Overview: The Chinle Trail follows dry washes and old jeep roads through a private subdivision for just over a mile, eventually reaching the NPS gate. From the gate, the trail narrows and meanders across the desert flats under the beautiful south face of Mount Kinesava toward intersections with a handful of drainages. Views in every direction are brilliant panoramas of open juniper forest in the foreground framed by awesome mountain ranges in the background.

Trailhead: From Springdale, follow SR 9 (Zion Park Boulevard) south out of town. Just past the Springdale Fruit Company, turn right, into the Anasazi Plateau subdivision. As you drive up the hill, keep a sharp eye out for a right turn over a steep rise (easy to miss). Take this right turn to find the large parking lot below. Park and follow the trail from the northeast corner of the lot.

Mileage:
6.8 miles (11.0 km), round-trip to intersection with Huber Wash
16.2 miles (26.0 km), round-trip to intersection with Coalpits/Scroggins Trail

Elevation Gain:
390 feet (119 meters) to Huber Wash
390 feet (119 meters) to Coalpits/Scroggins Trail

Approximate Hike Time:
3 - 5 hours, round-trip to Huber Wash
8 - 10 hours, round-trip to Coalpits/Scroggins Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Best Times of Day: During summer months, the midday temperatures on this trail make it nothing less than punishing. June through August, hike Chinle early in the morning (5 - 9 am), or late in the day (after 6pm). The trail is comfortable most of the day, October through April.

Best Times of Year: Late fall through early spring are great times to hike Chinle.

Crowds: No

Water Sources: There are no reliable water sources on the Chinle Trail.

Camping: The lower section of the Chinle (below Huber Wash, roughly) is closed to camping. The upper portion of the trail, however, enjoys an "open camping" designation; good camp spots abound here. Out of courtesy to other hikers, please camp at least 200 yards away from any trail or water source. Over-night backcountry permits are available at the Visitor's Center near Springdale.

Don’t Miss: Brilliant exposed purple, red, white, and green clay layers create a “Mojave Desert"-ish landscape at the foot of Mount Kinesava.

Special Notes: The Chinle and Coalpits/Scroggins Trails provide great routes for winter backpacking!