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Zion
Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National
Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park
maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna,
campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Utah!
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Zion
National Park Map
Directions to Zion National Park
From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver.
Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east
entrance.
From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona
and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east
park entrance.
From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and
travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in
LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion
National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
Oversized
Vehicle Information
Zion
Canyon Shuttle Information
This hike passes through beautiful Water Canyon on the way to Canaan Mountain.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Parking in Water Canyon
37°02.269 N
112°57.294 W
Stair-step Waterfall in Water Canyon 37°02.977 N
112°57.678 W
Top Rock (Canaan Mountain):
37°03.126 N
112°57.896 W
White Domes (Hoodoos)
37°03.784 N
112°58.993 W
Black Rocks
(Manganese-Oxide/ Sandstone)
37°03.525 N
112°59.664 W
The Notch
37°03.621 N
113°00.406 W
The Windlass
37°03.655 N
113°00.882 W
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information
by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike the trails in Zion National
Park. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced
Zion hikers and canyoneers like the La Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great
for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
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Canaan Mountain
The pristine BLM designated wilderness of Canaan Mountain is a unique masterpiece of visual imagery. Along the mountain path, leading past one of the most dazzling views of Zion National Park anywhere and on to a historic windlass, you will walk through a chasm of delightful waterfalls and glimpse into the depths of a narrow slot canyon. You will also traverse massive slickrock bowls, wander ponderosa dotted dunes and stand in awe of magnificent white domes, hoodoos and a cornucopia of stepped rock. You will find yourself totally absorbed throughout the journey as stunning vistas unfold.
Canaan Mountain at a Glance
Photo Album: Canaan Mountain Pictures
Topo Map: Canaan Mountain Map
Road Map: Southern Utah Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: 12 mile round-trip, but hikers can opt to just do the shorter hike to Water Canyon and back.
Average Hiking Time: 9 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous, good route finding skills are required.
Permits: Not required on this BLM land.
Trailhead: Hildale
Trailend: Same as starting point..
Trail Access: Limited by snow December through March at least.
Climbing: 2000'
Descending: 2000'
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Best season: If just hiking through Water Canyon, this is a great year-round hike. If you want to hike up Canaan Mountain plan on hiking between March and December. A late spring snow or early winter snow can shorten those dates.
Water: Some water may accumulate in potholes after rains.
Trailhead - Hildale, Arizona is located just off AZ Highway 389 between Hurricane, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. From the highway, enter Hildale using Utah Avenue. Follow the paved road for about 3-miles, looking for the dirt road on the right that leads to Water Canyon. If you see Hildale's city park then you have missed the road to Water Canyon. There is an intersection a little more than a half-mile up the dirt road. Stay left at the intersection. There is a small reservoir about 2 miles up the road. Continue to the end of the road where there is an unsigned parking area for the Water Canyon Trail.
Water Canyon - The trail begins by skirting the west side of Water Canyon and gradually ascending through junipers on a well traveled dirt path. After a mile or so the walls begin to enclose. Search the skyline to the right to get a peek at Water Canyon Arch which sits on a perch 1000' above the canyon floor . Farther north the canyon walls narrow and travel is in the waterway and up a stepped waterfall. The trail scales left above the waterway and contours above the ever restricting slot canyon. The sculpted slot below has become a popular destination for instructors leading guided canyoneering trips. Soon the trail begins a steeper ascent as it leaves the canyon bottom, and leads farther north before ascending to the rim above Water Canyon. After several switchbacks, the steep trail leads to "Top Rock" and the end of the Water Canyon Trail. To the east and north there is a showcase of slickrock fields and the watershed that carved the narrow passage through the soft sandstone below.
Canaan Mountain - The path now becomes a route rather than a trail. A map and route finding skills are required to hike past Top Rock. Descend northwest through the forest and drop into the wash below. Once in the wash, the beaten-path evaporates but make your way by following the wash upstream for about a quarter-mile. Another wash enters from the north (right). Turn right into this wash and you should find easy travel. After about a half-mile in this wash, begin ascending the slab slickrock on the right. The hiking is reasonably easy as you hike up the slickrock traveling in a generally northwest direction toward the white domes and white hoodoos at the top of Canaan Mountain. From this area be sure to soak in the views of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and the White Cliffs that rim the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Just on top and behind the white domes there is an old dirt road. The route now follows the road to the west through the ponderosa dunes and periodically skirts the slickrock rim. Views unfold both north toward Zion and south to the Canaan Mountain ridges and valleys.
Notch - Travel west, about 2-miles past the white domes toward a prominent gap at the rims edge where there are wonderful views of Canaan Ranch and the valley to the south.
Historic Windlass - Just a short distance west, beyond the notch are the remnants of the cable system that was used to lower timber to the valley below via an elaborate guiding cable. Although this route can continue as a two day hike all the way to Rockville, now is the time to break for lunch, shake the sand from your shoes and socks and prepare for the trek back to Water Canyon and your awaiting vehicle.
Option - Backpack with an exit at Eagle Crags near Virgin, Utah.
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