Emerald Pools in Zions National Park

Emerald Pools represents Zion National Park's attempt at impersonating a Hawaiian rainforest. Cascading waterfalls spill over the lips of overhanging cliffs, filling pools and irrigating hanging gardens, creating the type of idyllic setting that inspires sound minded people to suddenly quit their jobs and become painters or poets.

You must walk to access the Emerald Pools. The trail to all three pools (lower, middle, upper) conveniently begins at the Zion Lodge parking lot. The half-mile trail to the lower pool is paved and only gains 69 feet in elevation, making it one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park, especially with families with young kids. The trail scoots behind a waterfall before reaching the lower pool's lush, forested setting.

The trail to the middle pool is not paved, making it moderately difficult, but still accessible to kids. It gains an additional 100 feet in elevation before leveling out. The views from the middle pool are topnotch and feature camera-worthy shots of Mount Majestic and Cathedral Mountain.

To reach the upper pool takes effort. The trail, over dirt and rock, covers only about five tenths of a mile, but gains over 200 feet in elevation. The upper pool will reward your efforts with a spectacular visual of cliffs and water.

Roundtrip to all three pools covers about three miles and takes approximately three hours to complete. Don't expect solitude if hiking in the summer.