observation point

Observation point is supposed to take 8 hours back and forth according to the information. I did it in 3 hours. The view is spectacular on top and you get to see views off Angels Landing that you're not able to from elsewhere. Hike is pretty lame and uneventful up.

Every time I go to Zion, I do this trail. It's not very long and doesn't take very much time to complete, but the view from the top is absolutely breathtaking. There is a somewhat convenient parking lot as soon as you get through the tunnel that allows access. It does get crowded here but that is a common theme all throughout Zion. I usually spend about 15-20 minutes in complete and total awe once I get to the Observation Point. This trail is a must.

This was the second time I've gone up to Observation Peak (last time was 14 years ago), and this time I have a better digital camera. It is a steady climb for the first 3.5 miles of the 4 mile length.At about 1.5 miles is where one goes past a little slot (took many pictures of the rock formation inside)The view up-top is as beautiful as every, looking down the length of the valley and Angel's Landing, with people on top.The amount of time to hike the 8 miles round trip depends on how much one pushes. My friend and I took 3 1/2 hours (2 hours up, 1/2 hour at top, 1 hour down and this was right after coming off the Angel Landing trail), we were in a time constraint so we boogied down. Since we did it in the afternoon, at the upper part of the trail, it is full sun exposure and got toasty - even in February at high 70's; so if it is later in the season or summer time, one may want to consider doing the hike in the morning timeframe, so they are not in the afternoon sun while traversing the last bit of switchbacks at the top.The trail is in good condition, only small short areas of loose rock, else, it is pretty flat and sturdy.

This was a challenging hike to the top. With a steady pace you will get there in about 3.5 to 4 hours. Bring plenty of water. This hike not for everyone.

We'd visited Zion several times but not done this hike before.It's one which isn't that difficult but definitely a long old hike up from the valley floor.The distance of the walk isn't the thing it's the elevation change of 2,000ft or so which is the killer.Along the trail though the views are amazing and varied, a kinda slot canyon thing on the level gives you a false sense of security thinking things might finally be leveling out and getting easier but you've still a long old way to go.And when you're thinking you can't carry on climbing on much more you hit the sign saying you're only half way there... very dispiriting that is.Also don't kid yourself it'll be that much quicker on the way down, after the effort of hiking up it's pretty hard work going down too.Definitely you'll need to commit a good 5 hours maybe more for this hike but it's well worth it for the varied scenery and the views at the top.

I am out of shape and take lots of pictures so this took me 6 hours to hike (3 1/2 hours up, 1 hour break at top, 1 1/2 hours down). Since I was going solo I had some interesting conversation with other hikers. I guess all the camera equipment sparked some interest. Lots of beautiful scenery. The view from many stops along the way were actually better than the point. The canyon about 1/3 of the way up was a terrific surprise as I had not read any reviews.If you are traveling with children I would not recommend this trail. Take lots to drink and a hat and sunglasses. I left early in the morning. And forgot my hat wish I remembered. Again best one day hike of my life.

Unlimited rock formation, breath taking sandstone formation, cliffs, arches & peaks. Don't miss the Zion Canyon Scenic drive & stop at every attraction that will amaze your senses.

This is definitely a great and rewarding trail. It's about 8 miles round trip and most people need about 3-4 hours. Almost all trail is paved with 3-4 feet wide concrete pavement, so I actually saw a couple girls with a stroller quiet high up. Also, the uphill ratio is very steady at about 1:10, so you can walk up fairly comfortably without sharp pattern changes.In some places you need to walk at the edge of a multi hundred feet vertical cliff drop offs. Since you always have a least 3 feet wide trail, you won't really see that depth, but if you worry too much about your kids being that high above without any railings - maybe it's not your cup of tea.They do have restrooms by the trail head, but no water. The trail has no services!We went in winter and the weather was in 60s, no wind, but I was told that it might get really windy and I saw a lot of signs saying "trail is closed due to ice", so you should pay attention to the weather forecast and avoid the days when it might get slippery - the trail will likely to be closed.Everyone mentioned the views from the top, but another scenic part of the trail is when it goes through a smaller narrow canyon - it offers some great photo spots.Enjoy!

8 mile round trip. The first 3 miles up are pretty strenuous and the last mile up is almost level. There are some cliff side drop offs that are a little unnerving but you should be ok. Even if you do not make it to the top, there are good views all the way up. Once you get to the top, you will see that it is worth the effort. You are looking 700 feet down to Angel's Landing. Elevation climbed is 2150 feet. Elevation is 6500 feet. The last 3 miles down are a little hard on the knees, but just take your time. We did Angel's Landing and Observation Point and the views are better on the OP trail.

My husband & I did this hike just last week. This is a MUST if your visiting Zion! Yes its steep & long, and even a few cliff edges that can get the best of people.....but it was worth every step. It has so many varieties of path surface, as well as amazing and new views through out this entire hike! The view from the top is amazing, but honestly I felt the view about a mile from the top was almost better! Several other hikers also shared this with us as well. Your on the edge at that point, but having a bit of the tops of the cliffs still above you made you just feel so immersed in the entire beautiful view. We enjoyed every minute of this hike. I really didn't keep track of how long it took to do the whole hike but 4 hours sounds about right. We took our time at the top & enjoyed our packed lunch before heading back down. I would say it could be hard for some who have not climbed that distance could have a hard time with the steep climbing the trail has, but it does have its moments of more level hiking such as when you arrive in you the Echo Canyon area. Which by the way is also amazingly beautiful! Honestly one of the best hikes we've done :)

My husband and I are in our 40's and in mediocre shape. This hike from the Weeping Rock shuttle stop to Observation Point, with a reported 2,100 ft elevation gain, was tough for us but the scenery along the way and the view from Observation Point were definitely worth it. Some materials say the hike takes approx. 6 hours. We completed the roundtrip hike in 4 hours, and that was with plenty of breaks to catch our breath and to take photos. I have a fear of heights but the steep drop-offs along the trail were manageable. The path is wide and you can hug the inside to avoid walking along the edge.

We hiked the Observation Point trail in October of 2014. Our day started as we drove to Zion from Mt. Carmel at 6:15 in the morning to catch the first shuttle from the Visitor's Center to Weeping Rock. We also knew that we'd have a guaranteed parking spot at the Visitor's Center. We highly recommend starting this hike very early in the day due to the 2100 foot ascent one makes to get to the top. Hiking it when the sun is still rising and not straight overhead must be kept in mind.Our early morning start was rewarded with the appearance of a bighorn sheep at the top of the rim and a picture of this beautiful creature. The sky was an early morning blue and the sheep's gaze upon us was a gift!We are fifty-something average hikers, and it took us two hours and a half hours to get to the top, about a half hour rest at the top, and about an hour and forty-five minutes down. It is a fabulous hike, but we took breaks...(well, my husband took breaks for me :) There are some steep areas, there are some narrow areas, there are some precipices, and for your effort, there are indescribable views.About 15 minutes from the point, a hiker passed us going back down and her word of encouragement that we were just 15 minutes away from reaching our goal inspired us to keep moving. Going back down, if you're one that may be prone to pressure points on your feet, a tip to pass on is tucking some lamb's wool around the toe area of one's foot to cushion the descent within your hiking shoe.At the end of the day, it was a great sense of accomplishment and worth the energy and the effort, as the view from Observation Point was one we shall cherish forever!

As two people who had not really hiked anything further than 2 miles, so it was a big challenge to take on the 8 mile round trip to the top of observation point. The first 5 mins we looked at each other and started laughing as we were already out of breath! But we continued on and loved the rewards of this hike. Within the first 30 mins you get stunning views of the valley below. Continue on and you arrive in Echo Cannon, one of the most stunning places that I have seen. Just another hour to the top, steep but rewarding climbs, shared with chipmunks, lizards and many other bird species. Finally you reach the top and get to gaze out to the best views of Zion Cannon. All in all we did the round trip in four and a half hours, an hour and a half less than the advertised time. Highly recommended!

Start early to beat the crowds and the heat (even in October). We were on the first shuttle and only saw one other person until we got to the top where there were two people. Sensational lifetime views! I hate precipices and there were plenty on the trail between roughly miles 2 and 3 on the way up. Be ready for that! We were under six hours round trip, including 30 minutes at the top and lots of stopping for photos. Bring plenty of water and enjoy the crowds of hot, exhausted folks heading up while you are on your way down.

The hike from Zion Canyon to Observation Point is stunning, and well worth it for the superb views along the way and for the payoff, looking down Zion Canyon and across to the West Rim. It's an 8-mile round trip with a 2150 foot elevation gain, which is real work. But the trail is fairly steady and smooth most of the way. At 2150 feet over 4 miles each way, the average gradient is a little over 500 feet per mile, or 10%. But the trail is more like a bunch of stretches with a 20% grade mixed with several level or almost level stretches. If you start early (9:30am in mid-October, for example), the steepest part of the ascent is done in shade, which makes it much easier. If you don't want to go all the way up, you can go far enough to go through lovely and heavily shaded Echo Canyon, take a peak at the scenery beyond, and head back. But going all the way and savoring the views from the top is well worth it.