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.
Cairn for Ascent/Descent Gifford Wash:
37°11.5850N
112°56.1970W
Parking At Tunnel East:
37°12.7970N
112°56.4270W
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.
Parunuweap Pass
Parunuweap Pass begins by heading into a drainage on the east side of the park then up to a slick rock vantage point with impressive views in all directions. To the east and west are views of massive sandstone mountains and hoodoos and to the south the plateaus above Parunuweap are visible. In the north exposing vistas and peaks dot the eastern side of Zion's main canyon. The exit is a loop which always makes a more interesting hike. The exit is down into Gifford Canyon ending at the east end of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.
Parunuweap Pass at a Glance
Photo Album: Parunuweap Pass Pictures
Trail Maps: Parunuweap Pass Topo Map
Day Hike: Yes Distance: 5.2 miles one way Average Hiking Time: 8 hours Equipment: Sticky rubber shoes are a must. Route finding
skills are required. The USGS 7.5 Minute, Springdale East, Topographic Quadrangle
contains the terrain to be traveled. Be sure to take at least 2-3 quarts of water
for each person and plenty of energy snacks for the trip. Difficulty: Strenuous hiking. There are sections of
exposed 4th class scrambling. This hike gains and loses considerable elevation.
Some area are steep slickrock and loose earth hillsides. Permits:
No Trailhead: Station one vehicle at the Canyon Overlook
(tunnel east) parking area. Trailend: If your group has two vehicles, park another
at the west end of the small tunnel, just over 1 mile further east on route 9.
Hitchhiking or walking back to the trailhead is an option. Trail Access: The Zion Mt. Carmel Hwy is open year-round.
Water flowing in Clear creek however could prevent access to the trailhead. Highest Elevation: 6250'/1905 meters Lowest Elevation: 5100'/1554 meters Elevation Gain: 1150'/350 meters Off the beaten path: Yes Classic Zion Park Hike: No Best Season: Fall, winter and spring.
Trailhead
Park at the small pull-out on the west end of the little tunnel. Follow the
path of use, immediately south of the pull-out, heading down into Clear Creek.
Walk downstream for .4 miles.
If there is water or ice in Clear Creek, walk back to the west on Highway
9 for .4 miles. Look for a path of use that begins immediately after a rock buttress
on the left. This trail will eventually arrive at the bottom of Clear Creek and
at the intersection of the wash to be traveled south toward Parunuweap Pass.
Parunuweap Pass Travel is relatively easy for the first .5 mile, but soon a dryfall, "Halfway
Falls" on the left, presents the first obstacle. With careful scrambling
and use of natural rock features, the top comes into sight about 60' from the
canyon floor. Travel once again becomes easier and the canyon opens, then closes
again, exposing unique sandstone sculpting. Near the head of the canyon, one
mile after leaving Clear Creek, the ascent increases, once again. Travel is easiest
along the weaknesses. Just a short jaunt up the slickrock, on the right of the
drainage, less than .25 miles, is Parunuweap Pass with views in all directions.
To the south the expansive plateaus above Parunuweap are on display. To the north
exposing vistas and peaks dot the eastern side of Zion's main canyon. To the
east and west are views of massive sandstone mountains and hoodoos. This is a
great place to take a break, shoot some photos, empty the rocks from shoes, let
the imagination wander and get set for the next climb up the slabs to the west.
From the saddle, travel west-northwest for .25 mile to the top of a small
slickrock ridge. Then steer southwesterly aiming for a slickrock bowl or drainage.
Once at the head of the drainage veer to the right side of the dryfall and scramble
up a ramp until able to step left and above the dryfall. At the top of the dryfall,
once again steer north-westerly and follow the fault to the summit ridge. Less
than .25 miles separate Peak 6310 from the "twin hoodoos" peak to the
south. The views from this saddle are absolutely breathtaking. Far below, but
not visible yet, is Gifford Canyon. The views to distant mesas and mountains
are unobstructed, as the elevation is over 6000'. The route from Gifford Canyon
up the slickrock bowl to the Bridge Mountain Arch hike can be studied for the
next adventure or just try to identify the East Temple, Mountain of the Sun and
Progeny Peak. From this point (mostly) the remainder of the hike is downhill,
but route finding is necessary.
Travel south, but on the west side of the "twin hoodoo" summit.
The ridge will be easy to follow to another saddle separating the "Twin
Hoodoo" summit from another lesser summit to the southwest. Aim for the
summit to the southwest, however travel is easier if gaining the ridge to the
summit. Once on the summit, travel southwest and down toward the head of Gifford
Canyon. From the summit of this knoll it will be less than
.5 mile to a large dryfall (250') in Gifford Canyon. By traveling onto the
west side of the dryfall and traveling north now, it will become apparent that
it will take some route finding in order to acquire the bottom of Gifford Canyon
below the dryfall. Stay somewhat close to the cliff edge for easier travel, but
at one point it will be necessary to scramble up a small ramp to a shoulder and
then carefully continue down the opposite side to the large slickrock bowl below.
By going to the north side of the bowl and then traversing the weaknesses, soon
Gifford Canyon bottom becomes reality. The travel down the canyon is quite gentle
for the next .5 mile until the second dryfall is approached. Again, by staying
above and to the west of the canyon below, a weaknesses can be found to the canyon
floor. Look for cairns at this point, as this route is sometimes used by hikers
traveling to and from Bridge Mountain Arch and Hepworth Wash. Now it is a pleasant
one mile hike down Gifford Canyon and to the ice chest full of cold drinks awaiting
at the Canyon Overlook parking lot.
Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble.
Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.
