Hiking the Sand Bench Trail in Zion National Park
Distance: 4.2 miles / 6.8 km
The Sand Bench Trail in Zion National Park is one of the best and one of my personal favorite day hikes in the park because it offers numerous beautiful viewpoints of both Zion and Pine Creek Canyon, and the trail sees far fewer visitors compared to other busy hikes, such as the Angels Landing Trail and The Narrows.
In addition to this, the Sand Bench Loop Trail is also one of the best trail-running adventures in Zion National Park because the elevation changes are so mild compared to countless hikes in the park.
This is all to say that I see the Sand Bench Loop as the perfect casual adventure when you’re looking to escape the busyness of other areas in Springdale and Zion Canyon—especially on a cool, cloudy day, as shown in the photo below!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Sand Bench Trailhead Parking
Parking for any trail in Zion Canyon is located either at the Zion Visitor Center, or the Zion Human History Museum.
From either of these two locations, you need to ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the trailhead. Be aware that after 9 a.m. during most times of the year, parking in these two spots becomes extremely competitive, and the park service may shut down parking altogether and tell you to park in Springdale.
If this is the case, you can ride the shuttle from Spingdale to get into the park.
Google Maps Directions: Zion Visitor Center / Zion Human History Museum
The Zion Canyon Shuttle
From either the visitor center or the museum, ride the shuttle up the canyon to Stop 4.
Hiking Checklist - Zion
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Zion National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Sand Bench Trail
The Sand Bench Trail starts out along the Virgin River before climbing up to the Sand Bench plateau that makes up the loop trail.
Wrangler Trail Junction
At the first junction across the road, go left to reach the Sand Bench Trail.
At the split for the Emerald Pools/ Sand Bench Trail, go left.
Depending on recent rain and snowmelt, this stream crossing may or may not be flowing.
Just before the Sand Bench Loop, the trail will climb a few switchbacks..
Sand Bench Loop Trail
At about 0.6 miles (1.0 km), you’ll reach the Sand Bench Loop.
I like to go right on the loop first for two reasons. The first is that there’s more uphill hiking on the right half, so I like to get that out of the way in the beginning. The second is that the left side has the best views of Zion Canyon, so I like to save that for the easier return hike.
During rainy weather or spring snowmelt, there may be very muddy sections like this one on the trail.
At the far end of the Sand Bench Loop, you’ll find a livestock hitching post, and the only bathrooms on the Sand Bench Trail.
It’s past this point that the best views will be found on the return loop.
Sand Bench Loop Junction
The is where the Sand Bench Loop meets back up with the beginning of the trail.
More Zion Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Zion National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Zion National Park is widely known for its extreme weather swings.
In the summer, the temperature in Zion will soar well above 100º F for weeks on end, while, on the contrary, the upper elevations of the park accumulate several feet of snow come winter.
Every year, this creates an interesting dynamic, as the snow melts during the day and freezes at night, resulting in extremely hazardous black ice conditions on many popular trails throughout the park, such as Angels Landing – trails where you cannot afford to fall.
To stay safe, always hike with 2-3 liters of water, try to avoid hiking midday during the hot summer months, and prepare for snowy/ icy conditions by bringing micro-spikes during the off-season months (October - March).
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Zion National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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