Trans Zion Trek

August 31 - September 1, 2012

Aaron and I just completed the Trans Zion Trek in Zion National Park (Utah).  According to online reviews, this hike is 48+ miles which is typically completed in about 5 days.  When I was planning a trip for us to Utah, I mentioned the Trans Zion Trek and immediately ruled it out, as we would only have about 3 days to spend in Zion.  Aaron, on the other hand, suggested that we complete the hike in 2 days.  Why not?  Please note that Aaron never read a single write-up or blog about the hike prior to attempting (and completing it!).

The Trans Zion Trek connects several of Zion's trails into one long route connecting two opposite corners of the park.  We parked our car at the East Rim trail head and booked a shuttle to Lee's Pass (western side of the park).  The trip planning was a little bit difficult.  We could not reserve our back country permits online, but rather needed to show up to Zion first thing in the morning to obtain permits (after waiting in a long line).  We also could not reserve the campground that we wanted, but had to hope for a permit that fit our trip.  While this may make for difficult trips for some, it was somewhat easy when we only needed to book one campground.  The park ranger (Mr. Drake) booked us the West Rim campground #9 (Sawmill Springs) which was just over halfway through the hike.  If anyone else is interested in the craziness of Trans Zion in 2 days, then I would recommend this campground.

Due to depending on a shuttle service (and waiting for OTHER people who were also using our shuttle), we did not start out on our trip until 11:00 AM on Friday.  We hiked ALL DAY until we arrived at our campground in the dark at approximately 10:00 PM.  After a full (and rather comfortable) night's sleep, we headed out at 8:00 AM to complete the West Rim and East Rim.  I am sad to admit that I had to drop out of the hike after the West Rim trail.  I expected a somewhat easy downhill day...and was faced with what is the West Rim of Zion.  Steep, knee-splitting, downhill MILES in about 100 degree weather.  I was ready to call it quits while Aaron was interested in heading on.

Our compromise was for me to take the majority of Aaron's pack (strapped onto the outside of my pack) while he ran/hiked the East Rim to our car.  I took a shuttle back to the main visitor's entrance and waited (panicked) until Aaron finished about 4 hours later.

I'm not sure how to explain the Trans Zion to others.  It was a BEAUTIFUL hike, but I will admit that we probably pushed it to complete it in 2 days.  We took way too few pictures (we were tired and in a hurry a lot of the time), but we really enjoyed the experience.  I think working hard towards a common goal helped bring Aaron and I closer together.  While some of our hikes cause us fatigue and bickering, I believe the Trans Zion brought us to an understanding that we didn't have before.  Maybe every couple should hike 2 hours in the pitch black with only headlamps and occasional lightning....

Section 1: La Verkin Creek Trail:  Lee's Pass to Hop Valley Trailhead - online indicates approximately 6.9 miles - our GPS suggested 7+ miles.

We got off to a rainy start, but ran the majority of this first section.

This sign suggests 6 miles...not realistic! 

Section 2: Hop Valley (To the Connector Trail Junction -- we actually hiked to the Hop Valley Trailhead and took a 20 minute break there...then connected back up with the Connector Trail).

This section of the trail is supposedly 6.6 miles.  Our GPS indicated 16 miles by the end of the Hop Valley Trail.  While we did get off trail for a little bit (a little difficulty with the signage in Hop Valley), this does not account for the excess in mileage.  We believe that the mileage is a little bit off.  Hop Valley was HOT, sunny, and filled with cows.  We did not stop for many pictures, as we were a little apprehensive of the cows.  Oddly, this was our second backpacking trip where we encountered cows in the middle of nowhere. At one point, two bulls were in the middle of the path and throwing around dirt.  We hobbled out of there as FAST as possible!

View from Hop Valley back towards Lee's Pass

Section 3: Connector Trail - approximately 4 miles

After Hop Valley, our GPS (on my iphone) was dead, so we started depending on maps/online reviews for the rest of our mileage.  We stopped at the Hop Valley trailhead to try to get all of the sand out of our shoes, reapply sunscreen, and REST for a little.  I think normal people stop their first day of the Trans Zion Trek in Hop Valley, but we were only about halfway done with our first day at this point.  On the Connector Trail, we crossed a road and then hiked through some wildflowers and rock formations.  This was a really pretty section of the trail, but I was a bit tired to really enjoy a lot of it.

Section 4: Wildcat Canyon (approximately 4.9 miles)

Wildcat Canyon was not the high point of our hike.  It was pretty, but it started getting dark and so Aaron and I started to hike with headlamps.  I have ran (rarely) with a headlamp, so it was not my first time using it, but it was my first time using it in the middle of nowhere with steep drop-offs to my right.  I am not sure what beautiful scenery we missed that night, but trooped on and made it to the West Rim Trailhead.  Once we arrived to the West Rim Trailhead, we had to hike about .7 miles to our campsite and .3 miles down to the actual camping area.  I have never been SO excited to make it to a campground!

At the start of the Wildcat Canyon Trail

 Day 2: West Rim and East Rim

People typically take one day to complete the West Rim and one day to complete the East Rim.  Some people who complete the Trans Zion Trek stop after the West Rim and take a shuttle back to their car at the main visitor's center.  When I initially checked out the mileage and elevation change, I did not see an issue with us finishing these trails in day 2.  I did not factor in my fatigue, weight of my pack, the temperature, etc.

I completed the West Rim trail and then took the majority of Aaron's weight so that he could go on without me to complete the East Rim trail.  I have been told that the East Rim trail was gorgeous, but that I made the right decision about calling it quits after the West Rim.  I am sad to say that we did not take many pictures during some of the most beautiful sections of the hike.  We were tired, dehydrated, etc.

Section 5: West Rim Trail - Approximately 14.2 miles

This section started from our campground and lasted until about 3PM that afternoon.  We saw some great views (rivaled the Grand Canyon) and even ran into the ranger who helped us book the hike the prior morning.

View of our campground - Sawmill Springs - West Rim #9

The marker for our campground - start of day 2!

Early morning light

View into Zion Canyon from West Rim Trail

Zion Canyon

Starting down Zion Canyon

We hiked down this massive formation, only to find out we still had to hike down even MORE!

Section 6: East Rim Trail (approximately 9.8 miles)

To truly hike the entire Trans Zion trail, you are supposed to hike the main canyon road north to the Weeping Rock Trailhead.  I did not realize this until we were most of the way through the West Rim trail.  Hike along the road with only the buses?  This seemed ridiculous.  Plus, I was extremely tired.  Aaron and I decided that it would be best for me to call it quits while he took the bus to the Weeping Rock Trailhead to complete the last 10 miles.  I think he wanted to 1 - complete the trail & 2 - get the car so that we didn't have to pay for a second shuttle.  I chilled (panicked) at the visitor's station until Aaron arrived back.  He reported a very difficult section of the hike (he indicated it was as difficult as the Grand Canyon), but he met some nice people along the way and was back to me within about 4 hours of hiking time.

Aaron, upon finishing the Trans Zion Trek in TWO DAYS!

If I could go back and plan the trip again, I'm not sure if I would push the trip out into a longer hike.  Regardless, I think we would have gotten tired.  Two days later, our sore muscles are recovered and we are already anticipating our next trip.  We learn a lot each hike and have many more ideas for how to pack better/lighter for our next trip.  I learned that packing ONLY almonds & dried fruit is not enough to sustain two people for two days (may have been enough calories, but I could not stomach any more almonds after the first day!).  Aaron decided that it was stupid that we did not pack salt tablets.  Even though we pushed ourselves to eat and drink as much as possible, we ended the hike fatigued, low on calories, and dehydrated.    We will aim for doing better next time!

I would love to be able to return to Zion.  Hiking the Virgin River Narrows or the Subway looks amazing.  While we completed the majority of the hike DOWN from Angel's Landing, I think it would be pretty awesome to hike out to Angel's Landing (though the height/drop-off kind of terrifies me!).  Zion is only 7 hours away from us & hopefully we'll make it back while we're in Arizona for the next couple of years.