We hiked the West Rim Trail to reach the stunning vistas at Scout Lookout in Zion National Park. Scout Lookout is the starting point of the treacherous Angels Landing, which many consider to be one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States.
Here are the details of our experience hiking to Scout Lookout, which is sometimes called Scout Landing, but the official name is Scout Lookout.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park, located in southwestern Utah, is known for its dramatic landscapes.
Primarily know for its steep red cliffs, Zion also includes high plateaus, rock towers, mesas, and deep sandstone canyons. The park also features a range of diverse range vegetation zones, from deserts to coniferous forests.
The park is well-developed, and includes a visitor center, campgrounds, shuttles, and other infrastructure.
The town of Springdale, right outside the park’s boundaries, offers a wide range of lodging and restaurants. The Zion shuttle goes to Springdale, making the town a good base for visiting Zion National Park.
History of Zion National Park
In the 1850s, Mormon settlers came into the area, naming it Zion, a biblical term meaning “a place of peace and refuge.”
They started to establish farms and communities around the perimeter of what is now the park. (Another good example of early Mormon settlers is the Lonely Dell Ranch where you can pick fruit for free from its remaining orchard.)
Zion was first protected as Mukuntuweap National Monument by an executive order from President William Howard Taft in 1909 due to its remarkable scenery and geology.
In 1919, the monument was enlarged and redesignated as Zion National Park by an act of Congress, with additional expansions in later years.
Today, Zion National Park covers approximately 299 square miles of land in Utah and is one of the most popular National Parks.
Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail
Scout Lookout, perched on the east side of Zion Canyon at an elevation of 5,785 feet, offers panoramic views of the canyon, including the Virgin River and the surrounding sandstone cliffs.
This lookout is one of only two hikes in Zion National Park classified as strenuous by the National Park Service (NPS), according to their guide which categorizes trails as easy, moderate, or strenuous.
Located as close as one can get to Angels Landing without a permit, Scout Lookout provides a similar scenic experience.
The trail to Scout Lookout is a challenging 4.2-mile round trip, climbing over 1,000 feet in just 2.1 miles.
The path, mostly paved, features steep and narrow sections without handrails or fences, making it unsuitable for children or those with a fear of heights.
The only respite along this demanding hike is Refrigerator Canyon, a shaded (depending on the time of day) and relatively flat stretch that offers a brief break from the strenuous climb.
Along the way, you will pass some interesting terrain, including the cave below.
The trees in Zion are also very innovative. Check out the roots of the tree below!
Endangered Mexican Owls on West Rim Trail
You will go through a section where there are signs to be quiet as Mexican Owls live in the canyon.
These owls are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
This section is a small canyon area of the hike. It is one of the few areas on the West Rim Trail that is shaded.
We were lucky to spot one of the owl’s nests high up on a cliff wall. The photo below is very zoomed in.
This nest was located on the left-side canyon wall as you climbing up toward Scout Landing.
Walter’s Wiggles near Scout Lookout
As you near Scout Lookout, you’ll go through a series of switchbacks known as Walter’s Wiggles.
Walter’s Wiggles is a famously steep and challenging section of the hike to Scout Lookout.
It consists of a series of 21 tight zigzags that climb the side of a cliff. This part of the West Rim Trail is named after Walter Ruesch, the park’s first superintendent who helped design and construct the West Rim Trail in the 1920s.
The switchbacks here gain elevation quickly. It’s a strenuous final section of the trail before you reach Scout Lookout.
Scout Lookout
Scout Lookout is named for its role as a strategic vantage point or “lookout” spot on the trail to Angels Landing.
It serves as a staging area for hikers before they make the final ascent to Angels Landing.
The actual area of Scout Lookout is a relatively flat, sandy area with some shade, but there is no water available.
It is a good spot to stop and enjoy the views. Just watch out for the chipmunks who will attempt to steal any snacks you brought with you!
The photo below looks down on the flat area of Scout Landing.
We had hiked up further for a good vantage point.
There are some bathrooms located near Scout Lookout.
Angels Landing
Scout Lookout is the gateway to Angels Landing.
Angels Landing is challenging and exposed, involving a narrow pathway and steep drop-offs.
The final stretch from Scout Lookout to the summit of Angels Landing is only 1/2 mile, so hikers to Scout Lookout get similar views.
We hiked up beyond Scout Lookout where we had a vantage point of Angels Landing from up higher.
The photo below shows the final 1/2 mile to Angels Landing on the cliff in the bottom left of the photo.
If you look closely, you can see three tiny people at the base of Angels Landing. This shows just how massive these cliffs are.
Hikers use chains to help their climb along a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs.
Hikers need a permit to be able to hike the final 1/2 mile of Angels Landing.
When we visited in April, Angels Landing was closed for a few days for maintenance.
Otherwise we would definitely have done it… well maybe. It didn’t look too bad from the starting location at Scout Lookout, but we couldn’t see the remaining parts of the trail, which I’m assuming are far more narrow and scary.
The video below shows Angels Landing from above Scout Lookout.
Getting There
To get there, you take the Zion Shuttle to stop 6 – The Grotto.
From there, you follow signs to the West Rim Trail.
When To Visit
With visitor numbers sometimes reaching over four million annually, the park has implemented systems such as shuttle buses to reduce traffic congestion and limit environmental impacts.
When we were there in April, it was spring break in many locations.
It seemed everyone went to Zion. It was crazy packed.
We had to park in Springdale and walk to the park, as parking was full at the visitor center.
We waited two hours for a shuttle from the visitor center, and over an hour on the way back.
The photos below show the line for the shuttle from the Zion Visitor Center. You can see that it far exceeds the actual pavilion space used to queue the line.
Given that the hike to Scout Lookout is considered to be strenuous, there were other hikers on the West Rim trail, but it definitely was not crowded.
So even if the park is packed, the trail likely will be less crowded.
We’d recommend hiking the West Rim Trail in the spring (preferably not during spring break) or fall. Summers can be insanely hot in Utah.
Strutting Turkey
While waiting for a shuttle on our return, we were entertained by a Tom turkey strutting his stuff and trying to impress his lady friend across the street.
The poor Tom. His lady friend wasn’t impressed and wouldn’t pay him any attention.
Permits
No special permits are required to hike to Scout Lookout, but park entrance fees apply.
(A permit is required for Angels Landing.)
Final Thoughts
We made this hike while on the same trip that we went to the Sand Hollow OHV Area to ride ATVs in the red dune sand. It’s only about 30 miles away.
We also visited the much less crowded Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. There we hiked the 14-15 mile La Verkin Creek Trail to see the Kolob Arch, which is the second longest natural arch in the United States.
The hike to Scout Lookout via the West Rim Trail was fabulous. It was definitely uphill and strenuous, but overall was worth the effort.
The views to Zion Canyon along the hike and also from the top of Scout Lookout are impressive.