THE UPPER EAST CANYON

The east section of the park holds the most scenic drive you will ever experience. Route 9 carves a wondrous snaking path through the beautiful upper east canyon's slickrock formations, connected to the main canyon via the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. There aren't very many official trails in this section, but there are plenty of random slots, cracks, and sandstone formations to explore. This area is slickrock heaven!

CANYON OVERLOOK TRAIL
Rating: easy short family hike. a Zion classicfamily-friendly
The Canyon Overlook Trail is one of the few official trails in the upper East Canyon. It is a nice short-but-sweet hike on a maintained trail that ends at a great viewpoint looking into the main canyon. Along the way, you get some great views down into the Pine Creek slot canyon below, as well as a little break in a cool shaded alcove with lush ferns growing out of the walls. If this is your first trip to Zion, this one is a must-do hike!
TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 Canyon Overlook Trail
CLEAR CREEK
Clear Creek Rating: moderately easy hiking. a Zion classicfamily-friendly
There aren't too many official trails in the upper East Canyon, but who says you can't wander around and do your own exploring? Clear Creek is the main dry streambed that follows Route 9 throughout the East Canyon. If you can ignore the occasional sounds of motorcycles and RV's coming from above, this is really quite a beautiful canyon to explore. Many sections actually do loop away from the road, so you can get that sense of being away from it all in only a few minutes.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...
GIFFORD CANYON
Rating: moderately strenuous day hike.
Gifford Canyon is the north-south wash just east of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel in the upper East Canyon, south of Route 9 and across from the parking lot for the Canyon Overlook Trail. Gifford Wash is mostly open and sandy with much lush vegetation and reddish oxide seeps which are common to the East Canyon. Though not the most interesting or photogenic canyon in Zion, this wash makes an interesting half-day hike for people looking to do some random exploring.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 Gifford Canyon
BRIDGE MOUNTAIN ARCH
Bridge Mountain Arch Rating: strenuous hiking/backpacking w/climbing. technical climbing/scrambling route
The Bridge Mountain Arch is a fascinating, yet relatively unknown landmark, easily viewable from the Zion Museum in the main canyon. The hike to the Bridge Mountain Arch is a long, strenuous seldom-done route that starts in the upper East Canyon from Gifford Canyon and makes its way up and down several washes to eventually reach the arch. This is a long and strenuous route with many challenges (including a short technical climb), but the views are very rewarding.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...
PINE CREEK (Middle Pine Creek)
Rating: technical canyoneering route. a Zion classictechnical canyoneering route
When people talk of "Pine Creek," they mean this section. Pine Creek is one of the most popular technical canyoneering routes in Zion National Park and exemplifies the beauty of subterranean slot canyons. Starting at the Canyon Overlook parking lot and ending at the Route 9 switchbacks in the main canyon, Pine Creek is one of the few beautiful slot canyons that features such easy access. Although it is one of the easier technical canyons in Zion, it is still serious business with several rappels, downclimbs, and many swims through cold water. This route features the beautiful "Cathedral" section (complete with an arch doorway) and the final rappel -- an intimidating 105-ft free rappel.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 Pine Creek
UPPER PINE CREEK
Upper Pine Creek Rating: moderately strenuous off-trail hike.
Upper Pine Creek is an interesting little hike exploring the upper drainage of Pine Creek. (This section is not technical.) You can hike up the dry wash easily for about a mile until you reach many boulders and rocks. Climb up as much as you wish to get a pretty good view above the wash. This is a fun place to come if you like boulder scrambling and little climbing obstacles. Soon you will come to an insurmountable obstacle and it's time to turn around.
THE EAST TEMPLE LOOP
Rating: strenuous off-trail rock-scrambling route.
The East Temple Loop is an unofficial route starting at the end of the Canyon Overlook Trail. From the viewpoint, you can scramble northeast up to the saddle just under the East Temple to get a great view of the surrounding slickrock formations of the upper east canyon. The route then scrambles down a side canyon into Upper Pine Creek to complete the loop. Good navigation skills and rock-scrambling ability are a must!
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 The East Temple Loop
SHELF CANYON
Shelf Canyon Rating: moderately strenuous off-trail route.
The upper East Canyon is home to seemingly countless little cracks and canyons, many with no official names. Shelf Canyon is one of the more interesting little canyons worthy of exploration; the upper section of the canyon slots up into a dark impressive alcove with many ledges (shelf formations) going up the west wall. But just as things start to get exciting, the hike is over! Though not particularly strenuous, the rock-scrambling obstacles may make this hike unsuitable for family hiking.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...
KEYHOLE CANYON (Starfish Canyon)
Rating: short technical canyoneering. a Zion classictechnical canyoneering route
Keyhole Canyon barely shows up on a topo map, but it is a beautiful short little subterranean slot canyon in the upper East Canyon. Keyhole is a short technical canyoneering route and will take roughly two hours to complete. It involves 2-3 rappels, many down-climbing obstacles, and a few wades and swims through cold water. Full technical gear is required and wetsuits are recommended. This is a popular route for beginning canyoneers before doing longer, more committing routes.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 Keyhole Canyon
HIDDEN GARDENS
Hidden Gardens Rating: fairly easy hiking.
I first read about this little slot in Ron Kay's "Guide to Zion National Park" book. Unofficially named "Hidden Gardens," this little slot is found off of Clear Creek, south of the smaller Route 9 tunnel. Admittedly not too interesting for everybody, this little crack is a delicate little slot with rich oxide seeps that feed an abundance of smaller vegetation. Tread lightly and avoid trampling the ferns and other small plants. Please see Ron Kay's book for more specific information.
THE BARRACKS (Upper Parunuweap Canyon)
Rating: fairly strenuous river hiking/backpacking. backpacking route
In BLM territory east of the NPS boundary is a beautiful and remote stretch of canyon known as the East Fork of the Virgin River (aka "the Barracks"). This backpacking route starts off of Route 89 just south of Mt. Carmel Junction and follows the East Fork for almost 20 miles. "The Barracks" refers to the golden section where the walls are tall and narrow, reminiscent of the more popular Zion Narrows (the North Fork). Note: Lower Parunuweap Canyon (inside of the park) is an off-limits Natural Research Area, so the finish to this route escapes up and out by Checkerboard Mesa.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 Gifford Canyon
MISERY CANYON (Fat Man's Misery)
Misery Canyon Rating: strenuous technical canyoneering route. technical canyoneering route
Misery Canyon is a technical canyon that skirts the eastern border of Zion National Park. Although the canyon is completely outside of the park, the approach hike starts at Checkerboard Mesa Canyon. Misery isn't too technically difficult, but it is a long strenuous day that involves a handful of rappels, many downclimbs, and a few stagnant pools to wade through. The canyon ends in the beautiful Barracks section of the East Fork of the Virgin River (Parunuweap Canyon).
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...
LOWER PARUNUWEAP CANYON
Parunuweap Canyon is the large, but seldom talked about canyon within the lower eastern boundaries of the park. At one point this used to be a hikeable route, but in the early 1990's, the National Park Service designated it as a "Natural Research Area" which makes it off-limits to all hikers. This canyon was once accessible via 4-wheel drive road off of the main road into Springdale, but the landowners have blocked access to the road. It is unlikely that this section of the park will be reopened in the foreseeable future. Parunuweap Canyon
CHECKERBOARD MESA DRAINAGE
Checkerboard Mesa Drainage Rating: fairly strenuous day hike.
The drainage west of Checkerboard Mesa is usually described as the exit/return route for the Barracks and Fat Man's Misery, but it can also be the starting point for glorious backcountry day hikes. Hiking up this canyon is completely non-technical, but it is fairly strenuous and involves a bit of rock scrambling. Once at the saddle, you can hike down and out the south side to the glorious slickrock plateau above the Barracks. Ron Kay's Guide has a good description of the route to an overlook of Labyrinth Falls, but random exploration is also enjoyable, with topos, GPS, and a compass being invaluable.
MINERAL GULCH
Rating: fairly strenuous hiking/backpacking.
Mineral Gulch is a wonderfully secluded little side canyon of the East Fork of the Virgin River (in BLM territory just east of Zion National Park). There are many possible approaches into the slot without any climbing aides. The upper sections are mostly dry wash with alternating open areas and dark narrow areas.  A stream appears near the confluence with the Virgin River, and the rest of the trek follows the same Barracks section of Parunuweap.
MEADOW CREEK
Meadow Creek (also in BLM territory) is a gulch that starts just to the west of Mineral Gulch and feeds into Mineral Gulch before the confluence with the East Fork. A good route to get away from the crowds, it would probably be uninteresting to most people and a good deal of bushwhacking is involved.
POVERTY TRAIL
Rating: fairly strenuous hiking.
Poverty Trail is a starting point that allows you to do the East Fork as a long painful day hike. "Poverty Trail" was originally an old cattle route, but now it's a 4x4 dirt road from Route 9 south into BLM land. A high-clearance vehicle can drive the first few miles of this route but should go no further than the edge of the White Cliffs. The final two miles are quite rugged with deep sand, and ATV's seem to rule the land here. This is the quickest, but admittedly the least interesting route into The Barracks.
ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS...		 Poverty Trail
PETROGLYPH CANYON
Petroglyph Canyon Rating: moderately easy hiking.
I debated for quite some time before finally deciding to post information on this "secret" area. After seeing many references to "Petroglyph Canyon" and after hearing people in Springdale direct random people to them, my thinking is that it is appropriate to acknowledge their existence. That being said, do not ask me where "Petroglyph Canyon" is; please ask a ranger at the Visitor Center for specific information. Please do not touch or lean against any rock art as this can do serious damage to these cultural treasures.
PHOTOS...


Continue to Virgin River Narrows ->


Hiking symbols used for descriptions:
a Zion classic ZION CLASSIC: a must-do hike if you want to see the best of Zion!
family-friendly FAMILY-FRIENDLY: a good choice for those with children who like to hike.
backpacking route BACKPACKING: a route enjoyable as a multi-day hike.
technical canyoneering or climbing route TECHNICAL: canyoneering or scrambling route requiring technical gear and climbing and/or rappelling experience. Not suitable for casual hikers.