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 view from Deertrap Mountain is one of the
most spectacular in Zion National Park.
Optional side hikes:
Cable
Mountain, 6 mile round trip, with incredible views
of the Great White Throne, Angels Landing, Observation Point, and the West Rim
of Zion.
Hidden
Canyon is located toward the end of the East Rim/Observation Point
trail. From the canyon entrance its .5 miles to the 20' freestanding arch and
then it is possible to continue about .6 more miles through the canyon.
Observation
Pointis about 4 miles round trip from the Observation Point//East
Rim junction. Marvelous views of Zion Canyon can be seen along much of this this
hike as well as at the view point at the end of the trail.
Going through the slot canyon usually involves getting wet and always requires
climbing past obstacles.
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.
Deertrap Mountain
This is a excellent view point in a part of the park where the crowds are left behind. Views include Angels Landing, Great White Throne, Mountain of the Sun, Twin Brothers, Beehives, Court of the Patriarchs and the West Temple.
Deertrap Mountain at a Glance
Deer Traip Photo Albums: East
Rim Pictures -
Deertrap Pictures Map: Deertrap
Topo Map Day hike: Usually a backpack, but can be done as a
rushed day hike. Distance: 20 miles from East Rim trailhead to Deertrap
(add another mile for the walk around the rim) to the Weeping Rock parking lot.(one
way). Average hiking time: 10 hours total hike (one way
with shuttle) Difficulty: Strenuous Sun Exposure: Full Sun on most of the hike. Begin this
hike early in the morning since the start of the hike is hot and sandy. 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:
Maintained, dirt and rocks the first miles. Paved the last miles on the Observation
Point Trail. The East Rim and Deertrap Trail gets muddy in the winter at times
due to snow melting. A controlled burn was done on Deertrap Mountain in the fall
of 2005. Trailhead: 150 yards west of the east entrance to Zion
National Park. Trailend: Weeping Rock parking lot. Trail access: April to October: For a one way hike
park a car at the trailhead near the east entrance of the park or use a commercial
shuttle. At the end of the trail catch the Zion Canyon Shuttle at the parking
lot back to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, or Canyon Junction where you are
parked. If hiking from November to the last part of March, park the second car
at the Weeping Rock parking lot in Zion Canyon, since the shuttles do not run
at this time of year. Off the beaten path: No Classic Zion Park hike: Yes Best Season: Early summer or fall , but this is a nice
mid summer hike as well if the hike is began early in the day to avoid the heat
on the hottest part of the trail. Starting Elevation: 5750'/1753m Maximum Elevation: 6920'/2109m
Moderate steady climb, but steep downhill descent the last 2 miles. Hazards: Long drop-offs along the last part of the
trail, but the path is nice and wide for the most part. In the winter it may
be icy and dangerous. Water availability: Stave Springs is an unreliable
water source and the water must be treated. During wet years there is a waterfall
at Jolly Gulch early parts of the year. Restrooms: Restrooms are located at the trailhead near
the east entrance fee booth and at the trailend at the Weeping Rock 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 or Zion National Park backpacking guide.
Deertrap Mountain Camping
The usual camping spots are up above Stave Springs, close to a water supply,
but the slope of the ground there is uncomfortable. Open camping is anywhere
out of view of the trail and away from Stave Spring or the Deertrap rim.
Deertrap Mountain Mileage
Jolly Gulch 2.8 miles
Stave Spring 5.5 miles (2.5 hours)
Jct to Deer Mountain 5.7 miles
Deer Mountain View 10.2 miles
(scenic walk around rim .5 miles one way)
Back to East Rim Trail 14.7 miles
Weeping Rock parking lot 20 miles
(21 miles including the scenic rim walk)
The East Rim Trail is a 6 hour,10 mile/16km trail that begins at the east
entrance of the park and ends at the Weeping Rock parking lot in Zion Canyon.
Although some prefer to hike from either the Weeping Rock parking lot to Deertrap
and return the same way or from the east entrance and return the same way, the
hike is more enjoyable as a one way hike using a car shuttle. To do this as a
one way hike, park one vehicle at the Weeping Rock parking lot, if the shuttle
is not running, or at Canyon Junction if it is. Park the other at the East Rim
Trailhead just northwest of the toll booth. The initial part of the trail is
in full sun so start this hike early in the day. Clear Creek (intermittent) runs
along the initial part of the trail. A wide path ascends gradually the next 5
miles/8 km through junipers, pinyon pines and passing Jolly Gulch. Vegetation
turns to ponderosa pine at the higher elevations. About 3 hours (5 miles) into
the hike the trail descends. At .2 miles past Stave Spring, at the 5.7
mile mark, is a sign directing the way to the Deertrap and Cable Mountain
shared trail.
Deertrap Mountain - Cable Mountain Trail
The trail has a steady uphill climb to the junction where the Deertrap Mountain
and Cable Mountain Trails fork. At the junction its 6920'/2109m.
Deertrap Mountain Trail
Deertrap Mountain offers nice
views of Mountain of the Sun, the Twin Brothers the Court of the Patriarchs,
Middle Emerald Pool, Behunin Canyon, Lady Mountain, Angels Landing, West Temple,
East Temple, Zion Lodge and Smithsonian Butte in the distance. The elevation
at the rim is 6720' compared to the 4000' elevation of Zion Canyon.
Downhill Exit
With 4.3 miles/6.9km left in the hike, the East Rim Trail begins to flatten
and then begins to descend. East Rim and Observation Point now combine as the
East Rim Trail joins with the lower portion of the Observation Point Trail. (elevation
5584'/1702m ) Less than a half mile is the entrance to Echo Canyon and the charming
Echo Canyon Walkway.From the walkway, the trail descends steeply for 1.5 miles/km
into Zion Canyon. To the right of the trail is another section of Echo Canyon
where a visible water carved slot canyon winds below and during the winter and
wet years there is water flowing.
East Rim, Cable Mountain, Deertrap Mountain Backpack
Backpacking option: 10 mile day hike from the campsite. From
the jct of the east rim trail (just below stave springs) out to the end of Deertrap
Mountain and return back to the Jct of east rim trail just below stave spring
is a 10 mile round trip. Total mileage: 20 miles
Backpackingoption: 6 mile day hike from
the campsite at Stave Spring. Camp at Stave Spring, then day hike to Cable Mountain
then back to the Cable Mountain/ Deertrap Mountain junction (not Stave Springs)
then to Deertrap Mountain, back to Stave Springs and end at the Weeping Rock
parking lot. Total mileage: 24 miles
Best trail features: Deertrap is a nice view point and a
wonderful backpack in Zion. The controlled fire in 2005 however has made the
trail less than ideal for a while.
History: Pioneers went up the East Rim Trail and
to Deertrap mountain to collect lumber, but the mountain got its name from long
ago when Indians herded deer onto the mesa in an effort to trap and kill them.
