Riverside Walk in Zion

Riverside Walk Zion
Riverside Walk is a beautiful trail!

Riverside Walk is the only hike that I remember doing from my visit to Zion as a kid. This is because I didn’t come from a hiking family– in fact I don’t think I ever went on a hike. We were strictly a drive-to-the-overlook family. Oh my, how things have changed!

 

Riverside Walk is at the very top of Zion Canyon at the last Shuttle Stop (#9). The walk is paved, shady, and very busy. It stretches around a mile each way (2 miles RT) to the place where the canyon slims down into The Narrows Hike.

 

We made this hike on an early April morning and we were freezing! This is because the sun is blocked from this deep canyon except for a few hours at midday. Don’t worry, though, if you are visiting in the summer. You’ll appreciate the cool shade. A stroller would be appropriate on this trail, too. There isn’t any elevation change, so it would be easy to push the stroller here (Weeping Rock might be a little trickier).

Riverside Walk Zion
We were freezing in the early morning. The trail is paved the entire way and it’s flat just like this.

One of the great things about this hike is that you don’t have to stay on the paved trail. There is a sandy trail that follows right along the river, too, and many people were walking there. Our boys especially liked this option because it meant they could throw rocks into the water, which is a little bit of Heaven for them.

Riverside Walk Zion
Along the trail you will find River Access places where you can walk the trail next to the river if you are stroller free. The trail by the river is very sandy.
Riverside Walk Zion
We threw a lot of rocks into the river.
Riverside Walk Zion
If it had been warmer, our boys would have wanted to put their feet in, but in the Spring it was too cold and the river was running too fast.

Riverside Walk is where people often play or walk in the river. Many families will walk for a short time in the river toward the Narrows. If you decide to hike The Narrows (which you really shouldn’t with young kids), you need a special permit which you can acquire at the Visitor’s Center. We visited Zion National Park in April and the water was freezing, and because of high spring run-off The Narrows hike was closed the entire week. Obviously, we did not spend any time hiking in the water. If you are visiting Zion in the summer, it might be fun to let your children hike in the river for a little bit. Make sure to bring dry clothes and shoes if this is your plan!

This is the end of the hike with the paved trail. If you want to continue, you must enter the river.
This is the end of the hike with the paved trail. If you want to continue, you must enter the river.
Riverside Walk Zion
This is where the trail heads into the water. In the summer, hike a little way in the river toward The Narrows Trail.

We also saw a few animals along this hike. On the way back two young male deer stood up out of the grass and walked right up the trail within 10 yards of us! Because it was early spring, you can just see their antlers beginning to sprout. We also saw mergansers in the river and there were several squirrels on the trail. Our boys would want me to note that we saw tiny fish swimming in the pools near the trail. But best of all, we saw a wild turkey, which was gobbling like a lunatic right near the trailhead.

Riverside Walk Zion
We saw a squirrel run right by us.
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This turkey greeted us when we arrived on the shuttle at Riverside Walk.
There were two deer about 15 feet away from us. They walked on the trail for a bit, too.
There were two deer about 15 feet away from us. They walked on the trail for a bit, too.

Riverside Trail is a great walk that is flat, wide, and great for making memories– just like I did when I was a little hiker!

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