Deertrap Mountain Trail

Deertrap Mountain Trail is a 10.8-mile out-and-back from Stave Spring Trailhead to the far end of the rim trail above Zion Canyon. You climb to the East Rim plateau, cross a string of small rises, and finish with about half a mile along an exposed rim. The payoff is a high view over Angels Landing, Observation Point, Emerald Pools, and the Narrows. Choose it for a full day and a different angle on the canyon; this isn't a quick summit stroll.

Plan on about five hours on foot, or four to six if you stop often or move slowly. That distance includes the full walk along the rim on the way out and back.

Start at Stave Spring Trailhead, then follow Stave Spring Trail to the East Rim junction and turn toward Deertrap. The last approach uses dirt roads off North Fork Road that call for high-clearance four-wheel drive, and winter access can be unpredictable. The parking corral is small, so space is limited.

Stave Spring is a pipe at the junction, not a scenic stop. Its water needs treatment, so don't plan on a clean refill for this day hike. At the Cable Mountain branch, keep on Deertrap; Cable Mountain is a separate destination.

On the approach, ponderosa forest gives way to the high plateau, where sandstone cliffs rise around the route. Expect small dips and repeated short climbs rather than one long ascent. The Deertrap segment has about 700 feet of elevation change; the Stave Spring and East Rim approaches add their own climbing and descending. The path can be overgrown in summer, so some brushy stretches may feel slower. West Temple comes into view after the Cable Mountain junction; from there, stay on Deertrap toward the canyon rim.

Near the end, the route climbs a small mesa, then drops more steeply before reaching the canyon edge. The last half mile follows the rim to the viewpoint, with dramatic drops along the way. This is the most exposed part of the hike; give the edge room, especially when stopping for photos.

From the rim, look across Zion Canyon for Angels Landing, Observation Point, Emerald Pools, and the Narrows. Mountain of the Sun sits in front of the East and West Temples; keeping it in the foreground gives a phone photo some depth and scale.

Cable Mountain is a separate out-and-back from the same Stave Spring access, about 7 miles round trip. It ends at the historic cableworks on the canyon rim and is a lower-mileage choice if that piece of Zion history interests you more than Deertrap's longer traverse. Keep the two outings distinct: Deertrap continues beyond the branch to its own rim viewpoints.

Pets aren't allowed on Zion's wilderness trails. Overnight camping requires a wilderness permit. There is no confirmed potable water at the trailhead; the spring pipe's water must be treated. For a long day this remote, bring your drinking water from outside the trail area rather than counting on a source along the route.