Emerald Pools Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Emerald Pools. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Zion National Park: Private Guided Hike and Picnic

• Zion Full-Day Private Tour and Hike

• Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks Self-Driving Bundle Tour

• Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Zion and Bryce Canyon

• Zion National Park Self-Guided Driving and Shuttling Tour

The Emerald Pools are in Zion National Park, where the entrance fee for a private vehicle is US$35. There are budget-friendly tours that can enhance your experience at the park and the Emerald Pools. Hiking with a guide offers peace of mind on remote trails, while self-guided tours let you curate the trip.

Yes, the Emerald Pools are worth visiting. You'll pass gorgeous rock formations en route to the trio of waterfall-fed pools—the kind of setting that brings people to Zion. Tours featuring the Emerald Pools are a great way to experience them. Some handle driving and parking, and hiking with a guide uncovers Zion's geology and history.

Per one customer who booked the Zion National Park: Private Guided Hike and Picnic, "Our time spent with Michael was the best possible way for us to experience the beauty of Zion! His knowledge and experience greatly enhanced our visit. His thoughtful encouragement and guidance helped me get out of my comfort zone, and because of that, we experienced views too beautiful to describe! The lunch provided was delicious and very well done!"

The Emerald Pools trailhead is easily reachable from the Zion Lodge within Zion National Park and via the park’s shuttle. Cross the street from the lodge (and the park’s fifth shuttle stop) and then cross the bridge. There you’ll find three trails that give you access to the Emerald Pools.

The difficulty level of the Emerald Pools hike depends on which trail you choose. There are three trails: a short loop to the Lower Emerald Pool, an easier hike to the Middle and Lower Pools, and a more challenging hike that goes to all three.

No, dogs aren’t allowed on Zion National Park’s Emerald Pools hiking trail—in fact, dogs aren’t allowed on any of the trails or wilderness areas within the Utah park.

No, there aren’t swimming opportunities available at Emerald Pools. These are natural pools in Zion National Park where swimming has been banned to make sure the ecosystem of the area doesn’t get ruined. You can, however, dip in the Virgin River along Pa’rus Trail within the park.

The best time of year to hike Emerald Pools is during the spring or fall. In summer the trail can be extremely crowded, and in winter ice may form on the paths. If you want to further avoid crowds in spring or fall, try for an early morning, weekday visit.

It depends on the trail you choose. The hike to the Lower Emerald Pool is about a 1.2-mile (1.9-kilometer) loop. The Lower and Middle Pool is a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) round-trip hike, and the trail that visits all three pools is about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Emerald Pools. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Zion National Park:

• The Narrows

• Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

• Angels Landing

• Weeping Rock Trail

• Virgin River

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Zion National Park.