Coalpits Wash Trail

Overview

If you want real Zion solitude without lottery permits, Coalpits Wash delivers a quiet, backcountry-feeling ramble through a living desert corridor. It’s an out-and-back up a seasonal creek with cottonwoods, reeds, and wildflowers, plus colorful canyon walls that reveal the park’s layered sedimentary story. Expect water underfoot, light scrambling, and some route-finding. The full push to the upper waterfalls is about 16 miles round trip with roughly 1,050 feet of total gain—strenuous for distance and terrain—though many hikers turn around earlier for a more moderate day.

Route and Highlights

From a small pullout on UT‑9, the path drops into the wash. Social paths come and go; when in doubt, stay in the wash. Around 1.7–2.0 miles, reach the confluence where Coalpits (left/west) meets Scoggins (right/east). At roughly 3.5 miles, look for Coalpits Spring in a shaded undercut (it can be a trickle or dry depending on season) and the nearby Chinle Trail junction. About 5.6 miles in, you’ll find old oil‑well ruins—an excellent day-hike turnaround and a quirky nod to the area’s history (early settlers mistook black basalt streaks for coal, hence the name). Press on to ~7.6 miles for a short canyon-like section with three small waterfalls and mild scrambling—typically the “full” turnaround for the 16‑mile outing.

Scenery and Geology

This is the lush side of Zion’s desert: cottonwoods along a usually present flow, pockets of reeds and seasonal wildflowers, and big views toward the Towers of the Virgin. The canyon walls showcase Zion’s classic sedimentary layers, including the massive Navajo Sandstone formed from ancient dunes, with cross-bedded patterns telling a wind-blown Jurassic story.

Best Time to Hike

Prime season is early fall through late spring. It’s a great winter objective when higher trails are snowy, but daylight is short—start early. Summer is a poor choice here: low elevation, full sun, and heat exposure make the long wash walk punishing. After storms, expect mud and higher flows.

Permits and Variations

No wilderness permit is needed for day hiking. For overnights, you’ll need a wilderness permit and must use designated sites in the Southwest Desert/Chinle corridor. A popular variation is a lollipop linking Coalpits Wash to the Chinle Trail and returning down Scoggins Wash, offering similar solitude and broad desert views.

Safety and Water

Water is often present, and you should plan to get your feet wet. Do not rely on flow—carry what you need and filter anything you collect. Watch for flash-flood potential, especially if storms are in the forecast, and remember the trailhead area sits in a floodplain. The scramble near the waterfalls can be slippery; quicksand pockets may form around the second fall. Rattlesnakes are possible, and occasional mountain lion sign has been reported. Navigation is mild but real—download an offline map and follow the wash when paths fade. There are no toilets; pack out all waste.

Access and Parking

The trailhead is on the north side of UT‑9, about 2.7 miles west of Rockville or 6.7 miles east of Virgin. There’s a small signed pullout; don’t park or hike here if storms threaten due to flooding risk.

Who It’s For

Hikers who value solitude, don’t mind wet feet and some route-finding, and want a quieter, more contemplative slice of Zion will love this. If you prefer big, concentrated thrills, the classic Zion Canyon hikes may be a better fit, but for a peaceful desert creek with real history and a few playful scrambles, Coalpits is an underrated gem.