Deertrap Mountain via South Buttress and Many Pools in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Deertrap Mountain via South Buttress and Many Pools Zion National Park, UT

Class 4 6.2 miles 1700 gain 4-6 hrs Shuttle Aug 30, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Deertrap Mountain via South Buttress and Many Pools GPX Track

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You can make this a loop rather than a shuttle (one-way) route by adding about 2 miles of road walking. I recommend a shuttle or hitching a ride because walking through the tunnel is a bit unsafe, though. Plus, people are friendly and I got picked up quickly.

This route ascends Deertrap Mountain via the South Buttress, a Class 4+ route that totally doesn't seem feasible, but absolutely works. Follow Upper Pine Creek Canyon for a while until you can see a slab on the left (west) side that brings you to higher ground. Head directly for Deertrap Mountain and ascend the Class 2+ slabs leading to the South Buttress. Once you get to a spot that clearly is a vertical cliff, keep to the left side of the ridge, and a lightly used trail will lead you on easy ground with a ton of exposure up to the saddle. At this point, you'll cross over the saddle and notice a knife edge behind you (what the trail avoided). The rest of the route continues up the right (east) side of Deertrap Mountain and quickly becomes Class 4, progressively getting more dangerous. A series of sandy ledges keeps you moving, with maybe four or five sections of obstacles, all are really fun and the rock feels pretty solid. There really ony seems to be one way, and it is fairly clear where you can't go. Note that the traverse along the east side of Deertrap Mountain goes for a while before you really make any upward progress. The final section takes you through prickly shrubs with some exposure five feet below the mesa's lip. Do a pull-up or whatever it takes to mantle onto the lip and you'll be on the mesa. Deertrap Mountain is a short walk and a quick Class 2 scramble to the north.

Once you take in the views of nearby Mountain of the Sun, Twin Brothers, and the East Temple, head north and pick up the East Mesa Trail. As you'll see from my map, I followed something that was closer to the rim for a while (is Google Maps wrong about the trail, or was there a second trail?) before I went complete off-trail to get to the canyon's head that leads to Many Pools. This Class 2+ canyon leads down in a sand wash. I was a bit concerned it would be overgrown and I'd be covered in scratches, but it's actually a pleasant bushwhack. Many Pools is an interesting section of this canyon where a bunch of potholes are linked in sucession, with a great Zion landscape as a backdrop. Head down the canyon back to the road and head back to your car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Deertrap Mountain
6921 ft
n/a rise

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Enter Pine Creek Canyon, Deertrap Mountain looming ahead.
Enter Pine Creek Canyon, Deertrap Mountain looming ahead.
Continue through Pine Creek and look for a good spot on the left to exit the canyon.
Continue through Pine Creek and look for a good spot on the left to exit the canyon.
Image 2 from gallery
Approaching the bowl beneath Deertrap Mountain.
Approaching the bowl beneath Deertrap Mountain.
Starting up.
Starting up.
Looking back.
Looking back.
Pretty steep sections of class 3 slab. East Temple in the background.
Pretty steep sections of class 3 slab. East Temple in the background.
Image 7 from gallery
Looking down the south buttress.
Looking down the south buttress.
The ridge turns into a knife edge. Keep left of the ridge once this happens.
The ridge turns into a knife edge. Keep left of the ridge once this happens.
Easy mountainside walk. Cross over to the right side of the knife edge once reaching the base of Deertrap Mountain. It will become clear.
Easy mountainside walk. Cross over to the right side of the knife edge once reaching the base of Deertrap Mountain. It will become clear.
On the right side of Deertrap Mountain, where the class 4 begins.
On the right side of Deertrap Mountain, where the class 4 begins.
Looking back from on the right (east) side of Deertrap Mountain.
Looking back from on the right (east) side of Deertrap Mountain.
A sketchy part. You can see the knife edge below, and sort of see the route I took up below.
A sketchy part. You can see the knife edge below, and sort of see the route I took up below.
Image 14 from gallery
More class 4 fun.
More class 4 fun.
Looking down even more class 4.
Looking down even more class 4.
A climactic pull up over a five foot ledge brings you to the plateau. This is looking down at the last bit of fun.
A climactic pull up over a five foot ledge brings you to the plateau. This is looking down at the last bit of fun.
On the plateau (the toe of Deertrap Mountain), looking toward the way I just scrambled up.
On the plateau (the toe of Deertrap Mountain), looking toward the way I just scrambled up.
From the plateau looking down at the Deertrap Mountain ridge and Upper Pine Creek Canyon below.
From the plateau looking down at the Deertrap Mountain ridge and Upper Pine Creek Canyon below.
Image 20 from gallery
Summit of Deertrap Mountain, Twin Brothers and the East Temple in the distance. The toe of Deertrap Mountain on the left.
Summit of Deertrap Mountain, Twin Brothers and the East Temple in the distance. The toe of Deertrap Mountain on the left.
Image 22 from gallery
Continuing north of Deertrap Mountain.
Continuing north of Deertrap Mountain.
Image 24 from gallery
Image 25 from gallery
A view of Deertrap Mountain's south buttress in front of East Temple.
A view of Deertrap Mountain's south buttress in front of East Temple.
Image 27 from gallery
Going off-trail to find the descent into Many Pools Canyon.
Going off-trail to find the descent into Many Pools Canyon.
Ah, there it is.
Ah, there it is.
Some easy bushwhacking and class 2+ obstacles.
Some easy bushwhacking and class 2+ obstacles.
Image 31 from gallery
Image 32 from gallery
The vegetated section eventually opens up to slickrock.
The vegetated section eventually opens up to slickrock.
Looking back up the canyon.
Looking back up the canyon.
Image 35 from gallery
Image 36 from gallery
Image 37 from gallery
Looking back, lots of mini pools.
Looking back, lots of mini pools.
Image 39 from gallery
Image 40 from gallery
Image 41 from gallery
Footprints, must be close to the road.
Footprints, must be close to the road.
Image 43 from gallery
Back at the road, looking up Many Pools Canyon before hitching a ride.
Back at the road, looking up Many Pools Canyon before hitching a ride.

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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!