West Rim Trail

West Rim Trail is a point-to-point hike in Zion National Park that most commonly gets done top-down from Lava Point to The Grotto. The through-hike is about 14.1 miles and is usually planned for a full day (roughly 6–9 hours) depending on pace and stops.

The trail’s character stays tied to Horse Pasture Plateau at the northern end, then commits to a long descent into Zion Canyon. The route drops past key landmarks on the way down, including Scout Lookout and the Angels Landing area, and it finishes with the last stretch descending into The Grotto via the famous “Walter’s Wiggles” switchbacks.

A typical planning pattern for the full route is to shuttle to the higher trailhead near Lava Point (off Kolob Terrace Road) and then hike down to the canyon floor at The Grotto. If you go bottom-up instead, the effort profile reverses, but the major named features along the way are the same.

For those doing it as an overnight backpack, camp permits are required for backcountry camping, with overnight camping available along the West Rim corridor; longer itineraries generally hinge on the ability to access one of the authorized campsites on-trail.

Water planning matters. The West Rim Trail’s reliable water is described as coming from Cabin Spring/West Rim Spring in addition to springs in areas like Potato Hollow, but water flow can be seasonal—build your plan around current availability.

Winter and shoulder-season timing can change what you can safely pass. A valley area along the route known as “Little Siberia” is noted for holding snow and ice longer than surrounding terrain, and it can be impassable during colder months even with equipment.

More information: Backpacking Zion's West Rim Trail: Jaw-Dropping Views ..., Dead Horse Point Rim Hiking Trails - Utah State Parks, The West Rim Trail Hike in Utah's Zion National Park