emerald pools

We completed this as a loop with the Kayenta and Grotto trails. It is a hike so be prepared to do a lot of uphill hiking and a little bit of scrambling if you want to get down to the pools themselves. The views are fantastic and photo ops abound.

The very nice view from the top. Relatively easy to climb. Trail head just across the lodge. Connects with trails

This is a great beginner trail. Easy hike with great views. We were only able to go about 1/2 way because of ice on the trail after the waterfalls, but just seeing the waterfalls made the hike worth the effort.

Fun hike! This was my 9 year old's favorite hike. The hike was moderate in nature but my kids did it with ease. The upper pool was the most impressive. Not as many people tried to hike to the top but I would recommend. There was a small waterfall and it was much cooler up there. Several people used the upper pool as a stopping point to have a picnic lunch.

I have tried to do all the short Hikes in this canyon and this is one that is short but worth it. If you just have a little time or can't do a long hike this is one you will love.

We only hiked in the .6 miles to the first pool. Due to health problems, that was about all I could really manage. The hike is on a well maintained walkway and landscape is beautiful. The first Emerald Pool was more a puddle, showcasing the desperate need for rain or snow to provide the normal water levels. We saw photos of the pool at the visitor center of what it is normally like. I just hope for that moisture to come into the area

This trail was short and easy trail. We went to lower and middle pool. Short hike of 1 mile trail. Very less water in both the pools, it was completely dry.

We stopped here on the way back through Zion after visiting Bryce Canyon. We wanted to experience another hike here without taking a lot of time because we had to be back in Las Vegas this evening. This was a good choice for distance and a pretty easy walk. It follows the creek from an elevated trail, which also passes through a wooded area. There’s some nice views of the valley, the river, and the surrounding mountains, but we were less impressed by the pool itself. To be fair, we were here in early December and there was not a lot of water; it’s probably much better in the spring. We also went no further than the first pool, so I can’t talk about the portion of the trail above and beyond that. The first pool is at the base of a large stone overcropping where water pours over from above (more like trickles when we were there.) The pool is below. We were glad we did this hike, but it certainly wasn’t our favorite in Zion.

In February, there was not much water in the pool and waterfall. Since I'm from the Columbia River Gorge area, where there are full spectrum of waterfalls and pools, the Emerald Pools were OK. What was nice was the leisure hike, certainly a family friendly trail, not much danger. It is also in the shade, so I can see that if it is in the Summer time, this would be a cool trail to be on.

We hiked today to the upper pool with 4 kids (11,8,6,3) they all did well. The 3 yr old needed assistance occasionally but mostly just to get out of other hikers way. The view from middle pool can't be beat! Upper is pretty cool and I'm glad we made the trip all the way up. Lower pools were cool but muddy!

We went here on part of a geography field trip and Zion stood out over the whole road trip as an amazing place. Made in part by this hike, great for adventure lovers as it feels like a small trail climbing up into the mountains of Zion, and it is a rest bite from the squirrels! We also saw some beautiful butterflies and the highest lake is a nice rest spot to chill at for a while. There was not that many people on this hike.

Got some of my best photos here, so I definitely recommend it if you ever come to Zion. The hike overall I loved but I got dehydrated pretty quick, so bring lots of water!

The trek to the Emerald Pools is easy and rewarding. The trailhead is across the road from Zion Lodge. There are three pools, the lower pool, middle pool and upper pool. The name of the pools comes from the algae that produces an emerald hue to the water. It is approximately 1 1/2 miles from the trailhead to the upper pool, 3 miles roundtrip. There is an elevation gain of approximately 450 feet.When you reach the first pool, lower pool, there will be a waterfall that you will pass under. Plan to get wet and your feet muddy. There is a guard rail under the waterfall to prevent slipping and falling. It is then clear hiking to the middle and upper pools. Some people claim to bath in the upper pool, but I would not do it.Overall, it is a great hike and easy to do.

We planned on just going to the first pool and stopping but since we werent tired yet, we decided to finish the trail until the 3rd pool. The trail gets steeper as you climb higher. Getting to the first pool is easy but be careful as the trail can be slippery. The 2nd pool isnt hard to get to and many people rest here, however going from the 2nd to the 3rd pool is really tiring as the climbs are steepe so if you get tired, sit back, relax and enjoy the view :)

Problem #1 was we hiked to Lower Emerald Pool after hiking Angel's Landing, so we were pretty tired.Problem #2 was we did this late morning, so it was quite hot.Problem #3 was it is an easy hike. so everyone and their mother like to hike this trail. It was super crowded. Did not enjoy that part of it.Conclusion: It is a nice, easy, pretty flat hike to Lower Emerald Pool. Just keep in mind that is will get pretty crowded, so try for early morning or later in the afternoon.