Hike Emerald Pools at Zion National Park, Utah

The Emerald Pools trail is well suited for kids, babies, wheelchairs and strollers up to the lower pools. The hike begins on flat ground and offers some beautiful scenic views of the area. 

As mentioned, the Emerald Pools Trail is divided into three main sections: Lower, Middle, and Upper Pools, each with its own difficulty level. The hike can be customized to suit different fitness levels and time constraints, with the full round-trip to all three pools spanning about 3 miles.

Lower Emerald Pool is accessible to most hikers, including families with young children. The path meanders through a shaded alcove, offering views of the waterfall that spills into the pool below. The sounds of the falling water and the cool, refreshing environment provide a revitalizing respite for hikers. 

Middle Emerald Pool is accessible from the Lower Pool trail, ascending moderately to reach the Middle Pool. This part involves navigating some rocky terrain, but is easy and offers panoramic views of Zion Canyon. The area is calm and quiet, and perfect for enjoying nature or finding great photo ops.

Upper Emerald Pool is slightly more challenging. The hike continues to the Upper Pool. This section is steeper and rockier, but it’s worth the trek. The views are better and the steep waterfall cascading down the rock face is the highlight of the entire hike. 

Unfortunately on this trip, I didn’t make it to Upper Falls. We had a battle royale between kids so we missed out. I would recommend, if you do this hike, see all three pools. It’s easy, you’ll burn calories and each pool offers its own unique experience.