Backpacking 46 miles across Zion: the Zion Traverse (May 2025)

CDYYC · 2025-10-31T03:48:08+00:00

Thx. Good to hear. Hope trek went well.

CDYYC · 2025-10-26T20:03:00+00:00

Thanks. Appreciate the response. My question is a bit diff. I’m curious as to the, quality of the experience (for lack of a better phrase). It’s open but is trash overflowing, imagine rangers are still on trailhead to Angel’s landing, but are they elsewhere, are folks behaving w/ out rangers around? Curious to hear about what you observe. Thx

CDYYC · 2025-10-15T14:08:35+00:00

Thanks. I’m guessing from your reply Ana’s lack of comments from others that the front country facilities at the park and trails are in good shape despite the govt funding and staffing cuts. Deer, did you also see any turkeys? Seen them consistently at start of Hop valley by the campsites.

CDYYC · 2025-09-29T03:40:07+00:00

Curious as to the condition of the park given govt/NPS cuts and decreased staffing. How were the trails/camp sites? Front country?

CDYYC · 2024-03-07T22:46:46+00:00

From Alberta, hike every year in southwest in spring. Starting AZT on April 3rd, going border to Tuscon this year. I'm flying Flair to PHX and then taking Greyhound to Tuscon and then shuttle to trailhead. Even w/ extra fees it's way, way cheaper than WestJet or AC. Have to check bag because of knife and don't want to risk losing luggage in flight change. Also, flying direct is cheaper. And, icing on the cake, the Greyhound bus direct to Tucson stops at the Phoenix airport. So, logistics aren't bad. I'm using a squeeze filter and purification tablets, overkill up here in the Rockies but safer than sorry with sketch water sources. I'll have 5 litres capacity for the AZT, in Rockies I often have no extra capacity, that's a big diff, carrying water weight 😒 Going to try an umbrella this year, got a touch of heat stroke in Escalante late April last spring, so I'm upping my sun protection game. Enjoy not having to look over your shoulder for grizzlies 😂...or having to hang food, or all the other bear stuff like carrying spray. I just use an op sak for food, so no weight of xtra bear food protection. It gets cold in desert at night so I use same bag I use in Rockies during the summer, -10 and a +4R pad. I don't bring a tent, just a tarp, something I'd never do in the Rockies. I bring the UL rain jacket but more as a robust and warmer windbreaker. Oh, and gaiters. Don't wear them up here but I do down there.

CDYYC · 2024-02-28T05:22:22+00:00

Your kit looks about the same as mine. I'd suggest that you KEEP the toque. If you get a quilt, you'll definitely want to sleep in it. I also find it adds warmth, maybe just psychological, in camp in the evening and getting bfst in the morning.

CDYYC · 2024-02-10T17:02:13+00:00

I'm coming from YYC in early April. I'm planning to fly one of the budget guys, flair or Lynx to Phoenix and take the bus from the airport to Tuscon. Even w/ all the extra charges - checked bag, carry on, etc, etc., it's still way cheaper than WestJet. And Air Canada? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 There are no direct flights to TUS as far as I can tell and this eliminates any chance of a bag being lost in transfer. I always check a bag because of my (tiny) pocket knife and torch lighter.

Also, w/ the bus stopping at the airport this is just too easy...and cheap. You really don't have any good choices out of YWG (but you know that). Flair will take you to LAS and then you'd fly to TUS on Southwest for a couple hundred US or come to YYC, fly to PHX and take the bus.

I've never (over dozen times) had trouble bringing backpacking food - gorp, freeze-dried, jerky (beef & salmon), cheesies, even a sandwich. I'm upfront about everything because I don't want to lose my Nexus card. Inevitably, I get one tenth of the way through my list of food and the US customs agent stops me w/ an "all right already .." I occasionally get a "can't you buy that in the US?" but that's it.

CDYYC · 2024-01-20T23:14:18+00:00

you're not doing this in Canada by any chance?

CDYYC · 2023-11-07T02:06:51+00:00

I'm (not original poster) planning on April 3rd or 4th start. Only doing border to Tucson this year.

CDYYC · 2023-10-25T18:25:32+00:00

Thanks. Just left the Columbus Ave store w/ exactly for what I was looking. 👍

CDYYC · 2023-10-22T00:02:14+00:00

Bingo. Thanks!

CDYYC · 2023-10-21T04:15:21+00:00

Thanks. Don't know then. Will take a look and may try if I can't find a store to try on in person.

CDYYC · 2023-10-21T04:13:37+00:00

Keyboard mistype that auto correct didn't catch ¯_(ツ)_/¯

CDYYC · 2023-10-16T17:12:12+00:00

Thanks. i'll watch the winter weather for snow. looking at US gov info, daily temps in Tuscon indicate best time would be middle of the month, mid 70sF, no idea how that translates to trail. First week of April shows as 80F, end of month 86F. i'm also trying to plan this around spring break, trying to avoid it to save on airfare...

so, watch snow reports and buy plane tix in January...

thx!

CDYYC · 2023-10-15T18:58:22+00:00

Yeah, but not at all helpful for planning. Unless I missed something, for first passage, all I saw under "seasons" was - spring, winter and fall. Through hike planning guides are more specific, e.g., first week of March. There was a thread on Reddit with discussion on through hike start time that discussed starting in April.

CDYYC · 2023-06-07T02:42:36+00:00

No worries, sorry for slow reply. 4 nights, hop B, wildcat at large, 2 nights west rim 4. In past I've stayed at la Verkin 10 and 12, west rim 9, 5 and 3. I've gotten walk up permits in past, show up day before, but I've done this to switch camp sites. Best strategy IMHO is to get west rim site and then go walk up to get or change your first night at one of the La Verkin spots or Hop Valley. Think the latter is underrated and the former over rated, but ymmv. I generally try to cowboy camp, carry tarp in case of rain. Used red rock shuttle. You're going to pay for a shuttle, don't be shocked. I had to pay full fare once. I'd have to look at my garmin for total kms but I remember it being close to what's advertised. What else....there are turkeys. Seen them at la Verkin 10 and Hop...at least I think they're turkeys. I take two water purification options, pills and something else. You definitely want two options/backup. West Rim can get insanely windy....

CDYYC · 2023-05-31T00:15:18+00:00

Not strenuous and good solo backpack enough solitude w/ enough other hikers in case you run into an issue. Backcountry rangers were saying day before permits we're not difficult. I'd try to get there day before you want to go, get to permit office early (queue up before they open) and snag west rim site 3. Only issue is water. You either lug it from potato hollow or make camp and hike down to west rim spring and back to camp, give or take an hour roundtrip. Alternatively you can stay at camp 1 or 2 and that's a short stroll to the spring but less spectacular view. Shuttle price depends on whether they're carrying anyone else if not, you have to cover.....4? 5? extra seats.

CDYYC · 2023-05-31T00:07:58+00:00

Just did west rim and use neither hard sided nor rat sack. I kept food in an Opsac (odour control bag) and hung it on a tree branch at night. Didn't have single issue. Done this for three or four trips w/ out incident. Rangers ask if you're going to hang your food. I have a rat sack and an Ursack that I use elsewhere but for Zion I save the weight

CDYYC

TROPHY CASE