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 Watchman and Virgin River from the bridge over the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. This hike is hot during the day, but is an enjoyable
early morning or winter hike. The Watchman is one of the few spires in the park
and the hike leads to a bench giving a good view of the Watchman Spire. The trail
does not go up the Watchman itself.
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.
Watchman Trail
This is a Zion classic. The trail is a moderate two-mile hike with a mild 456' ascent. The dirt path leads along the foothills beneath the massive Bridge Mountain and ends at a bench near the base of the Watchman spire. Most of this trail is in full sun and through a hot desert environment, dotted with prickly pear cactus and a few other less common cacti. Many Zion National Park landmarks are visible along much of the hike including: Beehives, Towers of the Virgin, West Temple and the Altar of Sacrifice. The end of the trail stops at a view point of the Watchman. This Zion National Park landmark is a red spire rising to an elevation of 6545'.
Watchman Trail at a Glance
Photo Album: Watchman
Pictures
Trail Map: Watchman Trail Map
Day Hike: Yes Trail Distance: 2 mile round trip plus there is a short,
optional loop around the bench at the end of the trail. Average Hiking Time: 2 hours Trail Usage: Moderate Difficulty: Easy Sun Exposure: Full Sun. Permits:
Not required. Trail Conditions: This is a dirt, but well maintained trail with some
exposure.
Trailhead: The trailhead is near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center road, down by the Virgin River. Trailend: Same as trailhead. Trail Access: The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is open year-round. Best Season: Spring, winter and fall are all good seasons to hike this trail, but it does get hot in the summer. Off the Beaten Path: No. Classic Zion Hike: Yes Elevation Gain: 456' Starting Elevation: 3963' Highest Elevation: 4419' Restrooms: Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Watchman Trail
This is a good early morning or late evening trail, but mid-day hikes are not
recommended in the summer because the trail is in full sun and high temperatures are generally
encountered that time of day. Allow two hours for this hike.
Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center located
at the far south side of Zion National Park. Note the small sign north of the
visitors center, by the Virgin River, pointing out the path to the Watchman Trailhead.
Follow the dirt path that runs along the river. Walk across the employee use
road to the trailhead.
Begin the hike by heading north up the trail.
Follow the path as it switchbacks past layers of sandstone, junipers, pinon pines
and prickly pear cactus. The path itself runs steadily uphill toward a drainage
at the bend then winds around and connects with the start of the loop trail,
finally revealing the Watchman.
Trail History
The Watchman Trail was completed in 1934.
At one time there was talk about extending the trail into Parunuweap Canyon but
environmental conditions would not allow further construction. There was a trail built that went up
the gully to the left (north) of the actual Watchman. It was built with
wooden ladders and was supposed to eventually lead to Parunuweap. The
trail was never completed. In 1998 you could still hike up the gully to the
shoulder using the ladders, but a year later a
debris flow washed out a lot of the historical ladders.
Best Trail Features
This is a nice winter
hike and few people use the trail compared to most classic Zion Park trails.
I might say that the existence of wilderness is also a compliment to civilization.
And society that feels itself too poor to afford the preservation of wilderness
is not worthy of the name civilization.
and
Wilderness can be defined as a place where humans enjoy the opportunity of being
attacked by a wild animal.
