Name: Watchman Trail
Rating: 4.3

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Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This hike is brutally hot in summer. Bring sunscreen and water.

Description

Starting from the Visitor Center, this trail winds its way east, easily at first, then quite steeply. Eventually you'll gain the Watchman Trail mesa which affords views of the Towers of the Virgin, lower Zion Canyon, and Springdale.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Zion National Park

Shared By:

Tom Robson

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.3 from 98 votes

#1

in Springdale

#13

Overall

4.3 from 98 votes

5 Star		47%
4 Star		42%
3 Star		9%
2 Star		2%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#1

in Springdale

#2

in Utah

#13

Overall

10 Views Last Month

2,598 Since Feb 5, 2015

		7%
		10%
		70%
		8%
		6%
		0%

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Photos

Feb 23, 2022 near Springdale, UT

Feb 26, 2023 near Springdale, UT

Sunrise from the Watchman Overlook. The sun lights up the peaks on the opposite side of the valley. Definitely worth getting up there in the morning for this great view.

Jan 2, 2021 near Springdale, UT

1 Comment

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 41 days ago

Update Conditions See History

Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Mar 14, 2026

Ryan A

R,C,C,S

Feb 14, 2026

Connor Dougherty

Aug 18, 2025

Anonymous

Aug 16, 2025

Anonymous

Aug 8, 2025

Ben Kirby

Jul 8, 2024

Bryan Kler

May 9, 2024

Clay B

Good fun hike with the fam and T/D/A/D

Apr 22, 2024

Colleen Quilter Damato

Apr 19, 2024

John Eversmeyer

3.4mi — 2h 00m

Mar 27, 2024

Summer Teja

Nov 15, 2023

David Sauskojus

Sep 21, 2023

Krystin Diaz

Sep 6, 2023

Maike Buhrbanck

2h 00m

May 12, 2023

George Vogel

Apr 12, 2023

Trent Leonard

Apr 1, 2023

A V

Mar 7, 2023

Charleen McInnis

3.5mi

Mar 3, 2023

Jina Choe

Feb 25, 2023

Stewart Carnes

Snow, Slush, ice and mud

Feb 3, 2023

Luis Ramiez

Oct 31, 2022

Cm Long

Sep 11, 2022

David Heyboer

Aug 16, 2022

Tom and Donna Thomey

Aug 11, 2022

Alexandra McCullough

Jul 18, 2022

Matt Culpepper

Great bench overlook (3.5/500) 3.5mi

Jul 9, 2022

Nathalie Mejia

Proposed to Jamie!! 3.2mi — 1h 38m

Jul 1, 2022

Parker Antwine

3.6mi

May 27, 2022

Alice National Park Lover

May 26, 2022

Mary W

3.6mi — 1h 30m

May 24, 2022

Mary W

3.6mi — 1h 30m

May 8, 2022

Joseph Smith

May 8, 2022

Staci Evans

Apr 25, 2022

Tom Patterson

Apr 10, 2022

Mikaela Lidgard

Mar 30, 2022

Krista Newcomb

My favorite trail in Zion as of yet. Gorgeous the entire way up. Views from top were spectacular

Mar 16, 2022

Markiana Schweitzer

Mar 13, 2022

Jack M

It's beautiful and all clear! 3.7mi — 1h 25m

Feb 23, 2022

Stewart Carnes

Dec 18, 2021

Kevin Chen

Dec 8, 2021

Lindsay Garcia

Nov 4, 2021

Yohan Lee

Nov 4, 2021

Sylvia Naples

Oct 28, 2021

Jacqueline Cohen

Oct 14, 2021

Cory Finley

Sep 18, 2021

Brett Wolfley

Aug 18, 2021

Sarah Heller

Jun 20, 2021

Nick Barendregt

Nice quick hike for some good views of Springdale and further south. 3.3mi — 1h 17m

Jun 17, 2021

Patricia KD

Jun 14, 2021

Alejandra James

Jun 12, 2021

Jonnie H

3.6mi

Jun 7, 2021

William Lanter

Jun 7, 2021

Rod Stewart

Great hike. Did not complete the .3 mile loop at the end. — 1h 30m

Jun 2, 2021

Ainsley Droege

2.5mi — 1h 22m

May 22, 2021

Mike Nugent

May 22, 2021

Ryan F

3.6mi

May 19, 2021

Emily White

A very under-rated trail. Very pleasant and a good view of the Mesa. One of the best overlooks since Observation Point closed. A great place for su… 3.1mi — 1h 25m

May 17, 2021

Bree Couture

Hot hot hot. Uphill the way in, downhill the way back. Great views though!

May 6, 2021

Lauren Woods

3.2mi — 1h 14m

Apr 19, 2021

MICHAEL BRUMBAUGH

1.8mi

Apr 10, 2021

Jonathan Hartsell

Mar 28, 2021

Aaron Fagerwick

Round trip + 3.3mi — 1h 19m

Mar 27, 2021

Nick Ha

Mar 21, 2021

Jeries Kort

Feb 28, 2021

Stacey Bailey

Feb 12, 2021

Valerie Insardi

Jan 15, 2021

S T

Dec 20, 2020

Allen Le

Dec 20, 2020

Victoria Gauthier

Dec 18, 2020

Robert Law

Nov 21, 2020

David Hitchcock

Great morning hike to see the sun starting to light up the valley across the valley. Go early to beat the crowds. No shuttle needed!

Nov 3, 2020

Elston Quiles

Oct 29, 2020

Kevin H

Oct 17, 2020

Meetal Bhamre

Oct 14, 2020

Roger Coss

Oct 12, 2020

Noah Smith

Sep 24, 2020

Jay Chen

Sep 6, 2020

Madeleine Hart

Aug 31, 2020

Fran Caroline

Aug 16, 2020

Jennifer Jensen

Aug 16, 2020

CHARLES SWAIN

3mi — 1h 20m

Aug 12, 2020

Jonathan Everest

Jul 29, 2020

Ally S

Jul 27, 2020

Holly Lisi

Jul 25, 2020

Josiah Pang

Jul 21, 2020

Heather Downey

4.5mi — 11h 00m

Jul 17, 2020

Julia Gielczynski

Jul 10, 2020

Maria Fehl

Jun 28, 2020

Anastasia Cerankosky

Jun 22, 2020

Aaron Weaver

Jun 17, 2020

Cole Hansen

Jun 15, 2020

Michelle Roark

Jun 12, 2020

Michelle Roark

Mar 7, 2020

Michael D. Tomorsky

1.8mi

Mar 4, 2020

Shawn Darnell

1.3mi

Dec 19, 2019

Kyle Brady

Nov 30, 2019

Shuning Gao

Nov 13, 2019

Rock On

Pretty view

Nov 9, 2019

C F

1.8mi — 1h 30m

Oct 25, 2019

Stephen LaChance

Oct 17, 2019

Carrie Ensrud

Oct 7, 2019

Kayla Champagne

Sep 29, 2019

Jena Turner

Sep 27, 2019

Adam Mattingly

1.8mi

Sep 27, 2019

Emily Mattingly

Sep 22, 2019

Jennifer Biber

Jim, Denise, dad, mom, Kim 4mi

Sep 13, 2019

Rose M

Sep 12, 2019

Allison K

Almost to the turn but got dark and didn't have supplies

Sep 11, 2019

Chris Brown

Sep 7, 2019

Molly McLeod

Sep 2, 2019

Joshua Glemza

Sep 2, 2019

Sameer Choudhary

Aug 1, 2019

Isabel Skilton

So many pictures! 3.3mi

Jul 23, 2019

Diana Perez

Jul 23, 2019

Noel Jimenez

Jul 21, 2019

Martijn de Hen

Jul 16, 2019

Agate Ose

1mi — 0h 45m

Jul 13, 2019

Paul Kaup

3.4mi — 1h 04m

Jul 9, 2019

Devin G

Jul 1, 2019

Josh B

Jun 27, 2019

Thomas Hilde

Jun 24, 2019

Eric S.

Jun 24, 2019

Lannie Fuselier

Jun 23, 2019

Gerry Murphy

Great family hike. Moderate switch backs. View is awesome of the valley. Tweet and teenage kids. 3.5mi — 2h 07m

Jun 20, 2019

Cody Parks

3mi — 1h 15m

Jun 16, 2019

Sarah VdE

1mi — 16h 30m

Jun 10, 2019

Lana Z

Jun 8, 2019

Jeff Hutchison

Jun 4, 2019

Laura Jentz

Jun 4, 2019

Kirsty Williams

Amazing hike with Kerri. 3mi

Jun 3, 2019

Kathryn Turner

0h 50m

Jun 2, 2019

Sailaja Kotra-Turner

May 31, 2019

Mike Patel

May 27, 2019

sheindl Heindl

May 22, 2019

Xian Fang

May 12, 2019

Didier A.

Great view at the top, steep, but short. 1.8mi

May 10, 2019

Jesse Hill

2h 00m

May 9, 2019

Christina Kruse

May 6, 2019

Andre Powell

Fantastic weather. Round trip 3.6mi

May 6, 2019

Felix Böhme

May 4, 2019

Annette Pelletier

May 3, 2019

Teri Inveiss

Apr 28, 2019

Tayler Corcoran

Apr 28, 2019

Richard Holdcroft

1.8mi — 1h 20m

Apr 28, 2019

Xie Tracz

Apr 23, 2019

Tim M

Apr 23, 2019

Dan F

2mi

Apr 17, 2019

Kevin Karner

Easy hike right from the visitor center. Good view from the top. — 14h 30m

Apr 17, 2019

Jessuly Karner

Apr 14, 2019

Paul Davenport

1.8mi — 2h 15m

Apr 14, 2019

Andy Leon

1.8mi

Apr 3, 2019

Steven Davenport

Apr 1, 2019

Ken Holt

Apr 1, 2019

Andrea Tobolski Grendahl

3.3mi — 1h 30m

Mar 22, 2019

Michael D. Tomorsky

Muddy hike, but beautiful and fun. 4mi — 5h 15m

Mar 14, 2019

Devin Beal

Mar 11, 2019

Matt O

Mar 3, 2019

Jill Owen

Feb 25, 2019

Sandy Xian

Feb 24, 2019

Dylan Stanley

Feb 21, 2019

Karijana Kristbergs

Dec 23, 2018

Jorge Quintana

Nov 30, 2018

Angelina Fortino

Nov 22, 2018

Alexandra Papoutsaki

Nov 5, 2018

GenevieveK

Oct 22, 2018

Melissa Lowe

Oct 15, 2018

Gregory Layton

Oct 11, 2018

Craig Kaufman

Oct 4, 2018

Brett Hodges

Great early morning trail

Oct 4, 2018

S W

Sep 30, 2018

Mikey T

2.9mi

Sep 26, 2018

Quoc Bui

Sep 26, 2018

Christina Vu

Sep 4, 2018

Abigail Elsmo-Siebert

Aug 21, 2018

Colin Sauter

2mi

Aug 8, 2018

Bailey Ramler

Aug 5, 2018

W Drye

Aug 5, 2018

Family de Rooij

Aug 3, 2018

J Nizzle

Jul 29, 2018

Emily Goss

Jul 23, 2018

Lamere Buchanan

Hit but beautiful! 3.4mi

Jul 20, 2018

James Holland

1.8mi

Jul 16, 2018

S M

Jul 14, 2018

Craig Adams

Trail climbs up to an amazing viewpoint 3.3mi

Jul 9, 2018

Ashleigh N. Haskins

Jul 6, 2018

Nathan Kurtz

This trail during the summer is dangerous with heat, but it’s got an awesome viewpoint once you finally reach the top. 2mi

Jun 25, 2018

Raymond Tang

3mi

Jun 24, 2018

Laura Hoyt

Jun 15, 2018

Lily Adams

Jun 11, 2018

Tori Benson

Jun 8, 2018

Nick Charles

Further from the Virgin River than most of Zion’s major trails, this desert hike provides a spectacular overlook of the southern side of Zion Canyo… 3.6mi

Jun 7, 2018

Laura Vadillo

First Hike Zion

Jun 6, 2018

Matt McBrien

Jun 5, 2018

Daniel Briere

First hike of Tuesday morning

May 25, 2018

Kate T

May 12, 2018

Jared Egli

May 12, 2018

Talisa de Carlo

May 10, 2018

Ashley Young

1.8mi

Apr 12, 2018

Sean Ryne

2mi

Apr 11, 2018

Emilie Beaumont

Nic

Apr 10, 2018

Emilie Beaumont

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Watchman Trail

“A relatively short jaunt to a mesa overlooking the Visitor Center. ”

1.8

2.9

Point to Point

4,422' 1,348 m

3,931' 1,198 m

559' 170 m

78' 24 m

7%

32%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#13

#1

#2

#13

Photos

1 Comment

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Canyon Overlook Trail

Many Pools Hike

Observation Point via Stave Spring/East Rim

Wire Mesa Loop

North Rim of Gooseberry Mesa

Northgate Peaks Out and Back

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