East Rim Trail
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East Rim Trail

4.9
·313 reviews·Peninsula, United States

Iconic Zion views via East Mesa Trail & thrilling MTB loops at East Rim. Experience nature's grandeur and adrenaline.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Spring and Fall mornings

Pleasant temperatures for hiking.

CrowdMedium
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East Rim Trail

East Rim Trail

Best Time

Spring and Fall mornings

Pleasant temperatures for hiking.

CrowdMedium
Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Iconic Zion views via East Mesa Trail & thrilling MTB loops at East Rim. Experience nature's grandeur and adrenaline.

4.9
(313 reviews)

"The East Rim Trail system is a must-visit for experienced mountain bikers and hikers seeking breathtaking views."

Vertical photo
TIP

🚗 Shuttle to Observation Point

Use East Zion Adventures shuttle for easier access to Observation Point via East Mesa Trail. 🚌

🚵 MTB: Bring the Right Bike!

A true mountain bike with wide tires, good brakes, and suspension is essential for East Rim trails. :mountain_bicyclist:

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Quick Facts

Hours

Rating

4.9 · 313 reviews

Type

Park

👶 Good for kids♿ Wheelchair accessible🅿️ Accessible parking🚻 Accessible restroom

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Observation Point Views

Observation Point Views

Zion National Park (via East Mesa Trail)

Breathtaking panoramic views of Zion Canyon, offering a unique perspective of the park's grandeur.

Lamb Loop Trail

Lamb Loop Trail

East Rim Trail System (Ohio)

A flowy, technical mountain bike trail with berms, rock gardens, jumps, and challenging climbs.

Jolley Gulch Overlook

Jolley Gulch Overlook

East Zion

A beautiful overlook with serious drop-offs, offering a less crowded alternative to Zion Canyon.

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Planning Your Visit

Zion's Observation Point Access

The original East Rim Trail to Observation Point is closed due to a rockfall. Access is now via the East Mesa Trailhead. Consider a shuttle service to save time and energy for the hike.

Mountain Biking for Experienced Riders

The East Rim Trail system, particularly Lamb Loop, is highly praised by experienced mountain bikers. It features challenging terrain, berms, rock gardens, and jumps. Not recommended for beginners or young children.

Best Times

When
Spring and Fall mornings
Why
Pleasant temperatures for hiking.
Crowd
Medium
When
Weekday afternoons
Why
Fewer crowds on popular trails.
Crowd
Low
When
Early morning (MTB)
Why
Best light and cooler temps.
Crowd
Low

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Stunning Ocean View Hike in California 🌊 #hikersoftiktok #hikingadventures #norcal #bayarea
@peterowenfilms
32.8K likes • 509.8K views

🚗 Shuttle to Observation Point

Use East Zion Adventures shuttle for easier access to Observation Point via East Mesa Trail. 🚌

🚵 MTB: Bring the Right Bike!

A true mountain bike with wide tires, good brakes, and suspension is essential for East Rim trails. :mountain_bicyclist:

A perfect short hike and such a fun place to explore. Highly recommend going to the East Entrance if you visit📍Bear Gulch Cave via Moses Spring Trail #hikingadventures #pinnaclesnationalpark #californiahikes #nationalpark
@jazzyjamzz
27.4K likes • 145.5K views
Hiking through Zion’s Echo Canyon on the East Rim Trail - this was an awesome trail in Zion, but unfortunately it has been closed since 2019 due to a rockfall. The East Rim Trail was previously a common route to Observation Point. You can still reach Observation Point from another trailhead called the East Mesa Trailhead which begins on the outer boundary of the park, but this section of the trai...
thewildiswaiting
16.4K likes • 510.2K views

⚠️ East Rim Trail Closure

The direct East Rim Trail to Observation Point is closed. Use East Mesa Trailhead. ⚠️

🥾 Sturdy Hiking Boots

Essential for navigating rocky and uneven terrain on Zion trails. :hiking_boot:

📍Observation Point ⁣— Spectacular views over Zion National Park! ⁣ ⁣ 2 routes: ⁣ ⁣You can reach Observation Point by hiking the East Rim Trail— This is a 20 miles long, so it’s a massive day hike and should only be considered if you are an extremely fit and fast hiker. ⁣ ⁣ A second option is to hike to Observation Point on the East Mesa Trail—This is much shorter, 7 miles. This hike starts on the ...
antonellacooper
251 likes • 1.9K views

Tips

from all over the internet

🚗 Shuttle to Observation Point

Use East Zion Adventures shuttle for easier access to Observation Point via East Mesa Trail. 🚌

🚵 MTB: Bring the Right Bike!

A true mountain bike with wide tires, good brakes, and suspension is essential for East Rim trails. :mountain_bicyclist:

⚠️ East Rim Trail Closure

The direct East Rim Trail to Observation Point is closed. Use East Mesa Trailhead. ⚠️

🥾 Sturdy Hiking Boots

Essential for navigating rocky and uneven terrain on Zion trails. :hiking_boot:

📸 Capture the Echoes

Experience the natural acoustics of Echo Canyon; phone cameras may struggle to capture the magic. :camerawithflash:

⬆️ Directional MTB Trails

East Rim MTB trails are directional by day; check local guidance. Hikers should go opposite. ⬆️

What Travellers Say

4.9
(313 reviews)

Reviews Summary

The East Rim Trail system is a highly-rated destination, especially for experienced mountain bikers who praise its challenging loops, berms, and jumps. Hikers seeking incredible views can still access Observation Point via the East Mesa Trail, though the original route is closed. Some find the climbs demanding and certain sections very technical.

"East Rim Trail was an absolute riot, and I really wish I had a trail this nice in my area. Most trails I ride have to be "accessible to all" with maybe an advanced loop if you're lucky, but this one pulls most of the stops and really let's a MTB rider rip! You can make it a moderate pedal with some berms and rocks and jumps and push into an epic challenge, depending on how hard you push yourself (and if you select the "advanced riders only" trails).

As others have mentioned this certainly is for experienced riders. If I had to recommend a bike, I'd say a true mountain bike with wide tires that can handle rocks, good brakes, and suspension fork. A full squish likely a good idea for climbing grip, though nothing is so steep it'd require a downhill bike (nor would you want to pedal a long travel bike back up the hills). I would not attempt this on a gravel bike or hybrid etc. I would not bring young kids but my teenage son that has ridden plenty of other trails with me before with an air of "jeez why do you think this is so difficult bruh" would probably have loved it (And to him I say get a job and buy a house and have a family and THEN tell me how easy a ride is... but I digress). Point is, experienced mtb teens can probably handle this, but use caution. I would not bring my inexperienced adult mtb friends here.

Starting from the main lot, riding north you can find a couple of loops to the west. The first one, the East Rim Loop, throws some great berms and rock gardens at you, with moderate climbs, lotsa roots, and decent flow. My second lap I opted for the "advanced" segment and was met with a real challenge - do beware this is a legit difficult portion! It is extremely rocky and the rocks tend towards the edge of the trail and would lead to a nasty tumble below. But I could handle the technical part, for me the biggest challenge was the punchy, rock strewn-climbs when I had no way to keep my speed up because of the choppy terrain, so I walked a good bit of it. If my legs were fresh I might have pedaled it all, but regardless it was so much fun! I truly appreciated the challenge.

The after I completed that second lap, I went to the main trail and headed north again, over the bridge, and dove left into the Lamb Loop. This trail was exactly what I wish every trail was like!!! It's longer than the east rim loop, opening up and breathing a little more, timing out the berms and the technical moments a little better. It was mostly flowy and bonus it was gorgeous wrapped in it's pre-autumn flora in the valleys and leaf littered hills around the trail making a fun pedal through the woods even more enjoyable.

Then there's a portion that is almost like a downhill park, lots of jumps, rock features, and switchbacks, SO MUCH FUN!!!! Then you have to pedal out of the valley, which is a challenge, but was totally worth it, even as I thought I was going to have a coronary getting back to the loop head. I will make the trip back to ride it again!

Note: the trails are directional by day, and I imagine either direction has its better moments. Many thanks to the trail authority that built/maintains this trail!"

Tom Pitts

"Lamb Loop is probably the best trail we’ve found in Ohio thus far (we’re from out of state). It has good elevation, well placed berms, and a few rock gardens. Technical and flowy all in one. Great job to those who build and maintain this trail!"

Kristel Coronado

"Great trail for Ohio, just going to say of course I appreciate the trail crew putting in so much work on this. I just moved back here and the last I rode it was around 2016 - phenomenal improvements. Berms are fantastic, rock jumps are great - some rock features are in awkward spaces depending on the direction that day. The rock and dirt kickers on the sides of trails are easily the best jumps.

Biggest gripe on the trails is the table tops - they're just not properly planned and you're gonna case pretty hard if you commit. There's just not enough speed to hit all of them and clear them.

Overall a fantastic ride in a really convenient location. Park service needs to expand the parking lot as it's pretty popular."

Erik H

What People Like

Challenging MTB trails
Flowy Lamb Loop
Spectacular Observation Point views

What People Dislike

Steep, rocky climbs
Trail closures
Limited parking

Frequently Asked Questions

🚇 🗺️ Getting There

The original East Rim Trail to Observation Point is closed due to a rockfall. You'll need to access it via the East Mesa Trailhead. Many visitors opt for a shuttle service like East Zion Adventures to reach the trailhead efficiently. Instagram+1

Parking at the East Mesa Trailhead can be limited, especially during peak season. Booking a shuttle service is often recommended to guarantee access and avoid parking hassles. Instagram

The direct East Rim Trail to Observation Point is closed. The alternative route starts at the East Mesa Trailhead, which requires driving on unpaved roads. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended, or consider a shuttle. Instagram

The East Rim Trail system, known for mountain biking, is typically accessed from a main lot. Parking can become crowded, so arriving early is advised. Reddit

Public transport options directly to the East Rim Trailheads can be limited. Shuttle services, particularly for accessing Observation Point via East Mesa Trail, are the most convenient option. Instagram

🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry

While Zion National Park has an entrance fee, accessing Observation Point via the East Mesa Trail may involve a separate fee for shuttle services or private land access, such as the $7 ticket mentioned by East Zion Adventures. Instagram

The East Rim Trail system itself doesn't have set operating hours, but it's subject to park hours and daylight. The East Mesa Trailhead access is generally available during daylight hours. Instagram

The East Rim Trail to Observation Point has been closed since 2019 due to a rockfall. The alternative route via East Mesa Trail is generally accessible year-round, weather permitting. Instagram

For the hike to Observation Point via East Mesa Trail, no specific wilderness permit is typically required, but park entrance fees apply. For mountain biking on the East Rim Trail system, no special permits are usually needed beyond general park access. Reddit

The cost involves the Zion National Park entrance fee. Additionally, if you use a shuttle service like East Zion Adventures, there's a fee, around $7, for their service to the trailhead. Instagram

🎫 🥾 Onsite Experience

The hike to Observation Point via the East Mesa Trail is considered moderate to strenuous, approximately 7 miles roundtrip with some elevation gain. The original East Rim Trail was a much longer, strenuous day hike. TikTokInstagram

Wear sturdy hiking boots for uneven terrain, layers of clothing as temperatures can change, and sun protection. Bring plenty of water, as the trail can be exposed. TikTok

The hike to Observation Point via East Mesa Trail can be challenging for very young children due to its length and elevation. The Jolley Gulch overlook on the East Rim Trail has significant drop-offs, requiring caution with children. Instagram

The Lamb Loop is highly recommended for its flow, berms, rock gardens, and jumps. The East Rim Loop also offers a good challenge with moderate climbs and technical sections. Reddit

Yes, some advanced segments of the East Rim Trail are extremely rocky with steep drop-offs. Experienced riders should exercise caution, especially on punchy, rock-strewn climbs. Reddit

📸 📸 Photography

Observation Point offers stunning panoramic views of Zion Canyon, perfect for landscape photography. Jolley Gulch also provides dramatic overlooks with sheer drop-offs. Instagram+1

While the acoustics in Echo Canyon are remarkable, capturing them effectively on a phone camera can be difficult. The experience is best appreciated in person. Instagram+1

Early morning or late afternoon light provides the most dramatic and flattering lighting for landscape photography at Observation Point and Jolley Gulch. TikTok

Drone usage is restricted in Zion National Park, including areas around the East Rim Trail and Observation Point, to protect wildlife and the visitor experience. Always check current park regulations. TikTok

Yes, you may encounter wildlife. However, always maintain a safe distance and avoid feeding animals. Use a zoom lens for close-up shots to minimize disturbance. TikTok

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