That is my gorgeous husband in Shelf Canyon.

Shelf Canyon - East Zion National Park

We have had a full day of hiking up to Spry Canyon, but we try to add one more hike to our days agenda before the winter night closes in on us. We drive up towards the big tunnel to find Shelf Canyon. It is the first drainage on the east side of the 1.1 mile tunnel, the Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Shelf Canyon is a great hike through an east side drainage that includes some easy boulder hopping and slickrock climbing. The four of us head up the sandy bottom of the drainage, quickly crossing the slickrock obstacles. Glancing up we notice crossbedding that is a rare find. Toward the end of the hike the walls close in to a narrow slot canyon until the path completes at a series of shelves. Its late in the day and we toy around with the idea of climbing up the obstacle at the end, but decide its better left for a day when we are equipped with technical gear and the days are longer.

Playing in the snow on the east side of Zion National Park. Snowshoes and Crosscountry skis are ideal at the higher elevations of the park.

Snow shoeing in Zion National Park

The rains were pouring down, flash flooding all around in Zion National Park and the nearby towns, but East Zion was covered in snow. Two of us wanted to try out the snowshoes and 2 wanted to try cross country skiing, but the weather decided for us. What a better time to head for the hills of Zion National Park and try out snowshoes or skis! It was wonderful.

We took North Fork road up toward the Ponderosa Ranch where there is a road out to 2 different trails. One is East Mesa and the other is to Jolly Gulch. We opted for the shorter Jolly Gulch this day because the snow was getting drenched from the rain.

The Emerald Pools system of trails is now open with the exception of the Lower Pool. This is the damage to the trail on the far edge toward the Kayenta trail. Passing under the middle pool is not possible until the damage is repaired.

Zion Park after the rains and flash floods

Yesterday in Zion National Park the skies were exceptionally blue and air, although some of the cleanest we can hope for, was unusually fresh. The sandstone was saturated, bringing out the brightest of color in the rock. Moss stood up, thriving as if it were spring. Waters roared, audible from quite a distance. River edges tipped with water that still threatened to pour over into the fragile ecosystem of Zion, disturbing the balance set by the blazing heat of many years.

It was a wonderful photo day, as the Clear Creek roared in East Zion Park and Pine Creek flooded through its narrow passage. Even Checkerboard Mesa had a strong torrent of water in its foreground. Today I wish I were there again, but the weekend will come soon enough.

The rocks fell along the second switchback from the bottom on January 12, but traffic was directed around the rocks. The slides are getting to be far too common, be careful along the switchbacks area.

Rock Slides close some sections of Zion

January 12

The Zion Canyon Road is still closed past the Zion Lodge and the trails in Zion Canyon, with the exception of the Court of Patriarches are closed.


January 11th

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed north of the lodge, probably for the rest of the day. There was a large slide and rocks have to be moved. Large rocks will have to be blown up. The park did close off the road anticipating this so there should not have been anyone trapped this time and no injuries.

There was a rock slide at the 2nd switchback from the bottom, along the Zion Mt. Carmel Hwy, but rangers directed traffic around the rocks and had it cleaned up within a couple of hours.

The lower emerald pool roars and the water from Heaps Canyon pours into it during an impressive flash flood in Zion National Park.

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed due to Landslide

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed north of the lodge, probably for the rest of the day. There was a large slide and rocks have to be moved. Large rocks will have to be blown up. The park did close off the road anticipating this so there should not have been anyone trapped this time and no injuries.

Flash Floods rage in Zion National Park

Spry Canyon is pouring hard into Pine Creek, there is a nice fall above the Great Arch, another by the Pine Creek exit, There is one to the side of the Streaked Wall and East Zion Park is busting with them. Clear Creak, Pine Creek and Upper Pine Creek, Keyhole are all blasting.

In Zion Canyon waterfalls are all over. Employee Canyon, behind the Lodge, Behunin, Temple of Sinewava there are many ....

There was a nice one just to the side of the Great White Throne. Weeping Rock was Roaring Rock!!!! ---

The Virgin was to the brim and water was deep in the fields by the Lodge.

The rock falls along the switchback are getting crazy and there were some along the Zion Canyon road.

The East Fork of the Virgin in Mt. Carmel Jct. is to the brim and raging!

Its gorgeous in there and the Virgin River is flooding at a 100 year record!

The Zion Canyon Road was closed for a while yesterday, hopefully it will be opened up today and there will be no sign of the landslide that trapped visitors in the Zion Lodge area about 10 years ago.

Lower Emerald Pools - Zion National Park

The Lower Emerald Pool trail is an easy and fun trail for the entire family. Even wheelchairs and strollers can easily make it down this one. The reward at the end of the path is a beautiful waterfall. This is not your usual waterfall, cut a giant alove with water weeping down splashing on the rocks below as you are able to walk beneath it. You will get a little wet, but not too bad. Be carful when starting the Emerald Pools trail if this is the path you want since the middle pool trial begins at the same place.

Today I got the opportunity to go with my friend Bo during a crazy rain storm in Zion. We had a blast as the water poured from the sky and from the waterfall. The hanging gardens under the falls are beautiful and the black streaks of the desert varnish give a nice look to the alcove. Bo took the photos posted on the page of the Lower Emerald Pool and I thought it was great so I used. it. Once you are past the pool you can go back to the Lodge area, continue in the same way and go to the grotto on the Kayenta Trail or go to the upper pools.

Scoggins Wash in Zion National Park is a nice winter hike that is located on the far southside of the park where it is warmer. The hike heads toward the Altar of Sacrafice and it has some fun bouldering. The water souce is not reliable however.

Scoggins Wash - Zion National Park

Scoggins Wash shares the trailhead and the first part of the hike with the Coalpits Trail. This section of the hike was named coalpits after the basalt rock formation that look similar to coal. The elevation at the trailhead is the lowest elevation in Zion National Park at 3666'. Huber Wash, Scoggins and Coalpits Wash are all drainage's of the Virgin River and are found on the south side of Springdale in the hottest section of the park. This part of Zion is not as scenic as the other sections and to top it off there has been a lot of building near the trailhead. The first part of the trail passes under powerlines. With this said these southwestern trail are still a delight since they can give the option to hike in Zion in the dead of winter when the other trails might be covered with ice or its too cold. The only winter drawbacks is that it uncomfortable to hike Scoggins if the ground is too wet. Much of the hiking is along a dirt path with some scream crossing and bouldering. The bouldering is pretty simple and its at the far end of the hike before the trail meets with the Chinle Trail. To find the trailhead drive 7.3 miles past the south toll gate. You should see the Coalpits Wash sign and a small dirt turnoff. Park there and located the hikers gate.

The first part of the hike is pretty uneventful, but before long you get to hike along the water and cross it once in a while. Look for the Scoggins and Coalits Wash junction which is near the 2nd basalt formation. You can choose either direction at this point. Today we choose Scoggins. This was a great choice since the wash had some water flowing and it was a delightful day. Near the end where the big boulders croweded and the Zion Park monoliths came close into the view the hike was quite nice. After the boulders the Chinle trail juction will occur. The last part of the Scoggins hike is fun with some bouldering so if you are going to return on the Chinle Trail you might want to go and do the last mile or so of Scoggins first.


To continue down Scoggins Wash follow the wash to where is joins a tributary. Follow Scoggins headed northeast. Scoggins Wash is a tributary of Coalpits that drains below the Altar of Sacrifice. Keep headed towards this monolith.

The Altar of Sacrafice is a unique monlith with 2 red blood like streaks running down from the top. Out of the Chinle and Coalpits hikes this one is my favorite, but it would not be as pleasurable if there were not water flowing in it.

Thank you Bo for another wonderful hike!

Coalpits wash is a fun winter time hike. The water is mostly frozen, but the air was nice and warm.