Hiking Scout Lookout Zion National Park – Everything You Need to Know

While Angels Landing gets all the hype thanks to the super steep section of chains and the epic views from the top, hiking to Scout Lookout along the way is a worthwhile adventure in its own right.

Hiking Scout Lookout Zion National Park is a great choice for those that are scared of heights and don’t feel comfortable on the exposed chains section of Angels Landing, as well as for people who aren’t able to get permits for Angels Landing.

Info for Hiking Scout Lookout in Zion National Park

Here’s all the important info that you need to know before hiking Scout Lookout Zion National Park.

This is a popular hike that’s part of the much longer West Rim Trail. (The entire West Rim Trail is 16 miles point-to-point, and many people backpack it.) Scout Lookout is on the way to Angels Landing and is a common turn-around point for people who decide not to hike the steep, exposed section to the summit.

LENGTH

The section of the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout is 3.6 miles round trip. If you are in good shape and keep a moderate pace you can complete this hike in 2 to 3 hrs.

DIFFICULTY

Even though this hike doesn’t go all the way to the summit of Angels Landing, you’ll still get 1,122 feet of elevation gain on the way to Scout Lookout. It’s a great workout and considered a difficult hike, but I think it’s still totally doable with young kids. (On the other hand, I would not recommend hiking the chains section all the way up to Angels Landing with kids.)

LOCATION

The trail to Scout Lookout starts at The Grotto, which is stop #6 on the Zion shuttle. When you arrive, cross the road, go over the bridge, head to the right to the West Rim Trail toward Angels Landing, and you are on your way. (If you go to the left, you will be on the Kayenta Trail.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS & TO BOOK A SHOOT

In the winter when shuttles are not running, you can drive yourself and park in the lot. But plan to get there early, because parking in the winter during the day will be hard to find.

Do You Need a Permit to Hike Scout Lookout?

Nope! You do NOT need a permit for hiking Scout Lookout Zion National Park. You only need a permit if you want to continue on to the chain section and the summit of Angels Landing. If you don’t have a permit, you can’t go any farther up the trail than Scout Lookout.

Scout Lookout still offers incredible views over Zion, so it’s a perfect stopping point if you’re nervous about the chains up to Angels Landing. You can also continue along the West Rim Trail for a bit if you want to keep hiking but don’t have an Angels Landing permit.

Trail Details for Hiking Scout Lookout Zion National Park

From the Grotto, you’ll follow the West Rim Trail up to Scout Lookout. The start of the trail will take you along the Virgin River for a bit. The hike starts off fairly mellow, but as you veer away from the river, you’ll start the switchbacks and more intense elevation gain.

After a while, you’ll enter Refrigerator Canyon, which is a nice break from the steep uphill. It also offers some shade as a respite from the heat in the summer.

Enjoy your rest in Refrigerator Canyon, because after that you’ll have to tackle the infamous Walter’s Wiggles. This section consists of 21 steep switchbacks and is named after Walter Reusch, the first superintendent of Zion National Park. You might be cursing his name for constructing these switchbacks as you make your way up them, haha, but believe me, it’s worth it to keep going!

After you finally stop ascending and reach the top of Walter’s Wiggles, you will emerge to find yourself at Scout Lookout. Enjoy the absolutely beautiful views of the canyon from above and spend some time here to savor it.

You can look up and see the chains to Angels Landing from here, and maybe get a better idea if that’s a hike you might want to do someday. But remember, you can’t go any farther without a permit!

Check out my post here for more info about hiking Angels Landing!

Once you’ve gotten your fill – and plenty of photos! – of the view from Scout Lookout, turn around and head back down the trail to make your way back to the Grotto.

Tips for Hiking Scout Lookout Zion National Park

While this isn’t a super long hike, you should still take plenty of water and snacks on your hike. There is a water fill station at the Grotto so you can make sure you have enough water (especially when it’s hot out).
I highly recommend using the bathrooms at the Grotto before you start your hike! There actually are toilets at Scout Lookout but, believe me, these should really be used only in an emergency.
You’ll want comfy hiking shoes with good traction for this hike. A hiking pole might be useful on the way down, too.
If you’re hiking to Scout Lookout in Zion in winter, microspikes might be necessary. The Walter’s Wiggles section of the trail stays mostly in the shade, so ice can build up there, and I’ve definitely seen people slipping and sliding. Some kind of traction on your shoes will make life a lot easier here!
Although the permit system for Angels Landing helps limit the crowds on the trail a bit, this is still a very popular hike, especially in the summer. So my tip for hiking Scout Lookout in the summer without the crowds is to go for sunset! Start the hike about two hours before sunset and come down the chains when it is still light and pull out headlamps for the last leg of the hike. This does mean you’ll miss the last shuttle out of the park, but if you take a bike (you can even rent an e-bike) into the park, it’s only a 3 mile ride back to your car.