffside instead.
You’ll be able to see the Lower Pools from the Kayenta Trail as you get closer.
(If you’re following trail etiquette and hiking to your right when you meet oncoming hikers, this is where you’ll end up anyway.)
Zion Canyon Views
From 0.3 miles to around 0.6 miles into the hike, you’ll get more of those beautiful, sweeping canyon views, where you’ll be able to see the shuttle buses below on Zion Canyon Road.
The trail continues to rise, though much less intensely than that first set of switchbacks.
There are only a few places to step to the side on this narrow trail if you need to get something out of your bag, so be aware of that—and be thoughtful to other hikers if you do need to stop for some reason.
About 0.6 of a mile into the hike, the trail will make a long, steady curve to the right as you follow the canyon wall.
You’ll begin to get glimpses of the waterfall that runs from the Middle Emerald Pool down into the Lower Emerald Pool, though this might be harder during the summer when the foliage is at its thickest.
The Trail Splits
Soon after, you’ll need to make a decision as the single Kayenta Trail will split into the Upper and Lower Kayenta Trails.
When the trail splits, you’ll see a large metal rod in the ground. Remember, it doesn’t matter which way you go, you’ll be able to loop back around to the trailhead after you see one of the pools (or just keep hiking and bypassing the pools!).
PIN ME!
If you’d planning to do both the Middle and Lower pools, hang to the right when the trail forks, then visit the Middle Pool first, follow the Middle Pool Trail to the Lower Pool, and then return to the Kayenta Trail via the Lower Kayenta Trail. This will be a loop that’s manageable for just about anyone.
However, doing this approach means you’ll be hiking uphill on both sides of the loop: the trail heads upwards towards the Middle Pool, falls as it descends to the Lower Pool, and then heads upwards again as you rejoin the Kayenta Trail.
If you’re just doing the Middle Pool, also hang to the right as the Upper Kayenta Trail is closer to the Middle Pool. You’ll ascend to the Middle Pool, but it’s all downhill from here if you retrace your footsteps back of the Kayenta Trail start.
If you’re doing just the Lower Pool, go to the left on the Kayenta Trail as this will put you closer to the turn off to the Lower Pool. You’ll descend to the Lower Pool, then have to head uphill to rejoin the Kayenta Trail.
The Middle Emerald Pool near the Kayenta Trail
Middle vs. Lower Emerald Pool
While both pools are pretty, which you should pick depends largely on what you’d like to see and what time of the year it is.
The Middle Pool feels less traveled, as it takes some extra effort to get here over the Lower Pool. Many people staying at the Zion Canyon Lodge, which is at the trailhead to the Emerald Pools Trail, just come over to see the Lower Pool before returning back.
Part of the Upper Kayenta Trail on the way to the Middle Emerald Pool
Plus, part of the Lower Pool Trail is wheelchair accessible, so it’s an easy choice for many visitors.
The Middle Pool is a packed dirt trail with elevation, so this is where you’ll begin to see fewer crowds. Plus, the Middle Pool is a stop point on the way to the Upper Pool, so it’s not the final destination for most hikers.
That being said, we liked the Middle Pool because of the beautiful views into the canyon off of the cliff face and over the pool.
The Lower Pool is created by a waterfall from the Middle Pool, so you’re really seeing two sections of the same water feature, just from different perspectives.
During the summer, there’s likely to be water in both pools, though that’s highly dependent on how much rain the area has gotten. You might even get lucky and see some tadpoles swimming around in the slower moving waters of the Middle Pool!
Returning to the Grotto
When you’ve visited the Lower or Middle Pool (or both), head back to the trail head by retracing your steps on the Kayenta Trail.
The vast majority of the trail is downhill on the way back, so you can make better time—and enjoy the views a bit more.
Keep in mind that you will be on the outside of the trail as you go towards the trailhead. The trail is steep in many places, so watch your step and keep an eye out for any areas of washout or unstable dirt.
When you get back to the river, you’re all done with the hike!
How to Extend This Hike
While the Kayenta Trail is short and sweet, you might want to push yourself a bit more in this area of the park.
In that case, there are a couple of ways to extend this hike.
If you want to see the Upper Pool, you can extend this hike by following the signs through the Middle Pool and away from the Kayenta Trail. Doing so will add another 0.3 miles each way for a total of 0.6 miles additional distance to the Kayenta Trail.
If you really want to extend your hike, you can do the Kayenta Trail as noted above, visit some combination of the Emerald Pools, then take the Lower Emerald Pool trail to that trailhead near the Zion Canyon Lodge. This will add another 0.6 miles one way to the trail. From there, pick up the Grotto Trail behind the Lodge, and follow that back to the Grotto shuttle stop, which is where the Kayenta Trail begins.
The Grotto Trail adds another 0.6 miles. So, if you do the Kayenta Trail as stated above, and then added on both the Lower Emerald Pool trail and the Grotto Trail, you’d be adding another 1.2 miles one way for a total loop of around 3.2 miles.
NOTE: If you need a break, stop at the Lodge for lunch or a coffee. Check out our list of the best things to do in Zion National Park besides hiking to see how to break up your day.
What to Bring to Kayenta Trail
Sun protection
Especially near the trailhead and the first 0.3 miles, there is very, very little shade on this trail. If you plan to do this during the summer, you need to get started no later than 8 AM so that you’re ascending the trail while the canyon is still in shadow and protected from the sun.
The weather at Zion in the summer can be brutal, so plan for early and late hikes and avoid midday hiking.
Even when starting early, you’ll still be in the sun on the hike back to the trailhead, so be prepared with sun protection.
We always wear hats while hiking to shield our faces from the sun (or other elements if the hike gets rainy). I prefer a lightweight baseball hat, but my kids often wear wide brimmed sun hats with a drawstring. These keep them cool, but can also be easily smushed into a backpack when they don’t need them.
Additionally, sunscreen and/or a long sleeved, lightweight sun shirt is always a good idea. There is NOTHING worse than getting burned on a hike and then having to endure the itchy hot skin for the rest of your vacation.
We’ve used our Willit sunshirts from Amazon for years, and they’ve held up well. I have the women’s sunshirt here, while my kids have both gotten multiple sizes of this kids’ sun shirt. We’ve worn them everywhere from sand sledding in White Sands National Park to hiking the Narrows with our kids in Zion.
Water
Zion National Park is in the desert, and, thus, hiking here needs to take into consideration the arid, often hot weather.
You will get dehydrated here, and you’ll do so much faster than in other parts of the country. We’re from the very humid Southeast, so we have to be careful and pointed about drinking much more water than we would for a similarly long trail back home.
Bring a water bladder in your backpack, and not just a water bottle (which might not be enough if it is really hot). I carry a 2.5 L water bladder for these shorter hikes, in addition to my kids’ smaller water bladder they have in their packs.
There is a free water refill station at the Grotto near the bathrooms, so you can top up before heading out on the trail.
Snacks
Did you know that eating any kind of salty snacks—even chips!—can help you avoid dehydration and replenish lost electrolytes while hiking? (As if I needed another excuse to eat Cool Ranch Doritos.)
So, pack those granola bars, bags of chips, trail mix, and other snacks and be sure to stop for a break regularly while hiking throughout Zion National Park and on the Kayenta Trail.
Hiking Shoes
I am always startled at the number of people we encounter on trails who are in flip flops. I get it—you’re on vacation and you want to be comfortable. However, those sandals are going to be anything but comfortable after you climb over a hundred feet in elevation in 0.3 miles and there are rocks embedded in the trail everywhere.
Do yourself a favor and don’t head out on any of the trails in Zion without proper footwear. There is SO MUCH good hiking in Utah, so no matter if you’re just focusing on Zion National Park or if you’re doing the entire Mighty Five with your kids, those good hiking shoes will pay off.
When hiking in the summer, I love my Keen Newport H2 hiking sandals, which are protective enough for rock scrambling but are great for water on the trail, too, thanks to the fast drying neoprene and side vents. I’ve had the same pair for years and they’re still going strong, even after hiking throughout more than a dozen states.
Final Thoughts on This Trail
The Kayenta Trail is a must do activity at Zion National Park in my opinion.
It’s a great warm-up for those hikers planning to do longer trails on their vacation, while also being an easy enough trail for even kids and beginning hikers to hop onto.
Plus, the views that you get of Zion Canyon at the top of the trail are incredible and unlike anything you can see from ground level. That alone is worth the effort of hiking this trail.
I also like that the trail has plenty of visual interest points, something that we’re always looking for in order to make hiking more fun for our kids. Between the vast canyon views and the Emerald Pools at the turnaround point, most kids will stay engaged the entire time.
As a bonus, they might also get to see one of the endangered condors that live in the park!
So, don’t overlook the Kayenta Trail on your next trip to Zion. It might not get all of the glory that Angel’s Landing or the Narrows gets, but it’s still absolutely worth your time.
