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.
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 Equipment: Bring a sturdy pair of shoes with rubber soles to hike Mountain of the Sun. Some hikers prefer hiking boots due to the support they give to the ankles. Most experienced Zion hikers prefer a good quality rubber shoe like the Sportiva Exum Ridge which help the hiker stick to the slick rock when hiking off the paved trails.
Bridge Mountain
This is a path few travel due to the difficulty of the trail, the technical climbing section and the short season it can be hiked. The trail begins at Gifford Canyon and heads up the slickrock into Hepworth Wash. There are two amazing free standing arches along this route including Bridge Mountain Arch at the end of the trail.
Hepworth Arch and Bridge Mountain Arch
Bridge Mountain at a Glance
Photo Albums: Bridge
Mountain Pictures Map: Bridge
Mountain
Topo Map Day Hike: A
rushed day hike or a backpack. Distance: 10 miles/16km round trip Average Hiking Time: 12-16 hours Equipment: 150' rope, webbing, slings, harness,
rappel device and map. Technical: Technical climbing
required. Unbeleyed 5th class, 30' high chimney. Difficulty: Extremely strenuous uphill hiking. Sun Exposure: Full Sun on most of the hike. Begin this
hike early in the morning. Bring
plenty of water. Permits:
Not needed for day hike. If you plan to backpack and camp, an overnight a permit
is required. Camping: Open camping. Trail Conditions: The steep slickrock is dangerous
if wet and the chimney can have ice on it during the colder months of the year. Most
of the route is slickrock scrambling. Trailhead: Canyon
Overlook parking lot - Gifford Canyon Trailend: Canyon Overlook Trail Access: Highway 9 is open all year so the parking
lot its accessible all year. If water is running in Clear Creek it can be difficult. Crossing the usually dry Clear Creek is required
to get into Gifford Canyon. Off the Beaten Path: yes Classic Zion Hike: No Best Season: May is the best time to hike usually.
Summer is too hot and earlier there is often ice on the chimney. Starting Elevation: 5124'/1562m Elevation at Bridge Mountain Arch : 5300'/1615m Highest Elevation : 6180'/1884m There are steep climbs and descents. Hazards: The slick rock is dangerous when wet due to
the moss that absorbs water and becomes slick. The chimney is a 5th class climbing
section with no anchors. There are two sections of exposed cliff side, slickrock
crossing. Water Availability: Usually none Restrooms: Restrooms are located at the Canyon Overlook
parking lot.
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. Don't get on the Zion Canyon Shuttle to hike the trail on this page.
Bridge Mountain - For those that want a leisurely stroll, the beginning of this route will take you through beautiful and secluded Gifford Canyon. Part two of this hike involves strenuous slickrock scrambling and ends at Hepworth Arch. Hardcore adventurers can go a step farther to Crawford Arch (Bridge Mountain Arch), a spectacular free standing, arc natural arch that is 3 feet wide and 156 feet long. It can be seen at a distance from the information plaque located in front of the Zion Human History Museum.
Gifford Canyon - Park at the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel then follow the beaten path that runs alongside the bridge and descends into the drainage. Head upstream about 100 yards, looking for signs of use up through the trees on the alcove on the right. Once up top, the 'trail' traverses and then switches back until it drops into Gifford Canyon. If this is as far as you are going, it is a casual 3 mile stroll to the end of the trail and back.
Be aware that slickrock hiking in wet or freezing conditions is dangerous.
Hepworth Arch - Walk .75 miles down Gifford Canyon to where another drainage enters from the right, then head up the slickrock mountain, staying to the right where it's less steep. Ramps and ledges dictate the course to follow as the route zigs and zags upward. When the small cliffs dotted with pine trees come into view above you need to head for the base of those cliffs. There is a small drainage to the right of the cliff base that leads to a ridge, scramble up and to the left onto it as you progress steadily upward. Soon cairns (rock pile markers) lead the way into a massive sandstone bowl just beneath the rim. Go into it, then bear west, picking the easiest route to the plateau above. Once on top, go north, looking for a canyon that runs east-west which you enter by descending north and west avoiding the cliff band below the eastern rim. Drop into the main drainage below, then navigate the down climbs. Look for another wash entering the canyon from the right, walk up it to the 40 foot wall that you will need to pick your way up. Navigating the main drainage is impossible without rappelling so from the top of the ridge walk 100 feet north to the steep ramp that goes down and to the south and then descends into the east-west canyon. Once at the bottom of the canyon travel downstream, looking for a hidden slit, the Vortex, in the canyon wall located at the head of the wash. If temperatures are hot outside the rapidly moving air in the slot will be chilly, making it a great place to cool off. Next, walk down canyon until the path connects with Hepworth Wash. An intermittent stream is often flowing and filled with toads and other delightful creatures. The Hepworth Arch is a little more than half mile down Hepworth Wash, on the right. This is an enjoyable camping area or a destination for a day hike.
To continue to Crawford Arch you need 100 feet of rope, rappel device and harness for the 5th class climbing in the chimney. There are also two extremely narrow and exposed areas to be crossed.
Crawford Arch - Hike north through Hepworth Wash for about a mile where you come to a drainage entering from the west, proceed into it but you will need to quickly leave it, going up to the right and northwest then making your way through the trees and cacti. After gaining elevation, the "V" notch to the right of Bridge Mountain and a smaller rock outcropping on the right of the notch are the goal. Don't be lured to the larger of the notches farther to the right. Drop into the next wash you encounter and follow it west. Once near the head, look up and to the right to see the steep, bushy ramp which you need to scramble up to the saddle on top, and once again descend an even steeper drainage which is located on the backside of this saddle. At the bottom of the drainage, there is a beaten path on the left side that hugs the rock slab to the left. Soon a steep right sloping rock slab with an exposed drop off is encountered. Sticky rubber soled shoes will be helpful during this short traverse. After you are past it, you will be required to scramble up the buttress ahead before you get to the chimney, which is the technical climbing section requiring 100' of rope to get to the arch. There should be a log wedged about 6 feet up in the chimney that makes it easier to get between the narrow rocks and to move to the ledge that is visible about 35 feet above. Be certain to go up the chimney on the right side of the log. Do not go up the chimney on the left. You could also stay in the chimney and go deep, back through a slot in the rear of it. If there are more than two in your party, its advisable to belay from an anchor of webbing slung from trees on the ledge just above the climb itself. Continue up the steep rock and tree filled ramp system 300 feet to a couple of large ponderosa trees. At this point there is low angle slickrock and a narrow ledge system that needs to be negotiated. Hike up about 15 feet and then bear right, traversing a small ledge and gaining elevation. Don't go too high, because you will need to come back down once you see the hanging valley come into sight. Head for the obvious weakness taking you into this desert oasis of dunes and ponderosa. Walk to the south, toward the bottom of the valley, then steer left around the dry falls, aiming for the steep, tree covered slope. Scramble up the slope and then bear right to Crawford Arch.
Camping - A nice camping spot in near the intermittent stream in Hepworth Wash, but this requires hiking back up the steep slickrock with your backpack on the return. The better choice might be to camp in the grassy area at the top of the first steep incline.
