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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
Avid peak bagger, Courtney take a moment to look around on the way to
Destination Peak .
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Canyon Overlook Parking Lot
37°12.772N
112°56.459W
Scramble out of Gifford Canyon
37°12.080N
112°56.260W
Plateau between Gifford and Hepworth
37°11.954 N
112°56.631W
Scramble out of the East-West
Canyon to the north
37°11.989N
112°56.860W
Shoulder to Summit
37°12.111N
112° 56.962W
Destination Peak Summit
37°12.139N
112°56.922W
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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Destination Peak
For those with adventure in mind and wanting to beat the crowds, Destination Peak is truly the ticket. This hike requires some scrambling skills and isn't for the weak-hearted, but the rewards are grand with views that are rarely seen by the average hiker. Although the short 3.5 mile distance round trip can lure you into what may be perceived as a stroll, remember that 2000' of some steep slickrock scrambling can do some wear and tear, so be prepared.
Photo Album: Pictures
Trail Maps: Topo Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: 3.5 miles round-trip
Average Hiking Time: 8 hours
Permits: Not needed for day hike. If you plan to backpack and camp, an overnight a permit is required.
Equipment:
High friction hiking shoes, 2-3 quarts of water, first-aid, emergency kit, 20' of rope, proper clothing for the season, energy foods.
USGS Map: 7.5 Springdale East.
Difficulty: Strenuous hiking, scrambling skills are needed.
Trailhead: East side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway
Trailend: Same as the trailhead.
Trail access: The Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy is open year-round. The
steep slickrock is dangerous if wet or if the moss on the mountainside is frozen so avoid it in those conditions.
Elevation: 2100' gain and loss
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Classic Zion Park Hike: No
Best Season: Cooler months of the year.
May is the best time to hike usually. Summer is too hot. Only hike is the rock is dry, the moss is not frozen and the route is free of snow.
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.
Trailhead - The hike starts at the east end of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel parking lot. Drop down into Pine Creek alongside the bridge on the established trail. Once at the bottom of the popular slot canyon, Pine Creek, head upstream about 100 yards away from Pine Creek. Notice an alcove on the right, and a path that steers up the ridge through the deciduous trees just left of the alcove and dry fall. This is the route into Gifford Canyon. The trail switchbacks and contours until it drops into the wash.
Gifford Canyon - Walk up the mostly sandy path for about .75 miles until a small intersection of another wash enters from the right. Notice that the sandstone seems to be less steep on the right and allows travel upward. Leave Gifford Canyon at this point.
Ascent to the Plateau - At times it may be steep traveling, but by picking ramps and ledge systems, it will be necessary to travel toward the base of some small cliffs lined with pine trees. Once at the base of the cliffs there will be a small ridge leading left and up. Identify the cairns and soon a trail will appear. The trail leads into a large sandstone bowl. From the bowl, bear west and pick the easiest route to the plateau above.
The Plateau - The plateau is level and pleasant with views back into Gifford Canyon and the beautiful peaks to the east. Now it will be necessary to bear north and look for a canyon that runs east-west. Cliff bands on the south-east end of this canyon are difficult to negotiate, so head north a bit and begin descending to make travel easier.
East-West Wash - Once down a few hundred feet from the plateau, get to the north side of the wash. You will be confronted with a 40' wall to pick your way up, but if you were to continue down the wash there will be a dry fall to stop you. Make your way up the short wall and gain the ridge on the north side of the wash bottom.
Ridge Top - Once at the top of the ridge, go up hill and look for the wash gully, on the backside, just to the left, which is the ramp that will be followed north toward the summit of Destination Peak. For the most part it is just steep slickrock scrambling, however two-thirds of the way up as the wash constricts, there is a short 15' corner of 4th class climbing. From the top of this scramble, there is a bit of minor bush-whacking. and soon a ridge is gained sporting a small hoodoo mound on the left.
Destination Peak - Continue to the right another 150 vertical feet and the summit is achieved. The views of East Temple, Bridge Mountain, and Watchman are grand. Below, the valleys seem unidentifiable, but this is what it's all about.
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