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.
Spry Canyon on a cold November day. The stream is frozen, but
a trickle of water bubbles beneath.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Trailhead at Pine Creek
37°12.9265N
112°56.1408W
Scramble up and Left
out of Pine Creek
37°13.3890N
112°56.2860W
Deertrap Petroglyphs
37°13.5850N
112°56.5650W
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.
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.
Spry Canyon Hike
For those that enjoy hiking up steep slickrock, this trail is a joy. The route is away from the mainstream of the park and the scenery is outstanding. The route begins by meandering through Upper Pine Creek. If you are lucky there will be a nice waterfall flowing. From the top of the slickrock saddle there are magnificent landmarks all around. To top off the hike there is a stream toppling over the mountain side at the end of the route. Canyoneers continue past this point by rappelling down the waterfall.
Spry Canyon Hike at a Glance
Photo Album: Spry
Canyon Pictures
Topo Map: Spry
Canyon Topo Map
Day Hike: Yes Average Hiking Time: 6 hours round trip Difficulty: Slickrock climbing, stressful steep hiking. Sun Exposure: Full sun in most places. Bring lots of
water! Permits:
Not needed Trail Conditions: Not a trail, but an un-maintained
route. The vegetation on the rock makes the mountain slippery in the winter.
This is a steep slickrock climb. Keep in mind when climbing on Navajo sandstone
it breaks easily when wet. Take care with hand and foot holds. Trailhead: Upper Pine Creek Trailend: Same as trailhead Best Season: Year-round, but hot in the middle of summer.
Nice winter trail when its snow and ice free, but avoid stepping on the black
moss in the winter. When it fills with water in the cold it's as slippery as
ice.
Trail Access: There is often parking at the trailhead at Canyon
Overlook Trail or one of the pull-outs east of the tunnel. Off the Beaten Path: Yes Classic Zion Hike: No Starting Elevation: 5787' Restrooms: Canyon Overlook parking lot Water Availability: There is water in Pine Creek
and Spry Canyon but its easier to bring your own.
Locate the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.
There is a parking lot by the ranger booth and a couple of pull-outs along the
road that are closer to the 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. The waterfall and
the curve are your landmarks for the return climb down. Water runs through Pine
Creek so prepare to get your feet wet.
Make your way up the slickrock, staying to the (west) right and heading for
the slickrock
bowl that lies beneath Deer Trap Mountain. Again, staying to the right, climb
up the bowl. Toward the top of the bowl is a a tall, flat reddish slab of rock.
Climb up the slickrock near the slab. The trail will flatten out
on top of this section. Keep climbing up to the saddle. From here the scenery
is magnificent. Note the East Temple (7709') to your left, the Twin Brothers
(7709') and Deer Trap Mountain on your right, Mount Spry and the West Temple
are straight ahead. See if you can make out the horse head in the West Temple.
If you have not had enough you can descend to
a beautiful downhill stream. Hike down hill, headed north, locating the water
flow between the East Temple and the Twin Brothers. Follow the stream to
where it flows steeply downhill.
The water empties into Pine
Creek below.
History: Mount Spry was named after the English man, William
Spry. William Spry was a leader for issues at the time, serving as a Utah governor
between 1908-1916. Governor Spry fought against opposition to make changes which
enhanced the quality of life for his people. Mount Spry is visible from the Zion
Switchbacks and the Pine Creek route.
Nature is a self-made machine, more perfectly automated than
any automated machine. To create something in the image of nature is to create
a machine, and it was by learning the inner working of nature that man became
a builder of machines.
