Crater Hill to Coalpits Wash

Crater Hill to Coalpits Wash is a 4.6-mile round-trip out-and-back from Zion’s western boundary to upper Coalpits Wash, at the end of the Chinle Trail. The first stretch is a faint, unofficial use path across open low desert; it eventually drops into a sandy wash and a boulder-strewn junction. Allow about 3–5 hours. This one suits hikers comfortable navigating without a signed tread. The road access is outside the park, and public access there has not been confirmed, so verify it before setting out.

From the Crater Hill Trailhead, the route heads east and descends gradually along the contours. The faint path is easy to lose, so an offline map or GPS track is useful. Around a mile in, the valley bends south and the wash becomes sandier and easier to follow. The walk is exposed desert rather than a maintained trail corridor; there are no marked junctions to guide you.

Near the larger Coalpits Wash, boulders fill the small wash; expect to step around them or make a short scramble down. The route reaches the wash near Campsite 5, across from the marker at the end of the Chinle Trail. Coal Pits Spring is about five minutes downstream, but its water quality is not established, so don’t count on it as drinking water.

Crater Hill is a volcanic cone that erupted about 120,000 years ago. Its lava flow dammed the Virgin River and formed a lake that may once have reached as far up Zion Canyon as Canyon Junction. Look back toward the hill from the wash and you’re looking at the source of a landscape that briefly changed the course of the river.

Dalton Wash Road is rough dirt outside the park, with two steep, exposed climbs and ranch properties nearby. The turnoff sequence leads to the boundary trailhead above the road; parking capacity is not documented. Keep to the road and do not enter private property. The low desert can be punishing in hot weather, so cooler months are a better fit. The National Park Service requires permits for overnight trips in this area, and pets are not allowed on the National Park Service’s Southwest Desert trails.