Required fields are marked *, Prove that you\'re a human! If you are driving after a rainstorm or in the winter/spring the road may be very muddy or icy and impassible in a regular car. You will turn left onto N Fork County Rd 5.2 miles. road to the entrance was pretty rocky , my car is equipped with awd but I wouldn't have minded more ground clearance. 61 von 162 Aktivitäten in Yellowstone-Nationalpark. At only 6,507 ft, you can look 800 ft down to Angles Landing (5,790 ft), Zion Canyon, the Virgin River, The West Rim Trail , Signal Peak in the far west, and across to Cable Mountain. If you yearn to gaze down from Observation Point, but feel intimidated by the the 4-mile, 2150-foot climb to reach it from Weeping Rock trailhead, East Mesa trail may solve your problem - so long as you have wheels. Location. Observation Point Trail. 0 comments. Die letzten Spitzkehren befinden sich direkt in der Sandsteinwand hoch über dem Zion Canyon und mir wird ein wenig mulmig angesichts der Höhe. Directions to trailhead From St George, head north on I-15 for about 18 miles and take exit 27 to Toquerville. Angel's Landing in the Lower Right Foreground : Observation Point Benchmark - Elevation 6,508' Oh, the Views: Om: Unfortunately, because it was so late in the day, the light was not optimal so our pics of Zion Canyon from above do not reflect the awesomeness of this place. Consuming too little water will not only make you thirsty, but susceptible to hypothermia and altitude sickness. While most people visit the Observation Point viewpoint by hiking up from the Weeping Rock trailhead in the main canyon, the East Mesa Trail is a leisurely alternative hiking route that starts on the upper east plateau. Most visitors hike the strenuous 8-mile Observation Point Trail to experience these epic views, completely unaware that East Mesa Trail offers a much less crowded route that is not as long and not nearly as strenuous. Hiking-Observation Point Trail At 6,521 feet in elevation atop Mount Baldy, and jutting out into one of the widest sections of Zion Canyon, right around the Big Bend, Observation Point commands a view of nearly every major attraction in the canyon. Go right. Wenig Schatten. Temperatures were in the 40's with plenty of sun and little wind. Essential Gear to Tackle Observation Point Trail . Don't look at the pictures, just go! Hike a short ways north and you'll pass Observation Point Trail on your left. but the view from the overlook is simply stunning, Observation Point via East Rim and East Mesa Trail [CLOSED], Zion Narrows Trail to Imlay Temple and Big Spring, East Mesa Trail to East Rim Trail and Observation Point, East Rim Trail to Mystery Canyon [CLOSED], Deertrap Mountain from Weeping Rock Trailhead [CLOSED], East Mesa to Observation Point via Stave Spring Trail. Continue straight .5 miles. Sandstone Wonderland - East Mesa Trail: Trail Views: Looking Into Echo Canyon: The Valley from Observation Point. Definitely recommend doing this for a nice little half day trip. Park and walk the remainder of the road or hire a service to take you there at Zion Ponderosa or at one of the outfitters in Springdale. This post will be where I drop all details pertaining to the East Mesa Trail to Observation Point hike, if you have completed this hike please share your tips or suggestions in this thread for anyone else planning on doing this hike! Turn right onto Beaver Rd 1.2 miles. Get Driving Directions. The third major trail junction heads right on the East Mesa Trail and left to Observation Point. Turn left .5 miles. The second major trail junction heads right on the East Rim Trail and left to Observation Point; before reaching this junction, one passes through beautiful Echo Canyon, which in many places narrows to a slot (hikers do not go through the actual slots, though). Update, August 24th 2019 The Observation Point Trail has been closed for the foreseeable future due to a huge rockfall Observation Point is a narrow promontory, elevation 6,508 feet, that overlooks much of Zion Canyon including such famous landmarks as the Great White Throne, Castle Dome, Three Patriarchs and Angels Landing. East Mesa Trail - To take the East Mesa spur: Continue up the trail, past the junction to the East Rim Trail. Camping Available only in Designated Camping Area. It is reached via the North Fork County Road which is about two miles outside the East entrance to the park. The trail was really well maintained, well shaded as well so you can take a break when needed. Observation Point is one of Zion National Park’s most recognizable viewpoints, as its images have been mass-produced on postcards and the like for years and years, not to mention that it’s one of the more popular hikes in the Park. Flat trail in the trees for most of the hike, but once you get to the end it’s breathtaking. Leider sind an den von Ihnen gewählten Daten keine Touren oder Aktivitäten verfügbar. Trail on North Fork Virgin River in Zion National Park, UT. We had no problem in our high clearance 4 wheel drive Tacoma. Follow signs for East Rim trail. Observation Point via East Rim and East Mesa Trail [CLOSED] is a 7.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Springdale, Utah that features a river and is rated as difficult. You can also call the Zion Ponderosa front dest and ask how the road conditions are. Along the way, you will pass one last trail junction, the junction with the East Mesa Trail, a not-so-commonly used alternate route to Observation Point from the east boundary of the park. It is difficult to fathom that the trail started as a single faded track used by the native peoples of Zion Canyon to access the high plateaus rim. Observation Point via East Mesa Trail : Zion National Park [oc]. Be prepared for very steep grades, especially on East Rim Trail and the first section of East Mesa Trail. At a Glance Photo Album: Observation Point Maps: Trail Map - Backcountry Map - Overview Map Day Hike: Yes Zion National Park charges a fee to enter. That trail is the easy way to Observation Point so most people use the trail to access the overlook. Takes about an hour and 30 mins to get to and is fairly level. Once past Observation Point Trail, follow East Mesa east as it winds its way down the park's eastern mesa at an easy grade. Arika Bauer is a Southern Utah local, born and raised, and the owner of Zion Adventure Photog, a photography business dedicated to photographing world travelers, outdoor lovers, and adventure junkies in one of the most beautiful settings in the world. She has made it her mission to explore all of the hidden, and not-so-hidden gems of Southern Utah, with her husband and three kids, and shares about different adventures in Southern Utah on her blog. Great easy trail with breathtaking views, highly recommended! Took the East Mesa Trailhead to Observation Point. Following an old jeep trail through mostly level terrain to join up with the Observation Point Trail proper, the hardest part of this hike is actually the approach drive to find the initial East Mesa Trailhead. I am scared of heights so we decided to approach OP this way rather than the trail up from the canyon floor. It is an 8 mile round trip, take between 3 and 4 hours. 39 Bewertungen. The trail is often suggested as a way to get to Observation Point without the steep climb up as it begins and ends already on the rim. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, rock climbing, and nature trips and is best used from May until October. Tweet Share Email. The trail itself it just okay. Appropriate footwear – trail shoes are great; hiking boots are even better since they offer more support.. 2. After you traverse the rim, the views of the Echo Canyon basin open up as you near the East Rim. The views from Observation Point are some of the best in Zion National Park. Fun hike out to the observation point, which is a beautiful spot!! East Mesa Trail: From the East Mesa Trailhead (N37° 17' 47", W112° 54' 04") cross the fence at the access point 40 feet south and begin walking west on the well-traveled East Mesa Trail. Don’t look up pictures-just hike it and be prepared to be very impressed! View Entire Discussion (0 Comments) More posts from the hiking community. best. Elevation Change: 300 ft / 90 m to East Rim Trail or Observation Point and back. The views to the trail are not spectacular but the end result is well worth it. Observation Point Alternate Route: East Mesa Trail If the splendid views from Observation Point sound intriguing—but hiking four miles and 2,000 vertical feet does not—there is an alternative. Observation Point is considered by many — including Backpacker magazine — to be the best view in Zion National Park. East Mesa Trail via Observation Point - 12.6 Miles Round-Trip The Observation Point Trail is one of Zion's most popular, as it leads to a phenomenal overlook and connections with several equally attractive destinations. You will head to the left to reach the Observation Point, passing the East Mesa Trail which is a less popular way to get there. 3.4k . Drive 5.2 miles up the road to the Ponderosa Ranch. Turn left onto UT-9 and follow it for approximately 20 miles until you come to the park entrance. share. Spectacular view at the end and a few nice views along the way. Almost immediately the climbing begins. It is so cool seeing the Angels Landing trail from above. I believe you are referring to the East Mesa Trail to Observation Point. Am a lost Florida boy so was my first time and I flipped out a bit lol. The trail we did is called East Mesa Trailhead. Check the weather conditions. The trail is safe and paved most of the way, but many parts have precipitous drop-offs -- which among other things, make for awesome views. Observation Point - 7.4 Miles Round-Trip Observation Point is located 3.7 miles from Weeping Rock Trailhead in Zion National Park. It was an enjoyable hike and the destination was spectacular. Trail Description Trail Photos Print this Trail Trip Reports. This is much shorter, with a round trip distance of 7 miles. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. Trailhead Location: East Mesa Trailhead, accessible by high-clearance / 4-wheel-drive dirt roads off of the North Fork Road. Looking down on Angels Landing and the Zion Valley is awesome, Flat and easy trail with no particular view for the most part. see full image. TRAIL SUMMARY. Round trip, this hike is 20 miles long, so it’s a massive day hike and should only be considered if you are an extremely fit and fast hiker. Die Aussicht ist bereits hier atemberaubend. Wanderwege . It’s possible to walk to these trailheads, but you are looking at an additional 5 to 7 miles one way. No stream at this point based on lack of rain or snow. There are no restrictions. Would be best in complete snow cover or spring when there are flowers and wildlife. * Parking at the top of the hill added another 3/4 mile total. You need to pay for a private shuttle to the East Mesa Trail head. Distance: 7 miles RT Type: Out and Back Summit Elevation: 6,521 feet Elevation Gain: 572 feet Difficulty: Easy Location: Zion National Park Trailhead: East Mesa Trailhead. Observation Point Alternate Route: East Mesa Trail. Easy trail to walk on, there was some sand on the trail that made the hike a bit exhausting. Wanderwege. Began the hike from the East Mesa trailhead this morning (December 11) around 9:30AM. This trail is really well maintained, well shaded as well, so you can take a break when needed. Well worth the trek to the east side. Distance (roundtrip): 6 miles (9.6 km) to the East Rim Trail and back. In my opinion, it's the best alternative when the Scenic route is closed, which happens a lot right now since there are no shuttle buses. Contribute. After exiting the shuttle, the hike starts at the Weeping Rock trailhead. Starting from East Rim Trail, East Mesa climbs very steeply, switchbacking multiple times until it eventually contours south of a small mesa. Observation Point is considered by many — including Backpacker magazine — to be the best view in Zion National Park. Elevation Change: 300 ft / 90 m to East Rim Trail or Observation Point and back. We sat for ever just enjoying the view from Observation … Mostly flat with a downhill at the end which means you front the cost of your hike with that amazing view. The trail leads from the North Fork Road to Observation Point. Some cars parked further out and hiked in. We saw many trucks, big SUVs and a few Subarus at the trailhead. Rocky Rd turns left and becomes Fir Rd. Intersect with the East Rim Trail at 3.0 miles (4.9 km). Stroll on the wide, smooth trail, 3.4 miles to Observation Point. Edit Page. East Mesa Trail. The first split in the trail, if you go right, that is to Hidden Canyon. It follows the East Rim Trail up and out of the canyon. One such connection is the East Mesa Trail, a 3.1 mile segment that runs across a broad mesa to the Zion's east boundary. The trailhead seems like it’s out in the boonies (you have to drive down a pretty intense dirt road part of the way), but there is good signage to help get you there. Alternatively if the dirt roads are clear, you can drive up to the east plateau and hike the East Mesa Trail to Observation Point. On the return trip on Observation Point Trail, we took a 2 mile detour on the East Mesa to check out the views from a different perspective. Plants: Typical plant life for Southern Utah lowland hiking. The second split is to the east rim trail. But hikes such as the Narrows, Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, and the Riverside Walk will all use the shuttle. The trail to Observation Point is well signed and easy to find and follow. But the dirt road portion can be impassable after a rain, and there are no bathrooms. It is sandy and a bit rocky. The other way is East Mesa Trail to Observation Point, which starts at the top canyon east of Observation Point. You could see Angels Landing below us. Your email address will not be published. Plenty of water – without enough water your body’s muscles and organs simply cannot perform as well. Overall amazing experience and the view was, again, freaking mind blowing. East Mesa Trail . The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until October. An hour's drive from Springdale/Zion Canyon to the heights of the East Side converts an outstanding workout into a casual stroll to the same stunning overlook. View at the end was spectacular. Continue onto Twill Knoll Rd .3 miles. This is the best view of Zion in my opinion. Continue onto Twill Knoll Rd .3 miles. Trailhead will be on the left. Regardless it was an awesome overlook and we had extended lunch break to enjoy the scene. Sort by. The view from Observation Point is worth a five star. Continue straight .5 miles. Turn right on UT-17 and follow it for 6 miles. Might be my favorite hike in Zion. Posted by 6 days ago. This short canyon leads hikers to the junction between the Observation Point Trail and the East Rim Trail. The hike wasn’t too bad and it got nice and warm later into the afternoon. East Mesa Trail . Summer or winter, remember the best access to Observation Point is from Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort on the east side of the park. The view at Observation point were incredible. Turn right onto Rocky Rd .1 mile. Shared By: Tom Robson . The East Rim Trail is much more scenic but is also much longer and more strenuous. The trail head is about 2 miles away on dirt road. Just before reaching Observation Point we hit junction with East Mesa Trail and we started to see lots of people. Difficulty: Strenuous, but worth it Elevation Gain/Loss: 2148 feet / 655 meters gain Average Hiking Time: 4 - 6 hours round trip Distance: 8 miles / 12.9 km Trailhead Location: Weeping Rock Trailhead, or skip the elevation and hike in from East Mesa Trailhead as an out-n-back, or shuttle drop and hike down into the canyon. Distance (roundtrip): 6 miles (9.6 km) to the East Rim Trail and back. Doesn’t get a whole lot better than these views! Head north and stay to the right (you’ll cross a resort, don’t go into it). You can google and look up these trails if you want to try them out someday. From the East Entrance drive east … After contouring along this smaller mesa, head left onto Observation Point Trail. 1. Turn right onto Beaver Rd 1.2 miles. Once past the switchback section, the trail primarily follows the edge of the rim where it meets up with the East Mesa Trail and continues on to your destination of Observation Point. report. Der Trail trifft auf den Abzweig zum East Rim Trail und windet sich dann in weiteren Switchbacks bis fast zum Rim hinauf. Observation Point Trail. The trail is easy and a bit boring. After the trail evens out atop Zion Canyon, there is another junction with the East Mesa trail. I had a Chevy Malibu and made it up no issues. The unpaved road to the parking area was quite rough in places, but we were able to drive our rented compact SUV the entire distance. A further 0.4 miles (0.6 km) finds you at a spectacular overlook. East Mesa. Hiking Observation Point from the East Mesa Trailhead, Zion National Park Observation Point is one of the most iconic overlooks in all of Utah and Zion National Park. But for this review, we go left all the way to Observation Point. Turn here. A second option is to hike to Observation Point on the East Mesa Trail. You are looking for the East Mesa trailhead. Connects To. The first major trail junction heads right to Hidden Canyon (a beautiful side trip) and left to Observation Point. Once the trail levels off, all of the hard stuff is done. Gorgeous views, mostly flat, easy to navigate. Land Manager: National Park Service - Zion National Park. Echoing other reviewers definitely take the Fir Rd street off of Beaver Ave! East Mesa Trail is a subtle and quiet hike that takes you through an isolated ponderosa pine forest on the upper east side of Zion with big payoffs at the end. Contacts. To do this, start at the East Rim Trailhead that is located near the East Entrance of Zion National Park on Route 9. Amazing first day out here in Utah! This strenuous trail leads through a sculpted landscape to a forested mesa on Baldy Mountain with spectacular views over Zion Canyon and the Virgin River. Note: The trail covered in this post leads to Observation Point within Zion National Park but begins outside of the park in a more remote location. The Observation Point hike begins at the Weeping Rock Trailhead, in Zion Canyon. Keep going, the views at the end are more than worth it. After a pleasant hike through the woods, get ready for some truly spectacular views at the end! Amazing view of Zion. Nr. Alternate Route: You can reach Observation Point by hiking the East Rim Trail. Note: You’ll pass a whole bunch of other trailheads on your way to Observation Point. Eventually you'll connect with Fir Rd., a dirt road just to the east of the park. Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Zion National Park → Stave Spring Trail to Observation Point. Mostly flat then downhill towards the end. This fairly long (7 miles round trip), strenuous trail runs from the bottom of Zion Canyon to Observation Point on the East Rim overlooking Zion Canyon. Trailhead will be on the left. This section of the trail is cut into a cli˚ along the top of Zion Canyon. But when you get closer to the canyon it is so worth it. Observation Point via East Mesa Trail is a 10.8 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mount Carmel Junction, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. 1/4. Our Hike of the Week newsletter keeps you updated on hundreds of hikes + includes exclusive discounts on your favorite brands!