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.
Tanya and Jeff Bell on one of the obstacles along Lady Mountain.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Beginning off of the Middle Emerald Pool Trail
37°15.143 N
112°57.553 W
First Cliffband and Start of Scrambling
37°15.174 N
112°57.637 W
5.3 Chimney Problem
37°15.144 N
112°57.792 W
5.7 Corner Crack Problem 37°15.061 N
112°57.803 W
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.
Lady Mountain
Lady Mountain is located across the highway from the Zion Lodge in Zion Canyon. It is the towering monolith seen at the entrance of the Emerald Pools Trail. This hike is not for everyone, in fact few do and should ever attempt it. The park no longer maintains the route so the few that attempt the hike must be experienced climbers. The remnants of the trail now involve 4th and 5th class exposed climbs and pitches and the hiking section of the trail is steep with slippery slopes and long drop offs. The slope is narrow, steep, sandy and covered in loose rocks. Toward the top of the mountain are the never ending steps. The top of the trail looks like a tan colored hoodoo.
Lady Mountain at a Glance
Photo Album: Lady Mountain Pictures
Map: Lady Mountain Map
Day Hike/Climb: Yes Trail Distance:
1.9 miles one-way, 3.8 miles round trip. Trail Usage: Low Difficulty: Some technical climbing, stressful steep hiking. Sun Exposure: Full sun in most places. Bring lots of water! Permits: Not required. Trail Conditions: Narrow, slippery sloping route with high altitude drop-offs. 5.7 climbing or scrambling sections and two steep pitches. 80' rope suggested. Bushwhacking in spots. Trailhead: Footbridge across the road from the Zion Lodge. Trailend: Same as trailhead.
Best Season: March to October.
Trail Access: Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle from mid-March to late October. The rest of the year you can drive into Zion Canyon and park at the Emerald Pools parking lot. Off the Beaten Path: Yes Classic Zion Hike: No Elevation Gain: 2670' total - 2440' in 1.6 miles on the Lady Mountain Trail. Starting Elevation: 4276' at the parking lot and
4500' at start of the Lady Mountain Trail. Highest Elevation: 6945' Restrooms: Zion Lodge and Grotto Picnic Area. Water availability: Water bottles can be filled at the Grotto picnic area or the Zion Lodge.
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.
Lady Mountain
Take the Middle Emerald Pools Trail for about .25 miles past the footbridge and soon the trail will level out and even begin to descend slightly. Look for the sign on the trail, "do not roll rocks below", and walk 30 yards past this sign . Look for the faint trail on the left that ascends between some juniper and pinion trees. Follow this fairly beaten path to the base of the first cliffband. The route ahead involves an ascent of 2440' in the next 1.6 miles. There are technical climbs and dangerous slippery slopes. There are stairs, "moki steps" carved in the side of the mountain, and one set is called the "endless staircase".
An 80' rope is suggested for this adventure. There are 2-4 spots where the rope will be useful. The first is on the way up, 0.8 miles from the start of Lady Mountain. This is a chimney that has an overhanging 8' boulder move rated at 5.3. Let the best climber take the rope up, unprotected, through and beyond will afford a re-bar eyelet anchor to belay the less experienced members. Keep in mind that it is an easy boulder move, but the exposure is about 80', and the consequences of a slip could be severe. The second spot is not too far up the hill; a right facing off width dihedral about 12' high, weighing in at about or 5.7 YDS . There is a nice ledge on top to belay from. A slip or fall here would not be too consequential, as it is flat and soft below. The third and fourth spots that find the rope useful, are these same spots, but on the way back down.
There is one spot just after climbing onto the initial cliffband that is a steep, right facing corner, however carved moki steps make the 30' climb quite easy. The exposure here is quite large and some might find a rope belay or handline to be a good sense of security.
Trail History: The early pioneers gave the mountains in Zion Canyon their names and Lady Mountain is no exception. This 6945' monolith was given its name because of the shape of a woman found in a section of the hike. Lady Mountain was a trail that was once open to the general public, equipped with safety chains and other safety devices much like those found along the Angels Landing Trail. In 1978 the two ladders and 2000' of cable hand-line were removed and the trail was no longer maintained. Lady Mountain was the very first trail made in Zion (built in 1924) that went to a canyon rim. Watch for faint arrows still visible today that are painted on the rocks that lead to the summit.
Imagine the women of the 1920's in their heels and long dresses trudging up this steep trail. Between 1923 when the trail was made and 1960 when the trail was abandoned and the ladders and chains were removed, there were deaths and many rescues along this trail.
Best Trail Features: The view from the top of the mountain is a 360 degree, spectacular view and has to be the most impressive view point in Zion National Park. Angels Landing is far below. To the east is Red Arch Mountain, the Great White Throne, East Temple, Deer Trap Mountain, Observation Point, West Temple, Three Patriarchs, Cathedral Mountain, Mount Majestic and the Zion Lodge. To the left is Castle Dome and Behunin Canyon. To the south is Canaan Mountain. The Markagunt Plateau is seen in the distance. A antique brass disc sits on top of a stack of rocks pointing to the dominant monoliths viewed from the point.
Note: From the top of Lady Mountain the rock formations are from the Mesozoic era. From the top of Lady Mountain all but a small percentage of the visible rock is Navajo sandstone.
The universe is one great kindergarten for man. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson. The mountain teaches stability and grandeur; the ocean immensity and change. Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes--every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man.
--Orison Swett Marden
