Eagle Crags TrailLength
5.52 mi
Trail Traffic
Light
Route Type
Connector
Highlights
Trail Surface
Native
Accessibility
Suitability
Recommended Use
Hiking
Directions
From Zion National Park South Entrance, drive 4.7 miles on S.R. 9 until you enter the small town of Rockville. Turn south on Bridge Road. (Bridge Road may be easy to miss if you are not looking for it, but drive slowly and look for the small lattice truss bridge that crosses the Virgin River.) Once across the bridge, keep heading south as the road turns to dirt and heads up a steep slope. Ignore the side roads and follow the main track as it loops around and heads northeast. Look for the trailhead (which may or may not have a sign) on the right and park.
Description
The Eagle Crags Trail is a pleasant family-friendly hike that approaches and circles east of the Vermilion Cliffs to end just under the impressive Eagle Crags formations. Along the way, you will get good views of the mouth of Zion Canyon to the north and Parunuweap Canyon to the east.
Eagle Crags is a rewarding trek to a wild place offering sweet solitude and distant views.
Eagle Crags is moderately trafficked out and back trail that is 5.7 miles long round-trip. It may take between 3-5 hours to complete. It is best used from March until November. Dogs are allowed to use this trail.
The trail winds through a labyrinth of desert vegetation, crosses shallow sandy washes and ascends up switchbacks amidst large boulders, over broad ridges sparsely covered with a forest of pine and juniper trees. After a couple miles, the trail begins to climb steep red slopes toward the tilted sandstone towers looming above.
A gentle ascent dominates most of the way with an elevation gain of 900 feet; however, a few sections near the end are steep. As you gain elevation, the scenery gets more interesting offering impressive views of the mouth of Zion Canyon to the north and Parunuweap Canyon to the east. Sturdy hiking shoes or boots will help prevent slipping and injury along the more difficult portions of the trek. There are numerous inviting boulders to sit on and relax with a lunch before turning around and heading back.
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