The Grotto Trail is a super-short, family-friendly hike in Zion National Park. This scenic walk runs through an idyllic forest along the base of a towering canyon wall. The Grotto Trail is also an ideal location in Zion Canyon to see wildlife, due to the flat, open, riverside forest opposite the canyon wall.
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For more kid-friendly activities in Zion National Park, don’t miss our complete guide to visiting Zion National Park with Kids. We also have a post about visiting Utah with kids, which covers all 5 Utah national parks!
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Grotto Trail Hike Stats
How Long is the Grotto Trail?
The one-way distance of the Zion Grotto Trail hike is 0.5 miles / 0.8 km.
How Steep is the Grotto Hike in Zion?
This easy Zion National Park hike is very flat with hardly any noticeable elevation gain. The elevation gain for the Grotto Trail is a mere 35 feet / 11 m.
How Hard is the Grotto Trail?
The Zion Grotto Trail is super-easy. Our 3 & 5 year old kids easily did the entire hike themselves.
How Long Will Hiking the Grotto Trail Take?
Despite being short and flat, the Grotto Trail took us around 50 minutes of walking time, which is about half the speed we usually do.
This is likely because of the 8 gazillion caterpillars the kids found on this kid-friendly Zion hiking trail. Or… perhaps it was because Mom was off hiking Angels Landing by herself and I was being too lenient with the kids?
Related: If you love visiting national parks with your kids, don’t miss our list of the best family-friendly National Parks in the US.
Grotto Trail – Zion National Park Location
How to Get There: To find a spot in the Zion National Park parking lot, you’ll need to arrive quite early in the day, especially during peak times. We got there at 8 a.m. on several days in April and the lot was nearly full each time.
If you aren’t an early riser, the free Springdale Line shuttle runs through town and stops at the park’s pedestrian/bike entrance. There are plenty of paid parking spaces in Springdale, but these also fill up early during peak times.
During shuttle season, visitors cannot drive personal vehicles on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (north of Canyon Junction), even before/after shuttle operating hours. The park operates a free shuttle bus service instead, which takes you to the major spots within the park.
The Grotto Trail runs between Shuttle Stops 5 and 6. You can get off at either and do a one-way hike. It’s approximately a 25-minute drive on the shuttle from the Zion Visitor Center to the trailhead.
AllTrails Map
Get the trailhead locations and the Grotto Trail hiking trail map on your phone with the AllTrails app.
Grotto Trail Highlights
The easy Grotto Trail parallels a big, flat and open forested area, making it one of the best hikes for Zion National Park wildlife viewing.
Just north of the Zion Lodge the trail passes a large lake, which on a still day, will provide some pretty epic reflections of the massive Zion canyon walls. There are plants and tree roots etc. in the lake, so you won’t get a perfect reflection, but it’s still an impressive sight.
Water is a magnet for wildlife in a desert environment, so keep a close eye for deer or other wildlife near the lake and on the far side of the forest where the Virgin River runs. Nature is fickle and we didn’t see any wildlife on our hike, but the habitat is perfect for wildlife viewing, so hopefully you’ll have better luck!
Hiking Grotto Trail with Kids
The Zion Lodge is at Shuttle Stop 5 and you will find all services here, including a cafeteria. In addition, there are bathrooms and a filling station for your water bladders at Shuttle Stop 6.
This short Zion National Park hike is on a wide, packed dirt trail with a short, narrow stretch over some large rocks. You can get by with normal shoes, but we wouldn’t recommend wearing flip-flops.
The Zion Grotto hike is in the shade in the morning, making it a good option for families looking to escape the hot Zion Park weather. If you are going later in the day, bring lots of water and sunscreen.
The Grotto Trail is not great for strollers due to the need to carry it over the rocky section. The most popular option for parents hiking with a baby or toddler in Zion was to put kids in a backpack carrier.
No dogs are allowed on The Grotto Trail.
Park officials say this is one of the best trails in Zion for wildlife viewing. Keep your eyes peeled in the adjacent forest, especially as you near the lake near Zion Lodge.
Before you head out, read our best tips for hiking with kids and see what we actually pack in our guide to hiking gear for kids.
Where to Stop for Lunch or a Break
There are benches or even big, flat rocks to stop for an extended break along the Grotto hiking trail. If you plan to have a meal after the hike, we recommend starting at shuttle stop 6 and hiking towards Zion Lodge, where you will find a cafeteria with outdoor seating.
If you pack your own lunch, the Zion Lodge has a huge grass lawn to spread out a picnic blanket under the shade of a massive tree and enjoy a picnic with amazing views.
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Speaking of Zion Lodge, check out our guide to the best family-friendly hotels in Zion National Park to find the perfect stay for your adventure!
Some Zion National Park History
Near Shuttle Stop 6 trailhead, there’s a historic Grotto building that housed the park’s early museum and ranger offices in the 1920s.
Grotto Trail Safety Cautions
The sun can get intense in southern Utah, so bring lots of sunscreen and more water than you think you will need. A popular option we use to have plenty of water for our family while hiking in Zion National Park is a hydration backpack.
Our Travel Journal for Kids
Based on our family travels, our kids helped us design this Travel Journal for Active Kids! This engaging travel journal encourages kids to document their adventures, spark creativity, and stay entertained on the go – grab yours now on Amazon!
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