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East side of Zion National Park

East side of Zion National Park - Many hikers never leave the classic Zion Canyon trails to explore the hidden wonders of Zion's east side.  The elevation at Zion's east entrance is 5700 feet, gaining almost 600 feet as the road winds from south to east. Mt. Carmel Junction, 12 miles past  the parks east entrance  is a mile high, offering cooler summer days.  The elevation on the south side of the park is less than 4000 feet. and can reach over 110 degrees in the summer, but canyon walls provide shade making it enjoyable to hike in the summer.  In  the winter, however, the canyon trails are shaded by those same walls and as a result trails can be snowy and icy.  In contrast, Zion's east side is at a higher elevation but most of the trails are in full sun which makes hiking in the summer uncomfortable, but during the cooler seasons the east side is wonderful to explore with its sunny paths and abundant evergreens. The east side of the park  offers unique and impressive, yet un-crowded hiking routes, scenic drives and views while Zion Canyon is the target for almost all visitors to the park - making it crowded and touristy.  Experienced hikers when asked report that the east-side of the park is, without a doubt, their favorite part of Zion.  Everyone visiting should at least drive the 12-mile Zion-Mt. Camel Highway.  From the south entrance, east - along the switchbacks and through the tunnel is an up-hill climb as the road suddenly gains elevation switch-backing and climbing up from lower Zion Canyon.

Zion's Roads and Tunnel
There can't be another highway in the United States that can match the incredible Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (SR-9). This scenic byway runs from the south entrance of Zion through the east entrance.  Travel continues to Mt. Carmel Junction where SR-9 and US-89 meet. At the junction you can choose to drive to Bryce Canyon or to venture to the vast North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  To travel from the south to the east side of the park involves driving through the mile long Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.  Although the tunnel was built large, many vehicles today have grown in size over the years. RV's and tour buses travel through the park continuously. So for the safety of all, the park posts rangers at both sides of the tunnel to direct traffic. When an oversized-vehicle approaches the tunnel, the traffic from the other side is stopped, so that the larger vehicle can travel down the center of the tunnel. Although rangers (escorts) are stationed at the tunnel most of the time there are no escorts during the very early mornings or late at night. During the winter season, escorts are arranged at the entrance stations when driving into the park. From April 1 through late October, rangers should be stationed at the tunnel from 8 am to 8 pm daily. Call for more information: 1.435.772.3256.   

Directions to Zion National Park From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance. From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance. From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.			Photo:For those that enjoy hiking up steep slickrock, the Spry Canyon trail is a joy.
	Zion National Park Lodging Lodging and services are available in East Zion. The main road through Zion, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (SR-9) is open year-round, and is not a route the Zion Canyon Shuttle takes. Zion Canyon is deep inside the park. Towering 3000' walls form a slot canyon, forged by the violent rush of torrent water over millions of years. From late March to late October access through the six mile stretch of road is via the Zion Canyon Shuttle, the rest of the year the canyon is accessed in private vehicles.

Canyon Overlook Trail - The enjoyable Canyon Overlook Trail is located on the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. The hike is a one-mile round-trip with a 163 foot ascent that will take about one-hour to complete. The reward at the end is a magnificent view of lower Zion Canyon, the Beehives, Zion Switchbacks and Pine Creek Canyon. Charming stone steps mark the start of the hike, leading high above the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and past a seepage area in a charming alcove. The water from the seepage supports one of Zion's many hanging gardens. The real beauty of this hike is that it offers a high elevation view without enduring the difficult uphill climbs to points like Angels Landing or Observation Point. Slickrock hoodoos are abundant on this hike, with a wonderful rock nest at the trails-end that serves as a perch to look down into the canyon.

East Rim - Zion's East Rim is often considered one of the "best hikes in Utah." This trail begins at the east entrance, just off the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, and ends in Zion Canyon.  East Rim connects with the Observation Point Trail and then descends into  Zion Canyon.

East Zion Hoodoos - Hoodoos are fairyland-like rock outcroppings of twisted and manipulated sandstone, sporting various shapes and sizes. The hoodoos in Zion are much different than the more uniform limestone hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos are abundant on the east side of Zion. There are several pull-outs along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy that offer good views of them without having to hike.

Slickrock Country - On the east side the landscape is different from Zion Canyon. Rather than massive vertical cliffs, there are mountains that resemble dunes of sand sculpted into hard rock. Patterns carved into sandstone are common on the east side. After driving the short Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy it should be unmistakable why Zion National Park is said to be one of the most entrancing places in the world.
See our vacation guide for itineraries that include the best of southern Utah and northern Arizona:  Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Red Canyon in Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks National Monument, North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Choose your pleasure: easy hikes or difficult overnight backpacking trips; luxurious Zion National Park hotels, group lodging, campgrounds or camping in the backcountry wilderness of Zion's Kolob section.

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