Riverside Walk - Zion National Park

I was going to start off by saying that the Riverside Walk is a must-do hike in Zion National Park, but I have every reason to believe that virtually every Utah travel magazine already advertises this hike in bold letters. To add to its popularity of epic proportions, the Riverside Walk happens to be the gateway to the famous rugged Zion Narrows – hence, more crowds…

My first impression: Meh. Look at all these people. Are you kidding me?! I dragged my feet behind the rest of my family, largely unsure about this OBVIOUS colossal waste of our time. But, in just a few minutes, this hike won me over. Big time!! Despite the crowds. (Make no mistake, I despise crowds.)

Hands down, the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park deserves every bit of popularity it gets.

A crowded path at the base of a massive canyon. — The Riverside Walk trailhead

Riverside Walk – Zion National Park

Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 2 miles (round trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Temple of Sinawava (shuttle stop #9)
Trail map: View map

The Riverside Walk is a paved trail with minimal elevation. It’s more of a walk than an actual hike, so you can literally do this Zion hike in your flip-flops. That being said, this is quite possibly the most scenic hike in Zion National Park. The two usually don’t go hand in hand, but this is one of those rare exceptions.

The nature of this trail makes it an excellent option for families with small kids, or anyone hoping to see much of Zion National Park without breaking a sweat. As long as too much sand hasn’t blown over the pavement, this Zion hike is stroller-friendly and wheelchair-accessible, too.

The Riverside Walk follows the eastern bank of the Virgin River that cuts its way through a deep lush narrow canyon.

Along the way you have an endless display of soaring canyon walls, picturesque river views, lush hanging gardens, and glimmering natural pools. The views increase in magnitude the closer you get to the trail’s end.

Observing hanging gardens, dripping canyon walls, and natural pools on the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park. — Hanging gardens and natural pools on the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park

Bonus points: you should be A-OK on the Riverside Walk, even on a hot summer day. The trail is well shaded thanks to an abundance of trees surrounding the path, and the massive canyon walls block the sun from baking the trail except for a few hours around midday.

The air on this hike is fresh and crisp, compliments of the river and the eco-system of the weeping walls.

The paved path of the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park. — The paved Riverside Walk

Hanging gardens are plentiful along this trail (much like Zion’s Weeping Rock Trail). The steep canyon slopes are blanketed by plants that flourish in the crevices of the rock, sustained by the trickling water seeping through. Nature is simply amazing. You may even see a flower or two blooming on the canyon walls.

Hanging gardens growin up high on the massive canyon walls. — Lush hanging gardens growing on the weeping walls

Should you feel the need to cool down at any point, feel free to get your feet wet at one of the many river access points on this trail.

A Virgin River access point on the Riverside Walk, surrounded by lush growth and soaring red-rock canyon walls. — River access on the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park

As you continue on this trail, the canyon begins to narrow down significantly.

After about a mile you’ll approach the end of the Riverside Walk where the canyon narrows down so much that there is no space left for the trail to continue. The only way forward at this point would be through the river. This is where the Zion Narrows officially begins – the park’s iconic hike where the river becomes the trail.

If the river isn’t raging, you can spend some time wading around in the mouth of The Narrows and feel like you had ALMOST done this epic Zion hike. Beware though, the water may have more force than it appears from dry land, and also, the water in the river is very cold.

(If you enjoy trudging through frigid waters, consider putting this unique Colorado hike on your bucket list!)

A shallow river flowing down in a narrow canyon, rocky access. — The end of the Riverside Walk = the Narrows trailhead

Know before you go:

wildlife

While you enjoy this Zion splendor, DO NOT get carried away and DO watch your snacks! I’ve never seen squirrels as creative (or as chunky) as the ones here on this trail. Seriously… Don’t be surprised if they roll over in front of you and do the Macarena when they smell something good hiding in your pocket. Sneaky little things.

Don’t feed them, no matter how adorable they might seem. (Firstly, it’s against the law, but also, these squirrels need a treadmill more than they need food, so feeding them will just make them less healthy.)

best time to avoid crowds

The Riverside Walk is a highly popular Zion hike with a TON of foot traffic. You can try the usual tricks – get here early, or come later in the day, or just ignore the mobs of people because they, too, will try to get here early or come later than most. There will be people. Just expect it.

HOWEVER

Besides the main paved drag, there is an unofficial primitive dirt path that skirts the river which you can take as an alternative to the main trail if the crowds become too much for you. The primitive path won’t take you all the way, but it will take you close enough to the trail’s end. Just keep in mind, parts of this path may be washed out, and you may miss some of the highlights of the trail such as the hanging gardens and natural pools.

A shallow sandy river surrounded by tall cliffs and lush growth, dirt path on the right river bank underneath the trees. — Just to the right of the river underneath the trees… see the dirt path?

current conditions

Zion Canyon is an always changing marvel. Stop by the visitor center when you arrive, or check the park’s website for trail conditions, warnings, and any closures before visiting the Riverside Walk or any other hike in Zion National Park.

Other fun (non-deadly) scenic hikes in Zion National Park worth a try: