Zion West Rim Trail (Lava Point to the Grotto)

Zion National Park (Kolob Terrace to Zion Canyon, near Springdale)

The West Rim Trail starts in the pines near Lava Point, on the Kolob Terrace, and ends about 14 miles later on the floor of Zion Canyon at the Grotto, losing more than 3,000 feet along the way. It is one of Zion’s classic overnight trips, and the park keeps it to nine designated campsites.

Visit Utah warns that “reservations for wilderness campsites are often completely booked,” so the permit is usually the hardest part.

The hike

The NPS gives the trail as 14.2 miles from the West Rim Trailhead to the Grotto, or 13.6 miles using the Telephone Canyon Trail as a shortcut, with 3,400 feet of elevation change. Canyoneering USA lists 12.9 or 14.4 miles depending on the variation, with about 500 feet of gain and 3,650 feet of loss. Most hikers go north to south; Visit Utah rates that direction moderately strenuous and the reverse strenuous.

The trailhead sits just east of Lava Point. Canyoneering USA says the Wildcat Canyon junction comes about five minutes in, and Potato Hollow, with a pond and a spring that “only occasionally run dry,” comes at about 4.5 miles. Visit Utah describes Horse Pasture Plateau and the meadows of Potato Hollow, along with burn areas from a 1996 wildfire that are only partly recovered.

Past Potato Hollow the trail splits. Canyoneering USA describes Telephone Canyon as the direct route to Cabin Spring but says it was closed after fire damage as of 2011; the current NPS page lists it as a shortcut, so ask at the Wilderness Desk. The rim route continues along Phantom Valley to West Rim Spring. Canyoneering USA calls Cabin Spring “the only reliable water on the West Rim Trail,” and warns the trickle is slow to collect.

From Cabin Spring, the NPS says the trail drops 2,500 feet in 4.7 miles. Visit Utah says the route follows cairns over bare bedrock in places and warns of cliff exposure below West Rim Spring. Views take in Behunin Canyon, Mount Majestic, and Cathedral Mountain before the trail reaches Scout Lookout.

At Scout Lookout, the Angels Landing spur heads off along the ridge. The NPS says hikers continuing to Angels Landing from Scout Lookout need a permit, and its page doesn’t mention an exception for backpackers, so apply separately if you want to go. The last stretch drops through Walter’s Wiggles and Refrigerator Canyon to the Grotto shuttle stop.

For a longer Zion overnight on the Kolob side, see La Verkin Creek to Kolob Arch, or for a wet one, the top-down Narrows.

Tips

Book the moment reservations open. The NPS says backpacking sites “often become fully booked for the next season within minutes.”
Arrange a ride to the West Rim Trailhead on the Kolob Terrace; the trail ends at a different trailhead in Zion Canyon.
Don’t count on springs. Ask at the permit desk which are flowing and carry plenty.
Don’t drink the creeks. The NPS advises filtering only from springs without algae mats and not drinking stream water in the park.
Plan for snow and ice early in spring on the upper trail; the trailhead road usually closes in winter.
Get an Angels Landing permit if you want to make the side trip.

Camping

The NPS says camping on the West Rim is “permitted in designated sites only,” at nine backpacking sites. Half of Zion’s backpacking sites can be reserved on Recreation.gov, with release dates of Dec. 5, March 5, June 5, and Sept. 5 for the following quarter; the rest are walk-in permits issued in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center the day before or the day of a trip. The reservation holder must pick up the permit in person. Fires are not allowed in Zion Wilderness; use a gas or liquid-fuel stove. The park’s 2015 wilderness guide lists a group limit of 12 on wilderness trails and says pets are not allowed on wilderness trails.

Inside Intel: Canyoneering USA recommends the two Potato Hollow sites, numbers 7 and 8, and notes that site 6 overlooks Phantom Valley and Heaps Canyon. Potato Hollow also has a spring the guide says only occasionally runs dry.

Trail facts

Distance: 14.2 miles (NPS); 12.9 to 14.4 miles by variation (Canyoneering USA)
Route type: Point to point; shuttle needed
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: 9 designated sites; reserved or walk-in permit
Water: Sawmill Springs and Potato Hollow Spring (seasonal), Cabin Spring (small); carry extra
Permits: Zion wilderness permit; Angels Landing needs its own permit
Fires: Prohibited; stoves only
Dogs: Not allowed on wilderness trails (2015 NPS guide)
Trailhead: West Rim Trailhead near Lava Point (Kolob Terrace Road); ends at the Grotto
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Nine sites on the Zion West Rim:

The West Rim allows camping only at nine designated sites, so you can't shop around for softer ground. Our side-sleeper tips cover thicker pads, pillows, and roomier bags.

Get the fixes →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.