This hike is not in any of the guidebooks and it takes either local knowledge or some careful planning and exploration to link up a route.   Almost all of the route is on slickrock in the southeast side of Zion National Park with no trail markers whatsoever.

We have been exploring the slickrock terraces, hills, ridges, and canyons on the east side of Zion pas the Mt. Carmel Tunnel.   There are not many parking spots east of the tunnel, but if we get an early start, a few spots are available.   We have scrambled up the rock on the Many Pools route, Checkerboard Mesa, Misery Canyon, the East Temple Traverse, and some other shorter sections, but this time we had a guide (Deborah) to lead us on an unmarked scramble.

We parked at the small tunnel, 1.5 miles east of the large tunnel and descended into the Clear Creek Canyon Wash and followed it down to the bottom of a ramp leading south into the large open slickrock area between the East Fork and Highway 9.   Following ramps, ledges, and friction slopes we worked our way south, down to the edge of the plateau overlooking the Parunaweap Canyon.

Many routes choices are possible, but that’s where local knowledge helps to create a loop, traversing and winding along ridges and hills in a large loop. We visited a slot canyon, found fossilized bones, marveled at stratified layers, climbed to viewpoints and saw some local wildlife

Our guide, Deborah and Dianne in the slot

Most of the route is within a zone of red Navajo sandstone layers, remnants of ancient sand dunes.

It would be possible to make up your own route in this area, but we were guided by Deborah who remembered the best route.   We followed, enjoying every step.

The scenery at this elevation in Zion is unmatched.

This was our favorite hike of 2014, scrambling on slickrock for 11.5km over 5 hours of careful hiking.