watchman trail

teamflames

Not a highlight trail but enjoyable with nice views of the canyon. Not too difficult. Take a snack and chill out at the top

AdventurousAmy77

Very mellow 2 mile trail. Great views. We enjoyed this trail very much. This is a great trail to squeeze in before or after a strenuous hike or if your have limited time in the park. Or it would make a terrific after dinner hike. At the top is a really cool little loop trail that should not be missed. The trailhead is located right off the main parking area.

sunnyjazz1028

This was the first trail we hiked afted we arrived at Zion, but it was late in the day so we did not hike the whole trail. That said, it was beautiful and we got to see mule deer for the first time.

SteveO172

I would be hard pressed to give any of the trails in Zion less than five stars. This is a nice hike that you should take early in the day or later when the sun is going down as it will be exposed to full sun throughout. The hike is moderate but gives you a nice little workout with the payout at the top. It gets you closer to the Watchman peak, thus the name of the trail. We started our day with this hike and found it to be perfect.

pkrissel

We missed the ranger walk, which we were sorry about, since it is always great to get more information about what you are seeing. Even in October the sun beats down on this hike and there are few shady spots. You climb through a couple of climate changes as you go from the canyon floor to the overlook. It is very hot and desert at the top, but the views are worth it. To the north you look up the canyon at the towering cliffs. To the south you look across the valley fed by the Virgin River as it exits the canyon.It is hard enough work getting up there, so spend time and enjoy the scenery. The advantage of needing to stop in the limited shade on the way up and down is that you get the opportunity to savor the many wonderful views of this hike. Take your time and drink it in.

GeorgeK139

Relatively short, easy hike with nice views and pleasant places to stop at the top. Great warm-up hike for the more serious trails in Zion.

888ColleenW

This is on the east side of the canyon and can be rough in the afternoon with the sun beating on you. Limited tree cover. Would recommend this as an early morning hike - really pretty though - It's a moderate trail that takes about 2 hours round trip

42wanderer

We did the hike twice in our 5 days at the park. Hike early in the morning to avoid the sun and heat after noon. Try one of the ranger led hikes on this trail as the information provided by the ranger is very good.

lizbowens

Of the 5 or 6 hikes we did in Zion (all under 2 hours), this was our favorite. We saw maybe 15 other people during our 90 minute walk, and the views were outstanding the whole way. Our kids (10 and 12) loved this hike too. Do it in the morning, before the sun comes up over the ridge as there is no shade and could be very uncomfortable once the sun is out in full.

radmad

We hiked this first thing in the morning. Awesome. We loved all of Zion and can't wait to return some day. The area is simply beautiful! I recommend getting an early start when hiking to avoid the crowds. Water and some snacks are a must. Enjoy!

2kwaldo

I didn't end up doing the entire hike as it was mid afternoon and the temps were in the high 90's. The entire lower portion of the hike was in the sun with no shade, so after having hiked in the morning I thought better of it, and turned back. In cooler months or in the morning, it would be easier. Some sheer drop offs, to keep in mind for those uncomfortable with heights.

CazBrogz

We took the Trail with Erik, one of the Park Rangers, who shared with us fascinating stories about the area's geology, flora and fauna. We saw lizards, canyon robins and even a rattlesnake! Fantastic. TopTip=Set off in the morning when it's cooler and the Trail is in the shade during the ascent.

OldBob1860

This hike was almost an afterthought. We had done some of the more strenuous hikes and had some time to kill so we thought we would do this "moderate" rated hike. What a pleasant surprise. After the beginning, going behind the Ranger housing (and some construction work), the hike quickly left the noise of the Park behind. Once at the top, the view was quite nice of the "Watchman" as well as the Park entrance and Springdale below. It was well worth the couple of hours to do.

VeggieScramble

This is a super easy trail with some pretty amazing views at the end. If you are short on time or don't have energy for any big hikes, choose this. There is a little elevation gain but requires nothing technical, just the ability to walk and breathe. The views from the top are pretty amazing. Zion is my favorite NP. I'm glad we took the time for this little gem this time around.

ndoak1

Looking to get off of the flat trails, but not get out of your comfort zone with elevation or length? This is an excellent mid-range trail in Zion, with fantastic views and many nice photo opportunities. You will get a decent workout, but the climb is not overly strenuous. Make sure to complete the loop at the top to see the panorama.This trail is not well signed near the visitor center, so at first we did not know where to start. You can catch this trail between the overflow parking area and the river by the campground. In about 1/5 mile, you will cross the street that passes the overflow parking and you will then see the actual trailhead sign.