Zion National Park has some of the most incredible hikes in the entire National Park System. And so there’s no lack of choice for those visiting. Watchman Trail is not one of the most sought-after hikes, but in some ways that’s what makes it a good choice to visit. It’s pretty reasonable in difficulty and generally not as crowded as those super popular hikes.
We help you determine if it’s a good hike for you. It’s a nice and fun 3-mile hike with some good views and ascents, without anything crazy. The one downside though is there is little tree coverage, so be sure to plan for the sun if you come.
About the Watchman Trail
Distance: 3.1 miles | Type: Out & Back | Avg. Time: 1.5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate | Dog Friendly: No
The Watchman’s Trail is one of the most overlooked trails by most visitors to Zion. It doesn’t have the flash of some of the bigger names such as Angel’s Landing or the Narrows. It also doesn’t have the crazy vertigo-inducing views over the canyon such as the Canyon Overlook or East Mesa / Observation Point trails.
The trail is fairly easy to moderate with a mostly pretty flat hike and then an ascent up towards a loop with views over the park canyon’s entrance area and campsite. It’s not a hike we recommend in place of any of the other hikes mentioned above. But if you have extra time or want something later in the day before heading to your lodging, this is a good option.
Watchman Trail Trailhead & Parking
The Watchman Trail’s trailhead is located on the south side of the Virgin River close to the visitor center. If coming from the visitor center head towards the bridge over the river and cross the road. Look for signs for the trail. This is probably one of the easiest trails to access for many people as you’ll have to park here anyway for most trails.
The tricky part is that if you arrive mid-morning to mid-afternoon you may have difficulty finding parking within the visitor center parking. In this case, you’ll have to locate parking in town, which may be costly (if at all available).
Best Time to Do the Hike
My favorite time for this hike is in the spring or fall when the weather is a bit cooler and maybe there’s less intensity in the heat and sun. That’s probably the only downside to the hike is how hot it can be here, especially without any good tree cover.
The hike however is pretty good anytime of year. It’s wide and lower in elevation so it won’t be as icy or difficult as some other hikes during inclement weather. You may require some spikes though if you come in the winter.
Summers are very popular and thankfully it’s a short hike close to the visitor center. However, plan for the heat, carry water, and be prepared. Thankfully, the hike is popular enough that you’ll always see folks if you have trouble and generally have good cell reception.
The Watchman Trail Hike
Start the hike across the street from the visitors center and close to where the bridge crosses the river. Look for the trailhead sign.
The beginning part of the hike will go along a trail that also parallels the road. It’s a pretty easy hike here. After about 0.2 miles you’ll head right towards the canyon wall area. You’ll continue this way for another 0.2 miles.
Here’s the steep part. The trail will climb pretty steeply up the canyon area here. It can get pretty steep in parts. This is the most difficult part of the entire hike.
You’ll continue this climb for about 0.7 miles in total. It’s tough but not too tough in my opinion. And you can get some nice views behind you of the road and into the canyon.
Here the trail flattens out. It has two trails that go in either direction. This is a loop that takes you along the plateau area here.
Be sure to keep an eye on the markers. This will show you where the trail is as you walk the loop.
Otherwise, just continue along this way. There are views of the canyon and the area towards the campsite and visitor center. It’s a nice view. From here after you do the loop you continue back down the trail towards the visitor center.
Tips & FAQs
- Carry water. It’s a short hike but it can be intense in the heat and sun. It’s got little to no coverage.
- Go early or late, mostly for the weather and sun as above. It’s also pretty lovely with the overlooks in good light.
- I recommend good trail shoes, but the hike is okay with regular sneakers or even sandals. I would always recommend shoes that are secured to the foot though.
- The hike is not dependent on the shuttle. Which in my opinion is great. If things at the shuttle are crazy it might be a good option to just get going and not wait.
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