Near Point Imperial and Woolsey Point
Point Imperial viewpoint (NPS Photo by Michael Quinn)
Near Point Imperial and Woolsey Point
Point Imperial!

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Hike Route

Point Imperial and Woolsey Point

4.0 (1 Rating)
An underrated hike to bonus views from Point Imperial
5.3
mi
Distance
423
ft
Gain
easy
Difficulty
Fall ColorsFamily FriendlyLess CrowdedViewsWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
5.28mi
Distance
423ft
Elevation Gain
423ft
Elevation Loss
20%
Max Grade
8,893ft
High Point
8,755ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
You'll find this trail on the north end of the Point Imperial Overlook parking lot. The start of the trail is a little misleading, as it heads away from the rim at first. It sends you north into a thinly forested area burned in the Outlet Fire of 2000. Although a view of the rim would be nice, the stroll through the woods is quiet and peaceful. The ponderosa pines here are extremely tall!Keep hiking the narrow and mostly flat trail;it will eventually emerge in a broad, brushy meadow where the canyon rim reappears. Near here is Woolsey Point, a sloping protrusion where an informal trail leads out to a better view. There's no established overlook, so it's kind of choose your own adventure to the perfect photo opp. The panorama includes Mount Hayden in the direction you came from, Saddle Mountain straight ahead, and Marble Canyon in the expanse down below.Continue as far as you like along the trail before turning around. In about 2.75 miles it meets a dirt road near the Saddle Mountain trailhead.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Jesse Weber