See a Little Bit of Everything in the Desert Section:
Have you ever wanted to hike the Chinle Trail, Huber Wash, Scoggins Wash, and Coalpits Wash all in one day but you didn't think it was possible? Don't you wish you could do a loop hike that doesn't involve backtracking over scenery that you have already seen? Are you tired of dishwasher spots on your glasses? Well, your problems have just been solved because this hiking route is just what you have been looking for!
I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but after hiking the Chinle Trail and several of the drainages in the desert section of Zion, I realized that you could easily piece together the best sections into one nice long day hike. Why is this route cool? 1) You get to see the best parts of all three washes in the desert section; 2) You get to hike the Chinle Trail without having to do the awkard start in a residential community; and 3) This is a loop hike, so you don't need to backtrack or use a carspot.
The "Best of the Desert" hike is roughly 11.5 miles and could take 7-10 hours to complete and can broken down into several sections. Be sure to bring map/GPS/compass to aid in navigation; bring plenty of water and allow plenty of time.
Huber Wash to the Chinle Trail:
Less than a mile west of the little town of Rockville, Route 9 crosses over Huber Wash--a road sign identifies the drainage. Roughly a quarter mile to the east is a large pull-off area with a gated dirt road to the north. Park beside the road and hike the dirt road north into BLM land past the power lines and grid. At the end of the road, look for an obvious path of use down into the wash.
Once in the wash, you will soon pass through the NPS boundary hiker's gate. The wash is mostly open and dry and navigation and hiking are fairly easy, but be prepared for occasional sections of mud, especially if there have been recent rains. The wash wanders back and forth with several turns until soon enough, the Rockville Bench and Petrified Forest Bench close in on both sides and the wash narrows.
After only an hour of hiking, you will reach an impassible dryfall with pieces of a petrified logjam in the shelf above to the east. Go back several hundred feet downstream from the dryfall and look for a climb-out spot on the west side of the wash. Scramble up to a fairly overgrown bench with many interesting sandstone formations and work your way to the cliff wall under the Petrified Forest Bench.
Follow the wall west until it heads into a secluded little corner where there is a fairly easy and unexposed Class 3 scramble up to the top. Once on top, follow the rim of upper Huber Wash to join up with the Chinle Trail. Follow the well-defined Chinle Trail north through the Petrified Forest bench for two miles until it crosses over Scoggins Wash.
Scoggins Wash and the Old Scoggins Stock Trail:
As the Chinle Trail crosses over Scoggins Wash, leave the trail and follow Scoggins Wash downstream as it turns from flat to a more scenic wash with some (possible) flowing water. As the wash deepens, you will have to navigate around several boulder obstacles, but nothing should be too significant.
As the wash begins to open up and lose its charm, look for the Old Scoggins Stock Trail to the right (west). Follow it back up to the top of the bench where it joins with the Chinle Trail.
Chinle Trail (again) and Coalpits Wash:
Back on the Chinle Trail, follow it northwest as it gives views down into Coalpits Wash and then eventually heads down and ends at the junction with Coalpits Wash.
Follow Coalpits Wash downstream. You will pass Coalpits Spring and the wash will narrow with solid rock walls on both sides. Hiking through the next section of canyon may be slower as boulders litter the streambed. While there are no major obstacles that would prevent travel, you may spend a fair amount of time finding the easiest way around various boulders and pools.
By the junction of Scoggins Wash, the canyon opens up and the going gets easier. Hike the banks of the stream south to the border of the park and Route 9.
Hike along Route 9:
Now it's time to pay the piper and hike along Route 9 east for roughly 1.3 miles to return to Huber Wash and pick up your vehicle. Not going to lie, this part of the hike isn't fun, but walking the road for less than half an hour is a small price to pay to see the rest of the hike. Now wasn't that fun?
Joe's Spin:
This hike might not be for everybody, but I loved doing this hike as it's a great workout and it hits most of the interesting landmarks in the desert section of Zion. As with all hikes in the desert section, this could be brutally hot during the summer months, so save this for the cooler seasons or a cloudy/rainy day.
