Bridge Mountain and Crawford Arch in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Bridge Mountain and Crawford Arch Zion National Park, UT

Class 5 9.4 miles 3900 gain 8-11 hrs Out + Back Oct 4, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Bridge Mountain and Crawford Arch GPX Track

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2021 Update: We used another route up Bridge Mountain that makes accessing the summit a lot more safe (while of course still not actually safe). I kept this trip report up for reference and for Crawford Arch, but I highly recommend not doing this overly dangerous and exposed route and instead use my new Bridge Mountain trip report. That trip report also describes the route a bit better.

This hike is rough, but incredible, and also really dangerous and scary. But still incredible. Not only are there no signs of human life (the Bridge Mountain summit register read that the previous visitors were over a year and a half ago), the hike itself shows a side of Zion National Park that extremely few get to experience. Most of the day is a scramble between Class 2 and low Class 5, and though route-finding is fairly easy using the massive mountain landmarks, it still takes a much longer amount of time than expected to complete.

Shawn and I started a bit too late, but we really didn't expect to be out in the backcountry until after dark. The hike just didn't seem as long or arduous on our paper plans as it did in practice. After hiking through Gifford Canyon and up to the saddle overlooking the canyon separating Destination Peak from Gifford Peak, we were psyched, realizing there was a lot of amazing stuff ahead of us. The looming mountains of orange and white banded colors pushed us on. After spotting mountain lion tracks that paralleled our route for a couple of miles, Bridge Mountain came into view.

We continued first to the north toward Crawford Arch, which required getting to a notch, then drop down from the notch to the north, then turning left to reach a chimney. This chimney proved to be low 5th class climbing (we didn't have ropes or gear, nor would we have known how to use said gear), so we took a half hour to plot our route and committed to the few moves. A short side-hilling hike above Springdale after emerging from a crack in the ground led to Crawford Arch. The arch was incredibly cool. Normally civilization bums me out on a hike, but the fact that it took so much effort to get to where we were, and that it was the only non-technical climbing route to get there gave me an eerie sense of how remote we truly were, despite the fact that we could see buildings thousands of feet below.

After the arch, we backtracked and got to the southeastern approach to Bridge Mountain. It was getting pretty late, but we started up anyway. Some 3rd class moves greeted us early on as we made our way up a steep slab, which quickly turned into terrifying slabby friction moves with a few hundred feet of nothing but air below us. We then traversed horrifying ledges on loose sandstone. Then a super exposed 4th class almost stopped us (well mostly just me – Shawn totally has a better head for this kind of crap, or just a lack of sense for self-preservation). This was likely the silliest thing I've ever done in my life. What followed was a section of dirty, loose rock on the side of the cliff, but the summit was so close, and so tempting. And we made it. Holy crap.

My GPS got messed up around Crawford Arch and Bridge Mountain, so I had to draw in a line, so it might be a quite a bit off, but should still give you an idea where to go.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bridge Mountain
6803 ft
1123 rise

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Looking back at the trailhead after starting the quick scramble into Gifford Canyon.
Looking back at the trailhead after starting the quick scramble into Gifford Canyon.
Gifford Canyon.
Gifford Canyon.
Image 2 from gallery
The scramble up the west side of Gifford Canyon toward the Bowl.
The scramble up the west side of Gifford Canyon toward the Bowl.
Shawn scrambling a little as we attempt to route-find up the slope.
Shawn scrambling a little as we attempt to route-find up the slope.
The Bowl.
The Bowl.
Looking into the Bow from a few feet from the saddle.
Looking into the Bow from a few feet from the saddle.
The saddle overlooking the canyon we'd be descending into.
The saddle overlooking the canyon we'd be descending into.
Overlook into the canyon. The way down is farther along the cliff edge to the right.
Overlook into the canyon. The way down is farther along the cliff edge to the right.
Looking up at Destination Peak. We had to pull a Class 3 move to get over some ledges, then took a nice ramp down into the canyon.
Looking up at Destination Peak. We had to pull a Class 3 move to get over some ledges, then took a nice ramp down into the canyon.
Within canyon.
Within canyon.
Mountain lion tracks! Definitely super fresh.
Mountain lion tracks! Definitely super fresh.
Image 12 from gallery
Exiting the canyon and following Hepworth Wash toward Bridge Mountain.
Exiting the canyon and following Hepworth Wash toward Bridge Mountain.
Bridge Mountain appears in the distance.
Bridge Mountain appears in the distance.
A cool rock face to the right.
A cool rock face to the right.
Bridge Mountain to the left (a bit of lens distortion, oops). First we wanted to go to Crawford Arch. To get there, head to the notch on the right (in this picture, it is just to the right of the biggest pine tree).
Bridge Mountain to the left (a bit of lens distortion, oops). First we wanted to go to Crawford Arch. To get there, head to the notch on the right (in this picture, it is just to the right of the biggest pine tree).
The Notch to the northeast of Bridge Mountain leading toward Crawford Arch.
The Notch to the northeast of Bridge Mountain leading toward Crawford Arch.
Looking back down the Notch, the ascent we just came up.
Looking back down the Notch, the ascent we just came up.
Descend a bit. This is the other side of the Notch.
Descend a bit. This is the other side of the Notch.
Shawn scrambling down the Notch.
Shawn scrambling down the Notch.
Overlooking the road into Zion Canyon. Turn left around here to get to the chimney.
Overlooking the road into Zion Canyon. Turn left around here to get to the chimney.
Shawn trying to figure out the best way up the chimney.
Shawn trying to figure out the best way up the chimney.
After a half hour, we figured out a route.
After a half hour, we figured out a route.
Definitely low fifth class, but big holds. We jammed our bodies into the rock in every possible spot.
Definitely low fifth class, but big holds. We jammed our bodies into the rock in every possible spot.
Emerging from the little crevice after the chimney.
Emerging from the little crevice after the chimney.
Photo by Shawn of me also coming out of the rock crack.
Photo by Shawn of me also coming out of the rock crack.
A view after emerging from the crack from the chimney scramble. That's the main Zion National Park canyon.
A view after emerging from the crack from the chimney scramble. That's the main Zion National Park canyon.
Photo by Shawn of me walking toward Crawford Arch.
Photo by Shawn of me walking toward Crawford Arch.
Crawford Arch!
Crawford Arch!
Definitely way cooler than we thought it would be. So thin and with no people to see it.
Definitely way cooler than we thought it would be. So thin and with no people to see it.
Image 31 from gallery
Image 32 from gallery
Image 33 from gallery
After leaving Crawford Arch and backtracking, we headed to the southeastern canyon at the base of Bridge Mountain.
After leaving Crawford Arch and backtracking, we headed to the southeastern canyon at the base of Bridge Mountain.
Looking up at Bridge Mountain. Our route wasn't totally clear just yet.
Looking up at Bridge Mountain. Our route wasn't totally clear just yet.
The slabby 2nd class ascent that quickly turned 3rd class.
The slabby 2nd class ascent that quickly turned 3rd class.
Shawn scrambling.
Shawn scrambling.
Looking back down the gully on Bridge Mountain.
Looking back down the gully on Bridge Mountain.
Photo by Shawn of me on the first tough scramble section.
Photo by Shawn of me on the first tough scramble section.
The orange rock slowly turned to white rock, and the scrambling quickly got much more serious. This was our last nice view before we started questioning our summit.
The orange rock slowly turned to white rock, and the scrambling quickly got much more serious. This was our last nice view before we started questioning our summit.
The first scary traverse. It's very exposed and has a bit of sand on the surface.
The first scary traverse. It's very exposed and has a bit of sand on the surface.
The second scary traverse. It's a lot less dangerous and has a nice lip the whole way.
The second scary traverse. It's a lot less dangerous and has a nice lip the whole way.
Photo by Shawn of me finishing up the second scary traverse.
Photo by Shawn of me finishing up the second scary traverse.
Shawn taking in the views along the second traverse.
Shawn taking in the views along the second traverse.
The last bit of the second traverse before getting to the serious 4th-5th class section.
The last bit of the second traverse before getting to the serious 4th-5th class section.
Me looking down at Shawn as he comes up the hard scramble.
Me looking down at Shawn as he comes up the hard scramble.
Shawn looking over an exposed section after finishing the second traverse.
Shawn looking over an exposed section after finishing the second traverse.
Photo by Shawn of me slowly making my way up. Yes, it's very exposed.
Photo by Shawn of me slowly making my way up. Yes, it's very exposed.
Me finishing up the 4th class exposed climb.
Me finishing up the 4th class exposed climb.
The last scary section. I'm smiling with fear, and also likely coming back down to rethink what I was doing.
The last scary section. I'm smiling with fear, and also likely coming back down to rethink what I was doing.
After the white rock scrambles, the rock turns to yellow bands, and it's back to easier 2nd class.
After the white rock scrambles, the rock turns to yellow bands, and it's back to easier 2nd class.
Image 52 from gallery
Last approach to the Bridge Mountain summit.
Last approach to the Bridge Mountain summit.
Shawn at the summit
Shawn at the summit
Overlooking Zion Canyon (north) from the Bridge Mountain summit.
Overlooking Zion Canyon (north) from the Bridge Mountain summit.
Looking south from the summit.
Looking south from the summit.
Photo by Shawn of me enjoying the views in the wind. ;)
Photo by Shawn of me enjoying the views in the wind. ;)
The last people to sign the summit register in a year and a half.
The last people to sign the summit register in a year and a half.
After slowly making our way back down, we checked out Bridge Mountain on the way back. It looks a lot less intense from the ground.
After slowly making our way back down, we checked out Bridge Mountain on the way back. It looks a lot less intense from the ground.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!