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While exploring Zion National Park, we hiked the Riverside Walk This is a popular trail with pretty views in the canyon.
It was also an easy, short, and scenic trek along the river. And the trail was mostly paved, hiking shoes aren’t necessary, but I’ll discuss that later.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share personal photos of our little adventure. You might want to try it for yourself!
Getting There
We took a road trip from California to Nevada, and then to Utah. Our destination was Zion National Park. To access the trail, you’ll need to enter the park first.
We parked at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, located near the south entrance of the park. Then we took the shuttle.
You’ll get on the shuttle for Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You cannot drive your personal vehicle to the trail.
The shuttle has nine stops, at which you can access many trails. For the Riverside trail, you’ll take it to stop 9, the Temple of Sinawava.
Hiking Riverside Walk
The walk along the river is a little over 2 miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of over 150 feet. It leads to The Narrows, a very popular hike in Zion.
Since the park is open 24 hours a day, you can access the trail anytime, as long as it’s not closed due to weather conditions.
Know that the buses do not run all day. So if you want a ride to and from the trail, heed the bus schedule. Meaning, don’t start your hike right before the last bus.
You’ll need to find your way back to the entrance. By the way, the rangers will not give you a ride.
Riding the Shuttle
We didn’t have to wait long for the bus to arrive at the visitor center. They had buses running every 15 or so minutes.
The ride up Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from the visitor center wasn’t long. However, many people crammed onto the bus.
As the bus pulled up to each stop, only a couple people got off. It seemed like everyone was going where we were heading.
I looked out the window and saw people riding bicycles on the scenic drive. That’s a great way to travel, but you’ll have to yield to buses.
It was a 40-minute ride from the visitor center to the Temple of Sinawava stop. But it didn’t feel like it because there were things to see along the way.
When you get off the bus to explore, that’s when you see the real beauty of the park. That’s when it gets scenic.
Arriving at the Trailhead
When we reached the last stop, all the people on the bus got off with us. Nice.
We saw tons of people waiting to catch the bus back. Ugh! The dreaded long lines flooded the trailhead.
It looked like a very long wait, and I thought we had made a big mistake coming here. So we pushed past the crowds and started the trail.
The trail began more flat, and we found it a bit sandy. Once we had walked for a couple minutes, we started to see the inner beauty of the canyon.
I wore my gym shoes and left my hiking shoes behind. We made an initial plan to sightsee, so I didn’t wear them.
But plenty of people walked the trail in street shoes and flip-flops. They seemed to get along just fine.
Along the Virgin River
On the trail, we walked along the Virgin River, flowing deep in the canyon.
We saw people picnicking and playing in the water. However, signs at the beginning of the trailhead warned of toxic algal mats.
You don’t want to go in the water when those are present. The RV resort we stayed at also warned us not to get in the river at this time.
We took breaks to listen to it gurgle through the canyon under towering trees and majestic rock formations. It was really peaceful.
Overhangs and Puddles
Overall, the trail is well-maintained and paved. We found slight elevation changes, which weren’t bad.
Lush foliage bent over the trail in some places. You’ll want to watch out for rock overhangs, in which we had to bend down low in some places.
For the most part, we stayed dry on this trail. However, water from melting snow from the mountains slid onto the path.
So there were many wet spots at this time. Again, I should have worn my hiking shoes for more traction.
People on the Trail
We had started our hike in the mid-afternoon, which was prime time for people.
At times, the trail was like a busy New York street, jam-packed with people flooding the way. Some of them didn’t know which side to walk on.
Others weaved in and out of the traffic flow, bumping into people. Ugh…
Large groups of tourists got all excited about the views and stopped right on the trail, blocking the way. I guess they forgot other people were there too.
Luckily, I found short stretches of calm where I could take pictures and breathe without the masses.
Finding the Narrows
We finally came to the end of the Riverside Walk. At this point, it turns into the beginning of The Narrows trail.
You can see down into it and continue on that trail for eight more hours. But you’ll have to shuffle through water.
That’s why you’ll see people in waterproof hiking boots and pants. We stopped here because we didn’t plan to go farther.
Many people gathered here. We even saw one lady set up a hammock.
It was difficult to find a place to relax in this area. So, we headed back, stopping along the way to take more pictures.
Heading Back
Although beautiful, I was ready to leave. Some people didn’t have hiking etiquette. Sounds like another blog post…
Squirrels ran after us and leapt at our hands. Okay, people must feed them.
But this is a big no-no. Do not feed the wildlife in national parks. If the staff catch you, you’ll get fined for this.
After we made it back to the trailhead, we had to stand in a long line. It took less than an hour to board the bus.
Despite having my snacks, I was hungry and tired. I didn’t see a ranger or staff policing the area.
I saw people throwing trash on the ground. Wow. That’s another big no-no.
It’s beyond me why some people trash our beautiful lands like their dirty bedrooms.
When we boarded the bus back, people filed in like canned sardines. These were hot, sweaty people who had hiked all day.
Travel Notes
If you want to hike in Zion, the National Park Service recommends arriving 90 minutes before your hike.
You’ll need time to park, catch the shuttle, and ride up Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Then you’ll do the hike and need to travel back down.
The total time we spent on this hike was around 4 hours. So keep that in mind if you plan to do multiple hikes in one day.
Also, bring your refillable bottle. I was able to fill up mine at one of the water stations in the national park.
The next time I walk this trail, I’ll wear hiking shoes. You might want to consider wearing yours.
Final Thoughts
The Riverside Walk is a beautiful and easy trail in Zion National Park. Despite the crowds, I saw many amazing views of the deep canyon.
Next time we do this trail, we’ll time it better. That way, it’ll be even more serene without all the crowds.
More Travel Adventures
I have many more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- You’ll want to read about my experience with the crowds at Zion before you visit.
- I’ll tell you how to explore Zion National Park and what we saw on our visits.
- We van camped at Zion River Resort, which is close to the national park and right next to the Virgin River.
- Quail Creek State Park is also nearby, and we camped lakeside here.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: June 19, 2025
