Watchman Trail: A Great Hike for First-Time Visitors in Zion NP

Zion National Park is known for the famous Angels Landing hike and the Narrows, and for good reasons. Of course, those hikes are absolutely worth the visit. However, there are a few hikes that are often overlooked, with Watchman Trail being one of them. Watchman Trail is a wonderful, family-friendly trail. This trail runs next to the beautiful Virgin River, then heads up the mountain to expose hikers to the breathtaking views of the surrounding area. From the overlook, you can see the entire Springdale area. Since its trailhead located near the visitor center, the Watchman Trail is also the closest official hike in Zion National Park. Therefore, it is perfect for first-time visitors, as well as family and beginner hikers.

Note: Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surrounding areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, no graffiti, no taking artifacts or fossilized items, and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!

Stats

Where

Watchman Trail Trailhead
37°12’04.9″N 112°59’11.2″W

Parking

Parking inside the Visitor Center. Although there are plenty of parking spaces, it can filled up fast during peak seasons.

Restroom

There are restrooms at the Visitor Center

Fee

There is a fee to enter the Zion National Park. Please check the park’s website for updated infos. You can also use your annual pass such as America the Beautiful Pass here.

Distance

About 3.3 miles R.T.

Elevation Gain

368 ft

Level

Easy to Moderate

Time:

1.5 – 2 hours

Pet-friendly

Dogs aren’t allowed on this trail.

Ideal Time

You can do this hike anytime, however, it can be more challenging in the snow or icy conditions. During busy seasons, go early so you can find parking

Weather

Video

Getting to Watchman Trail Trailhead

Getting to Watchman Trailhead is super easy, since it is located near Zion National Park Visitor Center. To get there, cross the street from to shuttle stop sign, toward the RV parking lot. You should see a big sign, point the way. There are also a few informational signs with info and stats for Watchman Trail.

The Start of the Trail:

We pulled into the parking lot for the visitor center early in the morning. It was snowing that day since our visit was at the end of March. Luckily, after we parked, the snow seemed to stop. Quickly, we went across the parking lot, toward the trailhead. The first section of Watchman Trail starts out through a flat dirt road. It runs along the Virgin River and then heads toward the small, paved road. Once you cross the paved road, there is another directional sign that points the way

Going Up the Mountain

At this point, Watchman Trail will head into the drainage between Bridge Mountain and the Watchman Spire. The trail starts to gain elevation and leads up into the foothills. Don’t worry, you won’t get lost here. Watchman Trail is well-defined and easy to follow. Along the way, don’t forget to turn back and look at the view behind you. It is quite beautiful.

After a bit of a climb, you’ll reach a short switchback section. It’s okay to take a breather here. It can be a bit tiring. Once you reached the top of the switchbacks, the Watchman trail swings south and crosses over to the other side of the mountain, opposite from where you come up from. Please note if you’re going in the winter or spring, when the trail is icy, this section can be slippery. When we went, the melted ice made the trail muddy and slippery

Watchman Overlook

Once you cross over to the south side, it is just a short distance before the trail even out onto Watchman overlook. The view up here is absolutely breathtaking. From the top, you can see Zion Visitor Center, as well as the surrounding areas. When you’re up here, make sure to do the short (0.34 miles) loop trail that follows around the edge of the Watchman bend. It will give you a whole different view of the area. We definitely recommend it! Watchman Overlook is also perfect for a quick break, or to stay as long as you like. We seriously spend a good amount of time here just taking in the view.

The Loop Trail

Along the loop trail, you can see Watchman Spire, a towering 2,200ft mountain above the overlook below. The Watchman Spire is part of the same formation as Bridge Mountain. Bridge Mountain is north of Watchman Spire, and is home to a beautiful and very fragile arch, Crawford Arch within its rocky summit. Besides the gorgeous formations, you can also see cool trees as well as interesting birds such as the Western Scrub-Jay.

When you’re done checking out the area, you can head back the same way you come up. If you’re looking for easier, off-the-beaten-path trails, check out Lower Pine Creek Falls and Canyon Overlook. If you’re capable, Angels Landing and the top-down route to the Subway are a must!

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.