Zion National Park - Watchman Trail - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Zion National Park - Watchman Trail
Country:	United States
State:	Utah
Nearby Town:	Springdale, UT
Rating:
Directions:	Enter Zion National Park from Springdale, Utah, and you will see the Zion Canyon Visitor Center on the right almost immediately. Park at the visitor center. The trailhead is reached by walking through the visitor center complex and past the shuttle stop, cross the street. You will see the trailhead between an employee parking lot and the Virgin River.
Total Hike Distance:	3.00 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Easy to Moderate
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	In & Out, Backtrack Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Trails Used:	Watchman Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	None
Management:	National Park Service
Contact Information:	Zion National Park Springdale, UT 84767 435-772-3256
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	Trail is level along the Virgin River, but after crossing a service road it begins to climb up a small side canyon. This canyon is very desert-like with red sand on the trail and desert flora all around. Wildflowers in here are quite nice in the spring. At the head of this canyon, the trail takes several switchbacks to climb the canyon wall on the east end. Most of the trail's 368' elevational gain is done in this set of switchbacks. At the top of the last switchback, the trail inclines at a much more gentle rate up to the top of a ridge. From the ridge the hiker has a grand view of lower Zion Canyon and the mountains of the west wall of the canyon including the Mt. Kinesava, the West Temple, the Altar of Sacrifice, and the Sentinel. You also have a great up close and personal view of the Watchman, the mountain on the east wall of the canyon that towers over the visitor center. At the top of the ridge, there is a loop trail that goes around the rim of the ridge that is about 0.6 mi long.