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
walls close in near the end of the Shelf Canyon route.
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.
Shelf Canyon
Shelf Canyon is a fun little drainage to explore that has a bit of boulder hopping. The beauty of Zion's slickrock is abundant in this hidden treasure. Hoodoos decorate the beginning of the hike from a lofty perch to the left. Crossbedding striations and rock sculptures create a geological interest along this hike. A refreshing dribble of water down the mountainside gives a dotting of ferns enough water to thrive in the shady canyon. Lush trees add a touch of green among the towering red rock. Toward the end of the hike, the walls close in forming a short and narrow slot canyon until the path completes at a series of shelves. These shelves are where the canyon got its name.
Shelf Canyon at a Glance
Photo Album: Shelf
Canyon Photos
Trail Map: Shelf Canyon Map
Day Hike: Yes Distance: 2 miles round trip. Average Hiking Time: 2 hours. Difficulty: Moderate with some simple bouldering Permits:
Not required. Trail Conditions: A sandy path through a short, usually dry
drainage. Shelf Canyon is an unmaintained route rather than a trail.
Trailhead: Near the Canyon Overlook Trailhead on the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Trailend: Same as starting point Trail Access: The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is open year-round. The trail is just off the highway. Off the Beaten Path: Yes, although this is a very busy part of the park, few know of this unsigned slot. Classic Zion Hike: No Best Season: March - October, but it's a good winter
hike if the drainage is dry and free of ice and snow. Hazards: Flash flood area.
There are a couple of areas where the rocks are difficult to pass and must be
scaled. This is not a route for small kids. Water Availability: Bring your own. Restrooms: Located at the Canyon Overlook Trailhead
Trailhead: Find a parking area near the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Enter Shelf Canyon just north of the "Canyon
Overlook parking sign." This is an unsigned area, so look
over the edge and locate the path of use. The route follows the drainage. This
drainage is east of the Canyon
Overlook Trail and west of Upper Pine Creek.
Trail Beta: Drop into the sandy drainage. Straight ahead
is the beautiful scenery the east side of the park is famous for. There is a
group of hoodoos at
the top of the sandstone cliff directly ahead and some fun rock formations to
climb and navigate through along this route. A rock
slab is the first climbing obstacle. The sandstone is carved with lateral
engraving. Toward the end of the path the walls close in to make a short, but narrow slot.
The rocks clutter
the passage and prevent further exploration. Climbing to the top of the rocks
is strongly discouraged and only for experienced rock climbers.
Shelf Canyon Trail: This drainage is often
called Shelf Canyon because the many shelf-like rock layers. Steve Ramras (Ram), well known canyoneer, named the canyon.
Best Trail Features: Like much of the east side hiking, Shelf
Canyon is a good winter route when dry. This is a great little hike away from
the crowds that is fun and easy.
The child knows that someone must have written
these books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages
in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement
of books--a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.
