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.
First Employee Canyon Rappel:
37°14.6892N
112°57.0631W
Last Employee Canyon Rappel:
37°14.7627N
112°57.0604W
GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.
Options - Hike up to the peak of Mountain of
the Sun.
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: Rope, webbing, harness and rappelling device. A sturdy pair
of shoes are recommend for canyoneering in Zion . Quality
shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced Zion hikers and
canyoneers like the Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking, bouldering
and canyoneering.
Lodge Canyon
Lodge Canyon is one of the dryer canyons in Zion National Park. The route begins in Upper Pine Creek, then heads up the slickrock following the Mountain of the Sun Route. It breaks off and heads through and canyon ending near Zion Lodge.
Lodge Canyon at a Glance
Photo Album: Canyon
Pictures
Trail Maps: Topo Map
Day Canyon: Yes Distance: 4.3 miles Average Hiking Time: 6 hours Equipment: Sticky rubber shoes, harness and descending
device, emergency ascending gear, a helmet, two 200' ropes, 30' extra webbing,
at least 3 liters of water per person, plenty of energy foods. Technical: Challenging rope work gives this canyon
a more severe rating. Rappels up to 190' with 15' extended anchor and a missed. A
mistake on the 4th rappel could end in a 400' drop. ACA Canyon Rating: 4A III Difficulty: Exposed slickrock approach. Permits:
Required
Check the weather report
before hiking this trail. Do not hike if it looks like rain Trailhead: Canyon Overlook parking lot to Upper Pine
Creek. Trailend: Zion Lodge - Zion Canyon Trail Access: The Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy is open year-round.Zion
Canyon is accessed either by the Zion Canyon shuttle or by private vehicles year
round. Off the Beaten Path: Yes Classic Zion Canyon: No Best Season: April to October. Its difficult to climb
the slickrock if the black moss on the slickrock is cold and wet and the canyon
is hot in the summer. Hazards: Call the Zion Canyon Visitors Center for weather
conditions prior to the hike: (435) 772-3256. Hiking in slot canyons presents
a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not hike this trail if it is raining.
Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood. Mountain of the Sun Canyon
has a low flash flood danger.
Canyoneering: Never enter a technical canyon without the knowledge and skills needed to safely explore and return. Rappelling and downclimbing skills are required to navigate through Lodge Canyon. Do not jump. Jumping in Zion's canyons have resulting in many broken bones. Many technical canyons, such as Lodge Canyon, also requires excellent map reading skills to navigate.
Lodge Canyon
This a wonderful hike with a short slot section and a handful
of rappelling, all of which takes place at the end of the hike. The slickrock
approach and the unusual canyon contains a unique beauty and diversity that sets
it apart from many of Zion's other canyons.
Car Shuttle - Park one vehicle at Canyon Junction, the museum or the visitor
center (if shuttles are running otherwise park at the Zion Lodge) and the other
at the Canyon Overlook parking lot located on the east side of the Zion Mt. Carmel
Tunnel or park at the Canyon Overlook parking lot and hitchhike back to your
car after the hike.
Lodge Canyon Trailhead
Walking east from the tunnel, the first drainage to the left is Shelf Canyon.
Continue up the road to the next drainage, located .4 miles from the tunnel.
This is Upper Pine Creek. Drop down into the sandy bottom of the drainage and
hike north for about .5 miles to the waterfall. Just past the waterfall is the
best location to climb up (west) the slickrock. Note how the rock curves down,
just to the left of the waterfall. Water runs through Pine Creek so prepare to
get your feet wet.
Steep Slickrock Scramble Uphill
Pick your way up the weaknesses always being aware of ledge systems that make
the travel easier. Soon there is a fairly steep section that wants to draw you
to the right, but if you continue up and to the left on the steep slab, the travel
soon becomes much easier. You will eventually gain a plateau and much easier
traveling as you bear to your right a bit. Aim for a large drainage in the center
of what is soon to become a large slickrock basin. Once inside the basin aim
for the right (north) side of the basin where you will find ramps that will take
you up higher into the basin.
Staying on the right side of this bowl will afford weaknesses in the form
of north running ramps. At a point almost at the top of the saddle there is a
fairly tall (25') wall that contains a panel of petroglyphs. Its one mile at
this point. Travel the ramp up and to the right of this panel where shortly you
will arrive at the saddle with views to the west, of the West Temple looking
thru Spry Canyon. The East Temple is to the left, Twin Brothers to the right
of Spry Canyon, and Deertrap Mountain to the north. The views looking east and
south are magnificent showing the diversity of the eastern Zion terrain.
Enter the canyon floor, just behind Twin Brothers, but instead of going left
towards Spry Canyon, turn right up the wash at the bottom of the rock face of
Twin Brothers. There may be a slight amount of bushwhacking, but the going is
easy as the incline to climb is moderate. After following the wash for less than
.25 miles you will top out on a sharp, prominent saddle that divides the direction
of flow of washes. For the next .5 mile or so the descent will be steep and bouldery.
Route finding the easiest way down becomes the norm. Soon after, the canyon floor
yields to gentler travel and slowly the canyon opens and closes. At .7 miles
from the saddle the canyon opens to a large slickrock clearing. This is a good
place to enjoy the beauty of the slickrock potholes, relax and enjoy some lunch.
Its here that one would look back up the canyon just traveled and notice on
the right, a large slickrock ridge that rises to the south from where you stand.
This would be the route to follow if taking a side trip to the summit of Mountain
of the Sun.
Facing downstream, one might notice a small foliage choked wash entering on
the left, seemingly draining from the base of Mountain of the Sun. Traveling
up this wash a short distance bears an amazing cave that will provide cool shade
during a hot day. It is very dark and continues back to a chamber. A must to
see before continuing north down the wash towards the Mountain of the Sun Canyon.
Lodge Canyon Technical Section
Rappelling skills are required to navigate through this
slot canyon. Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a short time due
to flash floods and water levels in this canyon change. These directions are
only a general reference. Be prepared for variations in the canyon.
First Rappel - Traveling another .7 miles will finally bring
us to our first rappel. As you walk onto a large slickrock wash that veers to
the right and to the base of the sheer rock wall of Deertrap Mountain, cut left
through the brush but stay as close as possible to the forming slot canyon on
your right. 100-150 meters of walking through the brush, look for a pine tree
perched on the very edge of the vertical wall slot canyon below. A sling around
the tree will indicate your first 140' rappel into the "slot". The
last person over may wish to bring the knot over the lip below as to not get
your rope stuck on the pulldown.
Second Rappel - At the bottom of this rappel walking down stream 50' and staying
left of the boulder in the wash brings you to a 2 bolt anchor for the next 150'
rappel. Once again, bring the knot over the edge to make the rope pull easier
if you wish.
Third Rappel - Just another short jaunt shows the 2 bolt anchor on the right
rock face and another drop (some may downclimb this, not recommended) of 35'.
Forth Rappel - Pull your rope and set up the next rappel from the 2 bolt anchor
on the right again just a short distance away. Now here is where problems could
arise. On this 4th rappel, the watercourse wants to take you down vertically,
but as you are rappelling down, after about 30' a large ledge will come on your
left as you are facing into the wash. You must sidestep and pull yourself over
to this ledge, as the anchors for the next rappel are on the far side of this
ledge. If you have made a mistake and rappelled past the ledge you must ascend
back up, as the drop below is close to 400'.
Fifth Rappel - From the ledge a 2 bolt anchor with an extra long long sling
is present that puts the anchor point over the cliff edge. Difficulty may arise
for less experienced canyoneers when loading the system and to start rappelling.
The most experienced person can set up a detachable lower off a belay device
and lower the less experienced people until the rope is loaded. Then the more
experienced person can carefully downclimb until he is weighting the system.
Once again bring the knot over the next edge below to make the rope pull less
likely to snag. This rappel is close to 190', however there is an intermediate
2 bolt anchor at 155' if for some reason your rope isn't long enough.
Sixth Rappel - The last rappel becomes obvious now off a 2 bolt anchor in
the middle of the wash, and it's a beauty of a rappel as you dangle in mid air
viewing the gorgeous hanging garden underneath the overhanging rock you will
be descending.
Exit - Once down, put away the gear, relax for a few and start your way down.
The easiest route down is on the left side of the wash, however an exit can be
accomplished on the right side as well. Head for the Zion Lodge and go have a
cool one now before heading back to your shuttle vehicle that you left either
at Canyon
Junction, the museum or at the visitor center.
