Backpacking Zion National Park

Day 1  START

September 30: Start at La Verkin Creek Trail head to Hop Valley Junction. (6.9 miles) Gradual elevation loss of 1000 feet. Camp site #8 reserved for 2 nights.

Day 2

October 1: Stay for a second night and explore Kolob Arch and Beartrap Canyon Falls. The Kolob Arch to Beartrap Canyon falls is an extra (2-4 hours) and is well worth the effort. (5 miles roundtrip) Camp site #8

 

Day 3

October 2: Hop Valley Junction  (6.6miles with a gradual elevation gain of 1000 feet.) across Connector Trail (3.9miles  elevation gain of 500ft.) to Northgate Peak Trail (1.1m) (Max: 11.6miles and elevation gain of 1500ft) Camp somewhere along Northgate Peak trail…no designated camp sites.

This will be a long mostly uphill day. Walking through sandy and muddy Hop Valley, trying to avoid the cow turds. We will follow the Connector Trail, after crossing the Kolob Terrace Road, head east on a more faint trail as it wanders through the open valley, then head up to the forested plateau and the junction with the Wildcat Canyon Trail.

*There is no camping on the connector trail (private property).  No designated camp sites on Northgate Peak Trail but they allow to camping out of sight of the trail or away from any springs. 

Day 4

October 3: Northgate Peaks Trail (1.1mile) back to Wildcat Canyon Trailhead junction to West Rim Trail: (4.7 m and elevation gain of 500f.) to Campsite 9 on West Rim Trail (1.3m) (total 9 Miles and aprox 500 foot elevation gain.)

Hike the Wildcat Canyon Trail through beautiful meadows to the forested plateau. Camp at site #9.

Day 5

October 4: West Rim Camp 9 to West Rim Camp 6 (6m), 5 (7m), 4 (7.8m), or 3 (8.2m)

Stop and be sure we have enough water…Possibly at Camp site #7

The West Rim Trail is mostly level and has dramatic views of the Great West Canyon.   (http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/west-rim-trail.htm)

Day 6

October 5: West Rim Camp #5, 4, or 3_ to The Grotto. (9.5 miles, Elevation loss of 2000 feet.) Stop and camp #1/2 for water

The last few miles of this stretch are a dramatic descent down a mostly paved trail chiseled through the White Cliffs to pass the famous Angels Landing and

end at the bottom of the main canyon.

Stay at a Hotel in Springdale…Running water and a bed!!!

Day7

October 6:   East Rim Trail  Day Hike (Weeping Rock to East Entrance Trailhead, I.2 miles from the Grotto): 9.8 miles.

Not sure which way we may travel. It will depend on transportation. If we start from the Grotto; Elevation gain of 2000 feet during the steep ascent to the east plateau, then a gradual descent of 500 feet into the upper East Canyon.

Also a possibility is to see the Narrows. Since we are in a hotel we will decide on the fly! 

Day 8

October 7: Drive home!

Camp sites:

30 September – 1 October (2 nights) Kolob #8  - Reserved

2 October  – Somewhere on Northgate Peaks Trail

3 October – West Rim #9

4 October  – West Rim  #3,4, or 5