Hiking the Grotto Trail in Zion National Park
Distance (One Way): 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Grotto Trail in Zion National Park is a beautiful, easy, lesser-known day hike that connects the Zion Canyon Lodge with the beginning of the Angels Landing Trail and the Grotto Picnic Area.
That said, the Grotto Trail really is just that—a connector trail—and it’s why I wouldn’t think of the hike as a standalone adventure in Zion Canyon, unless you don’t plan to hike the Angels Landing Trail.
I say this because the Grotto Trail is one of the best places in Zion Canyon to see hikers on the summit of Angels Landing, which is why I think the short trail is worth the effort if you have no ambitions to hike The Chains up to the summit.
All that to say, I have highlighted the best spot to look for hikers on the summit of Angels Landing below, and the best part is that this viewpoint is only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) from the South Grotto Trailhead!
Grotto Trailhead Parking
When the Zion Canyon Shuttle is operating, parking for any trail off Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only possible with a valid parking pass. This is because the 6.2-mile (10.0 km) road up Zion Canyon has very small parking lots at each trailhead and simply cannot handle the number of vehicles that Zion National Park receives on a daily basis. Even those with reservations to stay at Zion Lodge are not permitted to drive past the lodge to park at any of the trailheads farther up the canyon.
That said, the vast majority of visitors will need to find parking outside of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and ride the free shuttle to Stop 5 or 6, the North or South Trailhead. The Zion Visitor Center and Zion Human History Museum are the best two spots to find parking inside the park.
During the busiest times of the year, the Zion Visitor Center parking lot typically fills completely by 7:30 a.m., with nearby parking spots filling shortly thereafter.
If you do have a valid Zion Canyon parking pass or a Zion Lodge reservation, parking for the Grotto Trail can be found at either the Zion Canyon Lodge for the South Grotto Trailhead or the Angels Landing Trailhead for the North Grotto Trailhead. I have been given a valid Zion Canyon parking pass before, and I can tell you from experience that you don’t get one just because you want one. Parking passes for Zion Canyon Scenic Drive are handed out on a very limited, case-by-case basis, and frankly, it is not appropriate for me to disclose any more details.
Google Maps Directions: South Grotto Trailhead (Zion Lodge) / North Grotto Trailhead (Angels Landing) / Zion Visitor Center
Hiking Checklist - Zion
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Zion National Park.
Hiking the Grotto Trail
South Grotto Trailhead (Zion Lodge & Shuttle Stop 5)
The Grotto Trail can certainly be hiked in either direction, but it is most commonly hiked from south to north, connecting Zion Canyon Lodge with the Angels Landing Trail.
This is because even those with reservations for Zion Lodge are not allowed to drive farther up the canyon than the lodge, and as a result, the Grotto Trail is often used as a connector trail to get to Angels Landing without relying on the shuttle.
All this aside, the Grotto Trail begins between both Shuttle Stop 5 and the café connected to Zion Lodge, the opposite side of the road from the Emerald Pools Trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Emerald Pools Trail
This is where the Grotto Trail passes the best views of Angels Landing, just 0.2 miles (0.3 km) into the hike.
If you look closely, hikers can often be seen on the summit on a clear day!
As with every day hike in Zion National Park, I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt to stay safe, especially considering that one can certainly be useful on much longer day hikes both in Zion Canyon and across the park.
This short hill is the only section with any notable elevation change on the Grotto Trail.
In addition to the Grotto Trail being treated as a connector, the trail is also commonly made into a loop, utilizing both the Kayenta Trail and Emerald Pools Trail on the other side of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
If you choose to hike the loop and include the Upper Emerald Pool, the full hike is roughly 3.0 miles (4.8 km) when utilizing the Lower Emerald Pools Trail to get back down.
As the Grotto Trail approaches the Grotto Trailhead, go left at either the first or second split through the Grotto Picnic Area.
In either case, both paths will lead out to Shuttle Stop 6 and the start of the Angels Landing Trail on the other side of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Grotto Picnic Area
This is where the Grotto Trail passes the Grotto Picnic Area after turning left at the first split.
North Grotto Trailhead (Angels Landing & Shuttle Stop 6)
This is the North Grotto Trailhead, where the Grotto Trail ends and the Angels Landing Trail begins on the other side of the road.
That said, this trailhead and picnic area is often one of the busiest shuttle stops in Zion Canyon, as the Angels Landing Trail is a very popular day hike—even with the permit system in place for The Chains.
Read My Separate Post: Angels Landing Trail
