Last updated September 26, 2026
West Rim Trail Zion: Backpacking, Shuttle & Permit Guide.
The West Rim Trail is one of Zion’s defining long hiking routes: a high-country traverse from the Lava Point area through Potato Hollow, sweeping rim viewpoints and Cabin Spring before dropping thousands of feet past Scout Lookout to The Grotto in Zion Canyon. Hike it in one long day or reserve one of nine designated campsites and turn it into a classic Zion backpack.
West Rim Trail at a Glance
Is the West Rim Trail Worth Hiking?
The West Rim Trail is one of Zion’s strongest choices for hikers who want a full wilderness journey rather than a single viewpoint.
Starting high near Lava Point changes the rhythm of the day. Instead of immediately climbing out of Zion Canyon, the route begins among ponderosa pine, open plateau and high rim country, then gradually reveals deeper and deeper canyon views.
The final section is the dramatic reverse of the usual Zion hike: from Cabin Spring the trail descends about 2,500 feet toward Scout Lookout, Walter’s Wiggles and The Grotto.
Strong hikers can complete the traverse in a single long day. Backpackers gain something different: sunset, sunrise and quiet West Rim hours after most day hikers have left.
The Classic West Rim Route
The standard through-hike starts near Lava Point on Kolob Terrace Road and finishes at The Grotto in Zion Canyon. Most of the route stays high before the final sustained descent.
Lava Point Makes the West Rim Feel Different From Most Zion Hikes.
The route begins on the high Kolob Plateau rather than the canyon floor. Cooler forest, broad mesa country and distant sandstone walls gradually give way to the exposed rim and the enormous drop into Zion Canyon.
Lava Point · John Fowler / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0West Rim Trail Map
This route connects two very different transportation systems: remote Kolob Terrace Road at the north end and Zion Canyon’s shuttle corridor at the south end.
Lava Point → Potato Hollow → Cabin Spring → The Grotto
Use the map to understand the shape of the traverse, then use the current NPS wilderness map and an offline trail map for actual backcountry navigation.
Choose the West Rim Trip That Matches Your Time.
“West Rim Trail” can mean a full through-hike, an overnight backpack, a high-country out-and-back or the lower trail used to reach Scout Lookout.
| Version | Route | Permit | Best for | Main planning issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full through-hike | Lava Point → Grotto | No overnight permit if completed as a day hike | Strong long-distance hikers | One-way transportation |
| One-night backpack | Lava Point → campsite → Grotto | Overnight wilderness permit required | Backpackers wanting sunset / sunrise | Campsite availability + water |
| High West Rim out-and-back | Lava Point toward Cabin Spring and return | No permit for day use | Hikers avoiding canyon transportation | Long return mileage |
| Bottom-up | Grotto → Scout Lookout / upper West Rim | No permit unless taking Angels Landing chains | Canyon-based day hikers | Major uphill climbing |
The Scenic West Rim Route Is More Than a Way to Reach Angels Landing.
Phantom Valley, Inclined Temple, high white sandstone and distant canyon systems make the upper West Rim a destination in its own right. Angels Landing occupies only the final portion of a much larger route.
Inclined Temple from the West Rim · Jeff Turner / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0West Rim Shuttle & Vehicle Logistics
The classic route is point-to-point. A transportation mistake at Lava Point can turn a beautiful 14-mile hike into a very long logistical problem.
Leave Your Car Near the Finish
NPS recommends using an authorized commercial shuttle to reach the starting trailhead and hiking back toward your vehicle.
West Rim via Lava Point
Authorized commercial wilderness shuttles may provide transportation to the West Rim Trailhead near Lava Point.
The Grotto
The Grotto is Zion Canyon shuttle stop #6 during scheduled shuttle operations and has water, restrooms and trail access.
West Rim Backpacking Permits
A wilderness permit is required for every overnight backpacking trip in Zion National Park. On the West Rim, that permit is tied to the designated campsite and date listed on the permit.
West Rim Backpacking Campsites
Zion divides the West Rim sites between advance online reservation inventory and first-come, first-served walk-in inventory. Site capacities vary significantly.
Telephone Canyon near Cabin Spring. Maximum group size 12.
Small secluded site near Cabin Spring. Maximum group size 2.
Rim views roughly one mile from Cabin Spring. Maximum group size 4.
Larger scenic rim site. Maximum group size 12.
Scenic site farther north along the rim. Maximum group size 4.
Near the Telephone Canyon / West Rim junction. Maximum group size 6.
Near Potato Hollow Spring. Maximum group size 4.
Near Potato Hollow with views toward upper Imlay Canyon. Maximum group size 6.
Northernmost site, roughly one mile from Lava Point. Maximum group size 6.
The West Rim Rewards Time More Than Speed.
A one-day traverse is efficient. An overnight trip gives you time to stop at rim viewpoints, watch evening light move across the sandstone and begin the final descent before the main canyon grows busy.
Mount Majestic from West Rim · Michael W / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Water on the West Rim Trail
The trail has named springs, but only Cabin Spring is described by NPS as usually maintaining a small year-round flow. Seasonal sources can disappear during the exact months when hikers most want water.
Cabin Spring
Located near campsites 1 and 2. NPS says it usually has a small flow year-round, but spring output can still vary.
Potato Hollow Spring
Near sites 7 and 8. Usually dry by mid-to-late summer and explicitly described by NPS as unreliable.
Sawmill Springs
Near campsite 9 toward the northern trailhead. Usually dry by early-to-mid summer and not a reliable source.
West Rim Trail and Angels Landing
The lower West Rim Trail is also the approach to Scout Lookout, which creates understandable confusion about permits.
You do not need an Angels Landing permit merely to hike the West Rim Trail, reach Scout Lookout or continue along the West Rim.
You do need an Angels Landing permit if you leave the West Rim at Scout Lookout and enter the permitted chains section leading to the summit.
Backpackers should treat Angels Landing as an optional side trip, not assume their overnight West Rim permit automatically includes the chains.
West Rim Weather Is Not Zion Canyon Weather.
The route begins on high terrain near Lava Point and finishes thousands of feet lower in Zion Canyon. Forecasts for Springdale alone do not describe the whole hike.
Cooler, Windier and Snowier
Lava Point can hold deep snow after lower Zion trails have already entered spring hiking conditions.
Sun and Storm Exposure
Long exposed sections provide spectacular views but limited protection from heat, wind or developing thunderstorms.
Heat Builds Toward the Canyon
The lower trail can be substantially warmer than the morning start near Lava Point, particularly later in the season.
Best Time to Hike the West Rim Trail
The best window depends heavily on high-country snow and water availability rather than conditions at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Often Too Snowy Up High
Zion Canyon may look ready while the West Rim Trailhead and high plateau remain wintery or inaccessible.
Transition Season
A strong window once Lava Point access opens, but lingering snow and mud can remain in shaded high-country sections.
Long Days, Less Reliable Water
Long daylight helps through-hikers, but heat increases toward Zion Canyon and seasonal springs commonly dry.
Cooler and Excellent When Stable
Cooler temperatures can improve long-distance hiking, while shorter daylight and the possibility of early snow add planning pressure.
The Trail Does Not End When the Big Views Begin.
From Cabin Spring, the West Rim still has thousands of feet to descend. Scout Lookout and the famous switchbacks arrive after a long day on the high plateau—not at the beginning of the route.
Historic West Rim Trail · National Park Service / public domainWhat to Bring on the West Rim Trail
A one-day traverse and an overnight backpack use the same weather and water fundamentals, but overnight travel adds a full wilderness sleep system.
What to Recheck Before the West Rim
Trail geometry is stable. Road access, campsite inventory, spring flow, weather and shuttle availability are not.
West Rim Trail Zion FAQ
Most questions come down to distance, transportation, permits, water and the connection with Angels Landing.
How long is the West Rim Trail in Zion?
NPS lists 14.2 miles from the West Rim Trailhead near Lava Point to The Grotto via the full West Rim route, or 13.6 miles using the Telephone Canyon shortcut.
How much elevation change is on the West Rim Trail?
NPS lists approximately 3,400 feet of elevation change for the through route between the West Rim Trailhead and The Grotto.
Do you need a permit to day hike the West Rim Trail?
No general wilderness permit is required simply to day hike the West Rim Trail. Separate permit rules apply if you enter the Angels Landing chains section.
Do you need a permit to backpack the West Rim Trail?
Yes. All overnight Zion wilderness trips require a permit, and West Rim campers must stay in the designated campsite shown on their permit.
How many campsites are on the West Rim Trail?
Zion National Park maintains nine designated backpacking campsites along the West Rim system.
Is there reliable water on the West Rim Trail?
Cabin Spring usually has a small year-round flow. Potato Hollow and Sawmill Springs are seasonal and frequently dry during summer. Verify current spring conditions and carry substantial water.
Do you need an Angels Landing permit on the West Rim Trail?
Not unless you take the side route from Scout Lookout onto the permitted Angels Landing chains section. Scout Lookout and the West Rim Trail itself do not require an Angels Landing permit.
How do you reach the West Rim Trailhead near Lava Point?
The trailhead is reached from Kolob Terrace Road. Through-hikers commonly use an authorized commercial shuttle to the start and hike back toward transportation near Zion Canyon.
Can you hike the West Rim Trail in winter?
Winter brings deep snow to the high plateau and can close road access near Lava Point. Snow often persists into late spring, making winter and early spring poor choices for the classic traverse.
Which is better: the West Rim Trail or Angels Landing?
They serve different goals. Angels Landing is a short, permit-controlled exposed ridge objective. West Rim is a long wilderness traverse with backpacking, high plateau scenery and a major descent into Zion Canyon.
Keep West Rim Connected to the Zion Cluster.
This page owns the West Rim hiking and backpacking route. The surrounding guides answer broader Zion decisions and the exact Angels Landing side-trip question.
Zion National Park Hiking Guide
Compare the West Rim with Angels Landing, The Narrows, The Subway and Observation Point.
Key child connectionAngels Landing Guide
Understand the separate chains permit and decide whether to add Angels Landing to a West Rim itinerary.
State parentBest Hikes in Utah
Compare Zion’s long trails with the Wasatch, Uintas, Bryce, Moab and the rest of Utah.
Backpacking, Weather & Permit Planning
These three GSG resources support the skills that become more important when the West Rim changes from a day hike to an overnight wilderness trip.
Three-Day Backpacking Lessons
Use a real multi-day trip to think through pack weight, water, pacing, camps and what changes once the day does not end at the trailhead.
Deep Recovery · WeatherMountain Weather for Climbers
Read wind, temperature, precipitation and storm timing across terrain that changes elevation dramatically during the day.
Deep Recovery · PermitsMountain Permits & Regulations
Understand the broader role permits play in managing limited wilderness use, campsites and protected mountain environments.
The West Rim Is Bigger Than the Famous Half-Mile Beside It.
Start in the high country. Walk the rim. Carry enough water. Camp if you have the permit—or move efficiently if you are through-hiking in a day. When Angels Landing finally appears, you will understand it as one landmark inside a much larger Zion landscape.
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