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.
When water flows in Scoggins Wash the trail is pretty charming .
The Trail: The Scoggins were early settlers
in the area who the trail was named after. Rattlesnakes are common along this
trail during the hotter months of the year. Do not hike the trail when it's wet.
Best Trail Features: This trail is a good
winter hike. Starting early is a must if the plan is to finish the trail in one
winter day.
GPS Beta: Coordinates and other trail information
by Zion Park search and rescue team member Bo
Beck and Tanya.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Scoggins Trailhead
Elevation: 3666'
Junction of Coalpits and Scoggins Wash
1.6 miles/2.57km
Elevation: 3794'
Junction of Scoggins and Chinle
4.5 miles/7.24km
Elevation: 4224'
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.
Scoggins Wash
Scoggins Wash is one of the little known trails located in the far southern, low elevation, section of Zion National Park. This is a good trail to hike in the winter but most of the rest of the year it is too hot for comfortable travel. This trail can be used for a backpacking trip and there are nice views of Zion's mountains from a distance.
Scoggins Wash at a Glance
Photo Album: Scoggins
Wash Photos Topo Map: Scoggins
Topo Map Trail Map: South Zion Trail Map
Day Hike: Yes, but often done as a backpack. Camping: Stay at least .25 miles from springs and stay
out of site of the trail. Do not camp near the trailhead. Use previously used
sites or slickrock to reduce impact. A permit is required for camping. Trail Distance: 11 miles round trip Average Hiking Time: 10 hours Trail Usage: Low use, but it gets some use in the winter when people want to backpack and the West Rim and East Rim Trails are closed due to snow or ice. Horse: Pack animals (6 per group) are allowed in the
off-trail areas of Coalpits Wash, Huber Wash, Scoggins Wash, Crater Hill. Call
NPS for restrictions. 435.772.7616
Difficulty: This is a moderate trail. There is little elevation change, but its a long trail,
Route finding skills are required. There is some bouldering near the end of the trail. Sun Exposure: This trail is not recommended during
the hot days of summer due to the low elevation and exposure to full sun. Permits:
Required for camping. Trail Conditions: The trail is a dirt path that requires some stream crossing
and bouldering. Do not hike if the ground is wet.
Trailhead: 7.3 miles south of the south entrance gate.
Look for the Coalpits Wash sign. Turn off on the right side of the road and park
in the flat area. The Coalpits and Scoggins hikes share the same trailhead
and the first 1.6 miles of the trail. Trailend: Same as trailhead. Trail Access: Located along Highway 9, outside
the main section of Zion National park, on the far south side of the park. Best Season: Avoid this trail in the summer due to
the low elevation and full sun. This is a good winter hike when the ground is
dry. Do not hike if the trail is wet.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes Classic Zion Hike: No Starting Elevation: 3666' Highest Elevation: 4600' Restrooms: None. Pack out all toilet paper.
The elevation is 3666'.
Pass through the gate and locate the dirt
path. The water flow is to your left and becomes distant during some parts
of the initial trail. The first couple of miles are uneventful as the trail goes
past sagebrush, roundleaf buffaloberry, yucca, prickly pear, junipers, Zion milkvetch
and under power lines and through ditches.
Along the first 1.6 miles of the route watch
for two basalt rock formations. The first black basalt
rock will become evident high on the left, prior to the Coalpits and Scoggins
confluence and the other basalt is
located across from the junction.
The trail will pass closer to low rock formations on the right, now distant
from the water, the moenkopi formation can be seen up high on the left. Before
long the trail begins to meander closer to the water. The first water
crossing is near a large tree, at 1.3 miles before the Scoggins and
Coalpits confluence.
Coalpits Wash and Scoggins Wash Junction The Coalpits and Scoggins confluence is
directly in front of the second basalt mound. At the Coalpits and Scoggins Wash
junction, follow the path (right) east. This junction is 1.6 miles into
the hike and the elevation is 3794'.
Old Scoggins Stock Trail Note that this is not part of the Scoggins Wash trail, but can be added
as an option. From the Scoggins and Coalpits junction it is 1.5 miles to
the Old Scoggins Stock Trail.This steep .3 mile trail is very hard to spot
from the Scoggins Wash. Even though there is a sign,
it is close to the water (north) on the bank and not along the walking path.
There is usually a cairn near the base of
the hill, and the path up looks like a water drainage rather than a trail. This
route was
used by early settlers for taking livestock from the wash to the above mesa.This
area is heavy with clay so be aware that if the ground is wet the clay will stick
to boots with each step. At the top is a sign directing
the way to the Chinle Trail and Coalpits Wash.
Scoggins Wash Trail continued Continue along the Scoggins
Wash, past the Old Scoggins Wash trail. The trail gets more interesting as
the Zion National Park landmarks, Altar
of Sacrifice and the West
Temple, that were far in the distance are now close and low cut red cliffs
close in.
Bouldering
The trail is through the wash now and soon large boulders block the way. Climbing
the boulders is now a requirement to continue along the path. Lichens and thick
green moss cover the rocks in this section. When water is flowing in Scoggins,
the waterfalls are very nice. Large flat boulders trap water for a short time
before it falls to the wash below. Small boulders are jammed into waterways between
large boulders making a bedrock water park.
Scoggins Wash and Chinle Trail Junction The junction of
Scoggins Wash and the Chinle
Trail is found 4.5 miles into the hike. Again this is an easy spur to miss.
There is often a cairn stacked near the Scoggins watercourse and the elevation
had increased to 4224'.
Final section of Scoggins Wash
To continue up Scoggins Wash follow the wash to where it joins a tributary.
Follow Scoggins headed northeast. Scoggins Wash is a tributary of Coalpits that
begins below the Altar of Sacrifice. Keep headed towards this monolith.
What would the world be, once bereft of wet and wildness? Let
them be left. O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the
WILDERNESS yet.
