Upper Pine Creek Wash Hike

Upper Pine Creek is an informal out-and-back through an open sandstone wash, about 2.8 miles round trip on the mapped itinerary. Allow 2–4 hours. The line follows the wash about 1.4 miles to a flexible turnaround and back; there is no marked trail or fixed end. Expect about 400 feet of net climb on this version. Choose it for time in a quiet canyon, not for a summit or overlook.

A use path drops from Route 9 to sandy streambed and slickrock; the first roughly 0.7 mile is easy going. A boulder choke ends at a tall sandy slope. Back out of that section and use the short slickrock scramble on the west side to reach the upper drywash rather than climbing the slope. Farther up, brush and scrambling increase. Turn around while you can still reverse every move comfortably. The separate, exposed Overlooked Peak scramble adds about 1.1 miles and is not part of this hike.

This is the open Upper Pine Creek drainage, distinct from the technical Pine Creek canyoneering route near the tunnel bridge. Sand gives way to slickrock shelves and boulders between steep sandstone walls; a small fracture-line mini-canyon and a notably flat stretch of streambed are details to watch for. The route has no single destination, and the upper section becomes less straightforward as it grows over.

Use one of the small roadside pull-offs near the Upper Pine Creek crossing, just east of Canyon Overlook. Spaces are limited; the nearby Canyon Overlook lot is often busy, and the crossing itself is not a formal trailhead. Walk along Route 9 carefully to find the use path. This route follows a dry wash: flash floods can arrive from storms miles away, even under clear skies. Check Zion’s flash-flood potential and choose another plan when it is rated Possible or higher. Dogs are not allowed on Zion trails other than Pa’rus, so leave them off this route.