Chinle Trail

The Chinle Trail leads through the Huber, Scoggins and Coalpits drainages of the Virgin River. It passes through a variety of desert terrain including arid benches, steep-walled canyons and sandy washes. This route is lower in elevation than most trails within Zion National Park. It is therefore best to hike the Chinle Trail in the spring, fall or winter, to avoid the deadly heat of summer.

Begin this hike at the trailhead north of Highway 9 approximately one mile east of Rockville. The track begins at an elevation close to 3,850 feet. From the trailhead follow the abandoned four-wheel drive road northwestward as it ascends toward Rockville Bench. The trail climbs 170 feet from the highway, looping eastward away from a small drainage. It turns westward and meets the drainage within a half mile of the trailhead. The roadway continues in a northwesterly direction after crossing the stream. In a half mile it climbs 100 feet and comes to another small drainage.

At this second stream crossing the trail enters the National Park and continues climbing slowly. The trail crosses a level area north of the Rockville Bench then descends to Huber Wash. The track crosses Huber Wash three and a half miles from the trailhead. The path continues leading northward out of the drainage, entering a forested area known as the Petrified Forest. The trail ascends through the forest then over a relatively level area and into the Scoggins Wash drainage.

The Chinle Trail skirts the narrows of Scoggins Wash by making a wide meander north toward the head of the drainage. The trail crosses the wash then heads southwest paralleling the northern bank of the canyon. Approximately one and a half miles past the crossing of Scoggins Wash, the trail turns westward at a junction. The trail leading eastward at this junction is the Old Scoggins Stock Trail. It descends into the canyon.

Leaving Scoggins Wash the trail ascends slightly to cross the headlands between Scoggins Wash and Coalpits Wash. Turning northward around this ridge the track descends into Coalpits Wash. The trail reaches the floor of the drainage one and a half miles from the junction with the Old Scoggins Stock Trail.

Zion National Park, Zion NP , Springdale, UT, 84767-1099, Phone: 801-772-3256, zion_superintendent@nps.gov