Our favorite (official) hiking trail in Zion National Park is the West Rim Trail.   We have not chosen to do it from the top down (one way) yet, but it is on our list.   We went from the bottom up to the rim, then did a loop on top of the mesa and back down, about 15 miles of hiking with an elevation gain of over 3000 feet (931m).   The trailhead is the Angel’s Landing Trail so hikers will have lots of company on the way to Scout’s Landing, but turn left to the West Rim Trail and there will be very few hikers on this long route.   Climb above and past Angel’s Landing, paralleling Refrigerator Canyon, contouring around Cathedral Mountain.

Slickrock ramps, ridges, traverses, and canyons invite is to explore north towards Imlay Canyon, but the trail drops into Refrigerator Canyon, crosses a bridge, then veers west up a gully behind Mount Majestic.   There was snow in this narrow gully in 2013, but it was shaded and cooler, but dry this year.

The trail peaks at a saddle overlooking Benuhin Canyon, then zigzags up a sheer face to the edge of the mesa above.   Views extend south looking at the summits of Mt. Majestic, Castle Dome, and Church Mesa.

Heaps Canyon below extends an invitation to go canyoneering.   It is a very technical canyon with long deep potholes and difficult rappels.   The last rappel is 300 feet into the Court of the Patriarchs.

The West Rim Trail climbs up to the mesa and a fork in the trail.   We followed the West Rim route as it contoured its way along the edge above Phantom Valley.   Big views extend west.   The Inclined Dome, Mt. Ivins, and Greatheart Mesa invite future exploration into a remote area.

We followed the trail up to another junction.  North goes through Potato Hollow on its way to Lava Point.   To our right was the trail through Telephone Canyon, a shorter (but less scenic) way back to the edge of the mesa.   We returned this way, enjoying a loop route for part of the way.   There was some shade in the bottom of the canyon, and a spring at one point.   The descent down was a long one, but the views are continuously impressive for the whole route

The West Rim Trail is long, it climbs a lot, and it can be very hot and dry on the south-facing slopes, but it is also very rewarding, a great privilege to be provided with a route into this remote, rugged and scenic environment.   We noted the camping spots up on the West Rim and are planning an overnighter on our way down from Lava Point.

More information:

• West Rim Trail info (this is a good website)
• The West Rim Trail (another good site)
• West Rim Trail (Parks site)