Scout Lookout

Great hike, paved road, change of scenery makes it easy to walk and overcome serpentine ways up. The views are stunning at the top. No need any permit. I made it with torn ACL and MCL, 6 months after injury. So you can do it too! I love Zion in winter season, much less people,easy to find parking near visitors center or by Museum (which is closed, but shuttle stops there) if arrive before 10AM.

Scout Lookout is an absolutely incredible and fantastic hike. The climb is steep, but the reward is breathtaking – the views that open up at the top are unforgettable. One of the best home in Zion National park.

Great views from Scout lookout, beware the hike is quite strenuous with steep and constant elevation for well over 3 kilometers. While the road is paved with concrete, it will challenge the best hikers, there are quite a lot of people in this trail so expect crowd and use trail etiquette (stick to your right, yield to people climbing up). There are friendly chipmunks at the lookout, please do not feed them. 80% of the trail is fully exposed to the sun, and the effort + exposure will make you sweat, carry plenty of water. Out and back can be done within 2 hours but expect an all out hike with important knee impact.

This location was simply stunning, once we caught our breath. The views from almost anywhere up here are fantastic and worth the journey. Getting here early in the morning was even better, since there were only a few of us up here, which changed quickly as the morning progressed and by the time we began our descent, the place was quite busy. There are several restrooms at this location. The day before we had contact with Ranger Richard, who we met once again this morning at the top. He was there to check permits for those climbing Angels Landing and we really enjoyed meeting him and the information he provided us with atop Scout Lookout. We also met a California Condor Society volunteer named Ray, you was giving a informative talk about the endangered condor and the amazing work his organization is doing to bring back the condor population within the United States.

The strenuous West Rim Trail ascends ~1,000 ft (305 m) to Scout Lookout, high above the canyon floor. Hikers cross the Virgin River and then ascend a series of steep switchbacks along the canyon wall. The trail flattens out as it enters Refrigerator Canyon, offering relief from the heat and elevation gain of the previous segment, but resumes the climb shortly afterward at Walter’s Wiggles: a series of 21 switchbacks that leads hikers to Scout Lookout, a relatively flat, sandy area with some shade. At Scout Lookout, there is a junction with the West Rim Trail and the route to Angels Landing. Many hikers choose to stop here to enjoy the views of Zion Canyon, or to look for the endangered California condors that call the cliffs home. Those looking to continue hiking to the end of Angels Landing will need a permit from recreation.gov. Water and restrooms are available at The Grotto, and restrooms are available at Scout Lookout. There is no water available at Scout Lookout. This hike will take an average of 3 hours. No pets are allowed on the trail.

No permit needed. Relatively moderate hike minus the switchbacks. Gorgeous views! Get there early if you want less people on the trail and not to have to deal with finding parking in the winter. We got there at 9am and The Grotto lot was full so we had to park at the lodge which just added 0.5 miles. If you go a little past Scouts Point onto the West Rim, there’s actually a prettier overlook. If you’re afraid of hikes and can’t do Angel’s Landing / didn’t get a permit, this is a great alternative!

Solid hike with great views from the bottom all the way to Angel's Landing. Unfortunately, you'll need a permit to get to Angel's Landing, which is only the last mile or so of this route. Without it, Scout Lookout is still an awesome hike and definitely worth doing. It's not an easy hike but very much doable for most people and is almost entirely paved. Recommend getting there in the early morning or evening to avoid most of the crowds

We had a reservation to Angels Landing so had to hike through W Rim Trail, Scout Lookout is the end of it. It’s also a short distance away from Angels Landing. Great spot to catch your breath and have a snack! Worth the hike to get to Scout Lookout!