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Kayenta Trail - 3 members in 6 triplogs have rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
6 triplogs
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Jun 05 2025
avatar

 Guides 41
 Routes 1,626
 Photos 14,983
 Triplogs 2,760

69 male
 Joined Jan 20 2009
 Far NE Phoenix,
Zion Day 2, UT 
Zion Day 2, UT
 
Hiking avatar Jun 05 2025
The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760
Hiking10.80 Miles 1,908 AEG
Hiking10.80 Miles   5 Hrs   39 Mns   2.04 mph
1,908 ft AEG      21 Mns Break12 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Riverside Walk
Zion Narrows
Emerald Pools - Zion
Kayenta Trail
Sand Bench Trail - Zion
Partners partners
Ladyeagle
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Riverside Walk 2 Miles - 75' AEG
This is actually a very scenic walk on a paved trail that leads to The Narrows. Don’t expect solitude—unless you’re on the first bus to Stop 9. Accessible to all ages and experience levels. Worth checking out when in the park, even if you don’t plan on doing The Narrows.

Zion Narrows 1 Mile 20' AEG
We brought our own water shoes and changed into them at the end of the Riverside Walk. Most people rented water socks, shoes, and wooden hiking sticks. Bring trekking poles if you have them. The water was typically calf-deep, but you couldn’t see what was below the murky surface. We only went in about half a mile, until we saw people going “nips deep” in the water—that was enough of a sample for us. Very pretty, albeit slow going. As with most of the park, don’t expect solitude.

Emerald Pools – Zion 3.48 Miles - 418' AEG
My favorite of the day. We hit the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. We had planned to hike from Stop 6, past the pools, to Stop 5 at the Zion Lodge, but the bridge across the river wasn’t scheduled to open for another week, so we did an out-and-back instead. In retrospect, a good hike would have been from Stop 6 to Stop 4
Upper Emerald Pool ==> [ youtube video ]

Sand Bench Trail – Zion 4.26 Miles 801 AEG
I did this as a filler hike on the way back. The namesake sand gets annoying after a while, and since the trail is also used for horseback rentals, the sand is chewed up and littered with horse apples and runoff. Go counter-clockwise if you're doing the loop, or clockwise if you're just planning an out-and-back.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Behunin Canyon Light flow Light flow

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Emerald Pools 26-50% full 26-50% full
Lower and middle pools were not impressive. Upper pool was much larger.
_____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry 🦅
 
Oct 09 2015
avatar

 Routes 1
 Photos 29,225
 Triplogs 1,447

45 female
 Joined Jan 18 2011
 In the Wild
Kayenta TrailSouthwest, UT
Kayenta Trail
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Oct 09 2015
Lucyan • Triplogs 1,447
Hiking0.90 Miles 150 AEG
Hiking0.90 Miles
150 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
_____________________
  1 archive
Aug 30 2015
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 Guides 26
 Routes 21
 Photos 562
 Triplogs 1,393

female
 Joined Jan 04 2011
 Las Vegas, NV
Emerald Pools - ZionSouthwest, UT
Emerald Pools - Zion
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Aug 30 2015
autumnstars • Triplogs 1,393
Hiking2.05 Miles 518 AEG
Hiking2.05 Miles
518 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Kayenta Trail
Partners none no partners
A nice, short little hike. We visited each of the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. Spent some time on the way back checking out the final rappel of Behunin Canyon, and just generally enjoying good color on the cliffs thanks to increasing cloud cover. It was another hot day in southern Utah, so the wind on our way back via the Kayenta Trail was a welcome relief. We arrived back at our vehicle with the idea to drive through the tunnel and hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, but it began pouring the moment we opened the trunk. Well, Zion is close for us, so another day for that one.

This is a good hike if you can concentrate on your surroundings while ignoring the swarms of ill-prepare tourists. For moments of being alone, choose something else.
_____________________
"Let it ride / Let it roll / Let it go"
  1 archive
Oct 19 2014
avatar

 Photos 250
 Triplogs 74

male
 Joined Dec 10 2009
 Tempe, AZ
Kayenta TrailSouthwest, UT
Kayenta Trail
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2014
DbleDutch • Triplogs 74
Hiking2.70 Miles 150 AEG
Hiking2.70 Miles
150 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Emerald Pools - Zion
Partners none no partners
A beautiful day hiking more of the Zion trails. Slightly quieter today as far as trail traffic. Assisted a French climber contact SAR. His climb partner fell 20-30 meters and with a serious head injury and unconscious. Love those SAR people and the skills they bring when needed.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Light
_____________________
 
Sep 21 2013
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 72
 Photos 14,456
 Triplogs 627

62 female
 Joined Aug 19 2011
 Scottsdale, AZ
Emerald Pools - ZionSouthwest, UT
Emerald Pools - Zion
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Sep 21 2013
outdoor_lover • Triplogs 627
Hiking4.00 Miles 500 AEG
Hiking4.00 Miles
500 ft AEG15 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Grotto Trail
Kayenta Trail
Partners none no partners
Day 5 - Hiking Day in Zion National Park

As much as I wanted to do Angel's Landing or the Narrows, it was a Saturday and that means you start at the Crack of Dawn and still run into hordes of people...Plus I wanted to be back in Camp late afternoon, since the Rendezvous Organizers were putting on a Dutch Oven Dinner that Evening...Hadn't been sleeping well on this Trip, due to not being able to shut the mind off at night, even though I was tired...Plus getting out of that warm Sleeping Bag into that chilly air before you even see a hint of Sun was very difficult. :sweat: It's much easier to get up that early when you've committed to doing something with other people... ;) When you're on your own...well... :sweat: I also knew that no matter where I went in the Park, I would be in serious Camera mode, so it basically came down to doing something shorter... :lol:

I did make a longer Loop out of this just to get a little more playtime and exercise in...Basically, I did every Trail between the Zion Lodge and the Grotto...Got off the Shuttle at the Zion Lodge, took the Grotto Trail to the Grotto, crossed the Bridge over the Virgin River, then took the Kayenta Trail back to the Emerald Pools...Hit the Middle Pool first, then found a use Trail going up the Hill towards the Upper Pool...Turns out, it doesn't do much, other than parallel the Official Trail up, so eventually I cut over and got on it and continued up to the Upper Pool. I did meet a new Friend on the "use" Trail though... :D

Lots of People.... :sweat: Found an out-of-way Rock and had a little Lunch, then went back down...Took a little side Trail and ended up on top of another one of the small Waterfalls going over the Edge into the Lower Pool area...It was starting to get very Windy and I got a Shower from the Water blowback...There is another Trail that continues on from there, but it was barricaded off, so I backtracked and got back on the Main Trail...They also had one of the Trails to the Lower Pool barricaded off as well, so I had to backtrack on the Kayenta to another Intersection and then down to the area above the Lower Pool. Looks like they're doing permanent Reroutes of these Trails.

Lots of Photo Ops...And then, the Wind brought in more Clouds making the Shadows dance across the immense Formations that blew you away at every turn.... :) I took a lot of Photos... :sweat: After attempting to stalk a Rafter of Wild Turkeys in the brush below the Lower Pool, I continued on the Emerald Pools Trail down to the Bridge by the Zion Lodge...From there, I took a Riverside Trail that I had seen from the Kayenta Trail back to the Grotto...Nice Sandy Trail that follows the Banks of the Virgin River the whole way...More Photo Ops... :D

I took the Shuttle that headed deeper in, so I could familiarize myself with the rest of the Route...Saw some Rock Climbers at Big Bend climbing a sheer Rock Face...I think I'll stick with going down a Rope.... :sweat: Caught a Glimpse of a Mule Deer along the Banks of the Virgin River and saw some more beautiful areas...Soooo much to see here...I know that I will be back... :D

Back at the Escape after a nice little Hike with Awesome Scenery! The Pools are great. The Middle Pool area is just Ok, but the Upper and Lower Pools were pretty cool! I could do this Hike again, maybe if I can catch it on a slower day with fewer people... :sweat:

I'll let the Photos show you the Day...I certainly took enough of them...130 to be exact... Sooo, I guess throwing 36 at you guys isn't so bad... :sl:
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 Fauna [ checklist ]
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wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Behunin Canyon Pools to trickle Pools to trickle
Trickle to Light Flow at Trail Intersection.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water less than max Emerald Pools 51-75% full 51-75% full

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Heaps Canyon Pools to trickle Pools to trickle
Trickle to Light Flow from Upper Emerald Pool to Virgin River.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max North Fork Virgin River Light flow Light flow

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Zion Canyon Light flow Light flow
_____________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!"
 
Oct 13 2012
avatar

 Routes 11
 Photos 260
 Triplogs 423

64 male
 Joined Mar 12 2011
 Cave Creek, AZ
Kayenta TrailSouthwest, UT
Kayenta Trail
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Oct 13 2012
Hiking_Fool • Triplogs 423
Hiking0.90 Miles 150 AEG
Hiking0.90 Miles
150 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.04 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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