Weeping Rock

Weeping Rock is the short paved trail to a sandstone alcove with cliff seeps that “weep” water from above — once one of the most popular family hikes in Zion Canyon, currently closed. The 2019 rockfall on the East Rim cliff above Weeping Rock and the Hidden Canyon area damaged sections of the trail and the cliff above remained unstable. NPS closed the trail and the Weeping Rock shuttle stop, and they have not reopened.

Why it’s a stub

Until NPS reopens the trail, Weeping Rock isn’t a current hiking option. This page exists to note the closure for visitors searching for the trail and to point them to alternatives.

What the trail was

The trail was 0.4 miles round trip, paved, with about 100 feet of elevation gain. From the Weeping Rock shuttle stop you walked up a short paved approach to a sandstone alcove where groundwater seeps emerged from the cliff face, supporting hanging gardens of maidenhair fern, columbine, and other moisture-loving plants. The “weeping” was the constant slow drip of water from above — visible from the trail and audible in the alcove. The site was a classic Zion family stop, accessible to most visitors regardless of mobility.

What replaced it

For hanging gardens and cliff seeps, the Riverside Walk delivers a similar experience at the Temple of Sinawava end of the canyon — paved, accessible, with hanging gardens visible from the trail. For Zion’s general accessible trails, Pa’rus and the Lower Emerald Pool both work. None of these are a one-to-one replacement for Weeping Rock, but together they cover the same range of family-friendly Zion experiences.

Cascading closure

The 2019 rockfall closed not just Weeping Rock but the East Rim Trail’s lower terminus, the Hidden Canyon Trail entirely, and the original canyon-floor approach to Observation Point. The East Rim Trail’s upper sections from the East Entrance side remain open. Hidden Canyon and the original Observation Point approach remain closed. Observation Point can still be reached via the East Mesa Trail from outside the main park entrance.

Where it fits

Weeping Rock is on the list of “trails Zion used to have” rather than current options. The closure has held for years. NPS has not signaled a reopening. Until that changes, parties planning Zion visits should expect the Weeping Rock area to remain inaccessible and adjust their itineraries accordingly.