East Rim Trail

East Rim Trail is an 11.8-mile out-and-back from the East Entrance to Stave Spring and back. The listed distance is 5.9 miles each way; allow about six hours round trip. The climb gains about 1,000 feet before the route crosses a higher plateau. This is a long day on Zion’s quieter east side, with a striking gulch view early and a ponderosa forest in the middle; Stave Spring itself is a plain pipe, not a dramatic destination.

The trail points toward the sandstone cliffs and climbs onto the plateau for roughly the first three miles. The tread is sandy in places, and the opening stretch is particularly dry and sunny. It feels like steady work before the route eases across the high ground. Expect a sustained climb rather than a quick walk to one viewpoint; that effort is why many visitors choose an earlier turnaround.

A couple of miles from the trailhead, Jolley Gulch seems to open beneath the trail, with Checkerboard Mesa and the east side’s sandstone country beyond. The rim is unguarded, so keep well back. For a shorter outing, turn around here and retrace your steps rather than committing to Stave Spring. It is also the route’s most distinctive photo stop: include the gulch falling away below, but keep the edge out of your footing plans.

Past the gulch, the climb gives way to a flatter traverse through ponderosa pines and open sagebrush. This higher forest is cooler than Zion’s main canyon, and the pines have colorful, fragrant bark worth noticing as you pass. Near the East Rim, the view opens across the Echo Canyon basin. The change from exposed sandy approach to quiet forest is the walk’s best stretch of variety.

The turnaround is near the junction with Cable Mountain. Stave Spring is a pipe coming out of the ground, useful to know about but not a scenic payoff. It often dries by early summer and is not a dependable water source. Carry the water you need from the start and return the way you came.