North Vista Trail to Exclamation Point

One of the top hikes in the national park.

Hiking Moderate

Distance: 4.6 km
Ascent: 105 m
Descent: 105 m
Duration: 1-2 hrs

Low Point: 2.3 km
High Point: 2.3 km
Gradient: 4˚

North Vista Trail to Exclamation Point Map

The North Vista trail running to Exclamation Point is acclaimed by many visitors as one of the very best hikes in the national park. Even so, the hike as mapped is still very achievable, covering only 2.9 miles round-trip and climbing (and descending) about 344 vertical feet. However, if you want additional hiking, you can carry on beyond Exclamation Point for a total 7-mile round-trip hike to the top of Green Mountain.

Photo from North Vista Trail to Exclamation Point — Photo: Damian Manda

Description

That said, Exclamation Point offers "the most bang for your buck," and it provides "some of the best views of the canyon below," according to Alicia on GirlOnAHike.com.

On the way to the lookout, you'll follow a mostly-mellow singletrack trail. In a few places, the singletrack crosses "patches of red and cream slickrock, in contrast to the predominant dark grey of most of the rocks hereabouts," according to AmericanSouthwest.net. While even the slickrock sections are easy to negotiate, portions of this trail are very exposed. Once you take the left turn toward Exclamation Point (about 1.2 miles into the hike), this section of trail is extremely exposed, without any guardrails erected along the edge.