Stave Spring Trail to Observation Point

June 23, 2019 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Zion National Park → Stave Spring Trail to Observation Point

Location: Zion East Side, Zion National Park, Utah

Distance: 10.5 miles round trip (from the Stave Spring Trailhead)

Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet

Time Required: 5 -7 hours

Red Tape/Notes: The park is open 24 hours a day; park passes are $30 per vehicle and are valid for 7 days. This route follows the East Rim Trail to the Observation Point (East Mesa) Trail starting at the Stave Spring Trailhead; the trailhead starts behind the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort (follow W. Pine Street to where it meets the park border).

What’s Nearby?: The Narrows (Bottom Up), Riverside Walk, Weeping Rock, Hidden Canyon, Echo Canyon, Emerald Pools, Angel’s Landing, Observation Point

A rockslide in 2019 caused the closure of the East Rim Trail to Observation Point above Weeping Rock. A lot of people poached the trail anyway, but we figured this was a great opportunity to try out this alternate approach. And while longer, this route is absolutely beautiful and highly recommended – especially if you prefer something that feels a bit more remote. We started off at the Stave Spring Trailhead, where you’ll pass through some pines and onto a large grassy flat; we took the short detour up to Stave Spring (~1 mile round trip) just to have a look – if you don’t need water, there’s nothing to see here. If you do need water…well, there’s a pipe and a dribble of water, so that’s helpful. From there it was back across the grassy flats until we started skirting the edge of Upper Echo Canyon, and that’s where the views start. Beautiful views abound as you traverse the edge of the mesa and then head down the trail into the valley, where you’ll eventually meet up with the East Mesa Trail to Observation Point and complete the classic (and scenery-filled) ascent to the iconic viewpoint. We passed only four other people on the trail until we reached the junction and it was blissful (after the junction and at the viewpoint it was filled with people, of course). But the views…always amazing.