West Rim Trail to Cabin Spring

The West Rim Trail to Cabin Spring is a 9.4-mile round-trip out-and-back from The Grotto. It follows the shared lower climb past Scout Lookout, then continues onto the high West Rim to the spring. The mapped line shows the 4.7-mile route out once; the total includes the same path back. Expect about 2,500 feet of climbing and five to seven hours on a steep trail. This is a full-day choice for hikers who want the upper plateau beyond Zion Canyon’s famous viewpoints.

Begin at The Grotto and cross the hiker footbridge to the West Rim Trail. The lower path is paved, but it climbs quickly in long zigzags above the river. When Zion Canyon’s free shuttle is operating, ride to stop 6 at The Grotto. Pets are not permitted on this trail. The walk back follows the same route, so save energy for the long descent and the return to the bridge.

The steep lower climb eases briefly in shaded Refrigerator Canyon, a narrow side canyon that feels cooler than the open slope. The trail then tackles Walter’s Wiggles, a tight set of switchbacks, before reaching Scout Lookout. From there, the main canyon opens below and Angels Landing rises across the gap. If that viewpoint is enough for the day, Scout Lookout is the natural turnaround, about 2.2 to 2.5 miles each way from The Grotto.

For Cabin Spring, stay on the West Rim Trail at the junction and leave the Angels Landing spur aside. Angels Landing is a separate, permit-controlled hike. The West Rim route dips briefly around the head of Refrigerator Canyon, crosses a small side wash, then climbs into Little Siberia, a wooded pocket among the sandstone. The tread changes from the paved lower trail to dirt and rock. The upper trail is more exposed, with steep slopes beside the path; take your time on the return.

A set of switchbacks reaches the saddle above Behunin Canyon, then the trail cuts across the pale White Cliffs toward the plateau. The Cabin Spring spur leads to a small seep near the first two backcountry campsites; the through trail continues beyond, but this route turns around at the spring. Treat the water before drinking and carry enough for the whole hike. The spring is not a tap. Snow and ice can linger on the upper rim into late spring, even when the canyon floor is clear.

The climb passes through several plant zones: fir, maple and shade in Refrigerator Canyon give way to more open pinyon, juniper and higher forest on the rim. The light sandstone is Navajo Sandstone; its pale cliffs and darker iron-stained layers make the route’s bends and ledges easier to read as you climb. Look back from Scout Lookout and the Behunin saddle for the canyon wall, Great White Throne and Angels Landing. The switchbacks themselves show the scale of the climb best when you can see the trail cut across the slope.

The West Rim route began taking shape in 1925 and 1926 and was altered in later decades. Walter’s Wiggles are its most memorable piece of trail engineering: a compact staircase of turns that gains the canyon wall one short section at a time. The name is attached to that lower climb; Cabin Spring is the reward for continuing well beyond it.