Looking for a short but sweet hike in Zion, with low crowds, cool rock formations, and no need to hop on the shuttle? We hiked the Many Pools Trail on our third visit to Zion and it was super fun and filled with awesome views.
The Many Pools Trail is located along Zion Mount Carmel Highway, in east Zion. Since it is located outside of Zion Canyon, there’s no need to ride the shuttle, but you will need your own transportation.
We’ve done a lot of hikes in Zion (Angels Landing, the Narrows from the top-down, the West Rim Trail, and Observation Point multiple ways, to name a few). Tim and I hiked Many Pools on our most recent trip to Zion and we loved it. It’s short, it’s easy, and there are very few hikers, making it one of our favorite shorter trails in the park.
This is a great hike for those who prefer a short trail, easy to moderate in difficulty, and don’t mind a little bit of rock scrambling.
Here’s how to do it.
Many Pools Hiking Stats
Distance: 1.9 miles (3.0 km) out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Total Elevation Gain: 625 feet (190 meters)
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Many Pools Trail Elevation Profile
Many Pools Trail Map
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
Where is the Many Pools Trail?
This trail is located on Zion – Mount Carmel Highway (Route 9), 2.2 miles east of the east entrance of the Zion – Mount Carmel Tunnel.
There is a very small parking lot at the trailhead (labeled Many Pools Trailhead on Google Maps). There is room here for roughly 9 to 10 vehicles, depending on how people park and the size of the vehicles. There are also restrooms here.
How to Hike the Many Pools Trail
Step-by-Step Trail Guide
Getting Started
There are two ways to get on the trail.
The best way is to look for the dirt trail that starts next to the parking lot and leads downhill into the wash. There are several trails that do this from the parking lot. Once down in the wash, turn left. You will walk along a rock wall until you reach a tunnel under the road. Go through the tunnel and the trail continues in this wash.
The second way to get on this trail (which we advise against, since it is a bit dangerous) is to walk east on Route 9 from the parking lot (away from the Zion – Mount Carmel Tunnel) about 100 yards. Look for a few steps and a steep trail down into the wash. This route is a little shorter and skips the walk through the tunnel.
Zion – Mount Carmel Highway and the steps leading down to the trail.
On the Trail
This is not an official trail in Zion. There are no trail signs, no trail markers, and no defined trail to follow. For some, that may make this hike feel more like an adventure. And in some ways, it is.
Once in the sandy wash, walk about 20 meters. The “trail” veers off to the right, up the slickrock. This trail alternates between sections of slickrock, sometimes potholed with small pools of water (these could be dry if there hasn’t been any recent rainfall), and sandy washes. Basically, follow the trail of pools and water drainage uphill through the canyon.
There will be some obstacles and higher rock walls along the hike, so you may have to look for a trail off to the left or right to keep making progress. It is a steady, uphill walk on the way out, and mostly downhill on the way back.
This sandy wash is the start of the trail.
About 0.75 miles from the parking lot, you will come to an alcove. This cavelike structure is one of the most interesting parts of the trail. It makes a good turn around point. If you want to continue on, the path continues to left, and this is where you will do a little bit of rock scrambling.
Tim walking up the slickrock to detour around the alcove.
We hiked about 1 mile into the canyon and then reached a point where the pools and “trail” seemed to fade away. However, for those who want to keep exploring, you can go a little bit farther.
The end of the trail
The view look back along the trail
To return to the parking lot, retrace your steps. Now that it is a downhill walk, be aware that the slickrock can be slippery, especially with sandy shoes. Be careful on the return hike.
Similar Hikes in Zion
Just a short distance east of the Many Pools Trail is a trail that leads to petroglyphs. This hike is less than a mile, starts here on Google Maps, and takes you to views of petroglyphs and a very short slot canyon.
If you like the idea of hiking this trail, a similar trail is the Canyon Overlook Trail, which starts next to the east entrance into the Zion – Mount Carmel Tunnel. It is a very popular hike, so expect to see more people on this trail. Getting a parking space can be challenging midday.
The Watchman Trail is another short hike that can be done without using the Zion Shuttle. It starts at the Visitor Center and has views of Springdale and the awesome mountains that form Zion canyon.
For a bigger list of hikes in Zion, don’t miss our guide Best Hikes in Zion
If you have any questions about how to hike the Many Pools Trail, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Zion
We have tons more information about Zion and Utah in our Utah Travel Guide.
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