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.
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.
The Sand Bench Trail is a nice hike when the ground is dry, during the winter when the horses are not using it. Trail runners and kids will also enjoy the easy path.
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.
Zion National Park Horse Rides
Kids and those wanting to take a horseback ride will enjoy this trail. Trail runners would be hard pressed to find a better path in the canyon. This trail can be hiked, but it's also used for the horse rides in Zion Canyon. Hiking is best done in late fall, winter and early spring when the trail ride (horse) concession is not in operation. If doing the hike during the time the trail rides are operating, be courteous and yield to the riders, and remain still and quiet as the horses pass by. The horses cause a phenomenon (I will refer to as "horse-di-doos") much like the large divots referred to as "whoop-di-doos" on motocross tracks. The difference is that in the bottoms of "horse-di-doos" also awaits "horsey-poos," thus making navigation even more of a challenge! Enough on the distractions and on to the hike.
Sand Bench at a Glance
Photo Album: Lower BenchUpper Bench
Map: Sand Bench Top Map
Day Hike: Yes, but used by horses in the summer Distance: 3 miles Average Hiking Time: 3.5 hours Difficulty: Moderate Sun Exposure: Full sun in most parts of the trail, but the Junipers do provide some shade. Permits: Not required. Trail Conditions: This is a dirt path shared with horses. If dry, its a good path for trail runners who do not mind some soft sand.
Trailhead: Court of the Patriarchs in Zion Canyon. Trailend: Same as trailhead Trail Access: From late March to November park at the Zion Canyon Visitors Center, the Zion Human History Museum or Canyon Junction and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle. From November until late March drive into Zion Canyon and park across the road from the Zion Lodge. Off the Beaten Path: No, but the trail gets little foot traffic. Classic Zion Hike: Yes Best season: Late October to March, before the trail rides begin for the season. It's possible to avoid horses by hiking before 7am or after 5pm the rest of the year. Starting Elevation: 5183' at the bridge at trailhead. Total Ascent: 440' Total Descent: 440' Water: Trail runs along the Virgin River and crosses a tributary, but it is easier to bring your own water. Restrooms: Near the bridge at the start of the hike and midway on the hike.
See our vacation planning section for classic Zion National Park trails or glance at our favorite Zion National Park trails list or choose from a complete Zion National Park hiking guide. Get on the Zion Canyon Shuttle to hike the trail on this page.
Sand Bench (Horse Trail) Loop Hike
This trail offers a stroll along Birch Creek to the west and then ascends the plateau to the south known as Sand Bench. Views of the massive stone peaks of the Patriarchs, Sentinel, Streaked Wall, Twin Brothers, Mountain of the Sun, East Temple, Bridge Mountain, Watchman and Johnson Mountain all seem to be within a stones throw. Along the eastern flank of Sand Bench, the trail will periodically expose glimpses of the Left Fork of the Virgin River below as well as nice vistas to the south, showing a section of the Pa'rus Trail.
If the shuttles are in operation, ride the shuttle from the Zion Canyon Visitors Center, the Zion Human History Museum or Canyon Junction. Get off at the stop following the Canyon Junction stop. This will be the Court of the Patriarchs viewpoint shuttle stop. Carefully cross the road to the west and notice the service road. Either continue west on the service road or look for a dirt trail on the left bank above the service road. After walking past the maintenance area and water tank, look for the trail that leads to the bridge, crossing the Virgin River. Cross over the bridge where the trail branches right and left. Walk along Birch Creek for the next 200 yards, taking the left fork. The trail will cross onto the south side of Birch Creek and continue west for a short time along the bank of the creek. Soon the trail begins to ascend to the south and west, and will turn at several switchbacks until it arrives at another junction and a sign indicating the Sand Bench Loop Trail. By turning left, the majority of the ascent to the bench is on hard-pack and rock trail, versus by turning right, the majority of the ascent to the bench is in deep sand.
Any direction traveled will eventually arrive at the southern end of the bench, and the picnic area, hitching posts and vault toilet used by the trail rides. This is a nice area to relax in the shade of the junipers and pinions and prepare for the hike back to the trailhead.
Trail History: Named for its sandy path up on the bench. Early settlers used the trail to get up the canyon when floods made other ways difficult or impossible.
I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips.
