Guide to the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park

One of the most popular and easiest hikes in Zion National Park Utah is the Riverside walk in Zion National Park. It’s a great walk for people of all ages and abilities to do while visiting Zion National Park, as there is a paved trail, though in places it can be quite steep and help is maybe needed in places. Most of the walk is in the shade as you are covered by the trees, which makes it pleasant even in the height of summer.

It can also be done in just a couple of hours, so if you do not have much time to explore the park or you want to hike to Angels Landing, then it’s a great hike to get close to nature and the river and see the canyons up close.

I did this hike in the month of September, which is a great time as it is not too hot. I would recommend doing this hike when you first enter the park or last thing in the evening as it can get quite busy and it’s beautiful when there are less people on the trail. (Make sure though that you check the time of the last shuttle, in summer it is 8pm)

If you are planning on hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park, you will need to also do this walk to get to the start of the hike and once you have finished the hike, so take this factor into consideration when planning your trip.

People walking amongst the trees with the cliffs of the canyon in the background

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Table of Contents

How long is the Riverside walk trail in Zion?

The Riverside Walk trail is an easy 2.2 miles roundtrip (around 3.5km) and will take you around 1 hour depending on how many times you stop along the way and how fast you walk.

How do you get to the Riverside walk in Zion National Park?

Once you have entered Zion National Park and paid your fee $35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorbike and $20 per person if walking in on foot. If you are planning on visiting a few National Parks then it is definitely worth investing in the annual park pass at $80.

Once inside then drive to the visitor center where you can park, before catching the shuttle (If the park is full you will need to park outside and walk in). The shuttle runs from Mid March until the end of November and during this time you will need to use the shuttle bus to get to all sights down the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. From November to March you are able to take you car down the road to each of the stops, though there is very limited parking.

To get to the Riverside Walk trailhead you need to take the shuttle to the last stop (Number 9 – Temple of Sinawava) which will take you around 40 minutes, this is after the stop for the Weeping Rock hike. (PLEASE NOTE* this hike reopened in November 2022).

Once you have arrived at the Temple of Sinawava you will find restrooms and a water fill station. Make sure that you use the facilities as the river water is not drinkable and there are no toilet facilities on this hike.

If you are planning to go at a busy time then an alternative option is to rent a bike in Springdale, just outside the entrance of the park or to hire a private transfer as it is around 7.5 miles from the visitors centre to the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop where you start the riverside walk.

If you are planning on going on a weekend or a public holiday then it is best to arrive at the park as early as possible, so you can park but also so that you do not have to wait a long time for a shuttle bus.

About the Riverside Walk Trail

The Zion Riverside Walk Trail follows the Virgin River into the steep sided canyon and is paved the whole way. The first 0.4 mile is fairly flat but after this there are a few steep slopes that wheelchair uses may need help with, there is an elevation of 17 metres on this hike. Also at times, if the river has flooded then the path can be covered in silt or there has been a lot of rain.

the river winding through a canyon with trees at the side and lots of rocks in the river

I loved this hike, as you start walking through the trees and alongside the river, it is very peaceful and colourful as you are in the middle of nature. Also make sure that you keep looking up and seeing the sheer size of the walls of the canyon that surround you.

About 100 metres into the walk there is a trail to the left that will take you to the banks of the Virgin River, where you can see it up close.

As you walk further into the canyon you will see the different types of plants that have taken root on the sides of the cliffs and springs that appear in the rocks that feed these plants that have taken growth here. It looks like a stunning hanging garden and amazing that they can actually live there.

As you get closer to the end of this hike, you will notice that the canyon is getting narrower and narrower and finally you will be stopped by the river in front of you.

girl at the edge of a river with lots of rocks around and a narrow canyon in the background

This is the end of the Riverside Walk and the start of the Narrows hike. You can always take your shoes off and have a little walk in the river, even if you don’t want to hike the narrows.

If you are planning to hike the Narrows then make sure you come prepared with your waterproof bag and water shoes as you will know need to go wading into the river to start this hike and at times the water can be past your waist.

If you are not planning on hiking the narrows then after a rest, some snacks, watching people set off up the river and taking your photos, it’s time to head back following the same route that you just came. This time you get to see the canyon opening up instead of becoming narrower.

Be careful with your belongings and food as squirrels are known to get into unsupervised backpacks looking for food. As in any National Park, do not feed the animals. If you are doing this hike at dusk, then you may get to see the deer who come out looking for food.

Best time to do the River Trail Zion

Zion is one of the busiest national parks meaning that any time there is a holiday it is full of people. If you can avoid going during holidays then you will find it much quieter and you will not feel that the trail is full of people.

I recommend that you get to the park early, which is easy to do if you are staying in one of the towns near Zion, and start this hike straight away. After 9am you will notice that it gets busier and busier.

view of a river, with lots of trees on the riverbank and the cliffs of the canyon in the background

Is the Riverside Walk ever closed?

If there is a danger of flash floods the rangers will close the hike, as the hike is alongside the river and in the flood plain in places.

What to take with you on the Riverside Walk Zion Canyon

No matter what time of year you do this hike, whether you are visiting Zion In January or another time of the year, make sure you have plenty of water with you. There is a filling station at the trailhead and toilets, so make sure you have at least 2 litres of water with you at the start of this walk. As it is a desert in summer it can get very hot and you need to make sure you keep hydrated.
Sun screen – Sun screen is very important especially in summer as the sun is very intense and can burn you easily, though the majority of this hike is in the shade.
Food – This hike is a great place to relax and have lunch and there are lots of places you can stop along the hike, so make sure you have some food or snacks with you.
Hats – Make sure your head is covered it is easy to get burnt.

For a more comprehensive list on what to take to Zion, check out my Packing list for Zion here.

Zion National Park is one of my favourite parks in the USA and one that I enjoyed and I hope that you enjoy your time there too. Let me know below what you thought of the Riverside Walk or drop below any questions you have.

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