Destination Peak in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Destination Peak Zion National Park, UT

Class 4 5.8 miles 2200 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back May 6, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Destination Peak serves as a nice introduction to the Zion backcountry. It's still quite an undertaking for anyone who hasn't spent a lot of time route-finding through this kind of terrain. The whole hike is off-trail and requires lots of Class 2/3 scrambling and a short section of Class 4. I did Destination Peak for my first time in 2015, when I instantly in love with Zion's backcountry. Today I revisited with my friend Yoshi who has an equal love for Zion, though that's debatable 😉

We set out to the south within Gifford Canyon. To access it, a social trail leads into the Pine Creek drainage, then a slab leads up to another social trail that wraps into Gifford Canyon. The going is straightforward for a mile or so once within the canyon, some light Class 2 and sandy walking accompanied by the ever-changing detritus caused by flash floods. The west side of the canyon starts off by being unclimbable, but slowly the cliffs give way to more mellow slickrock terrain. The goal is to ascend the slickrock to a pretty bowl above, but there's some tricky route-finding. The bowl is obvious and massive once it's in view. Leaving Gifford Canyon in order to reach the bowl has always been an inconsistent endeavor for me, but after doing this approach for the millionth time, I finally think I managed to find the most efficient option.

After starting out of Gifford Canyon for the first few hundred feet on Class 2/3 pleasant slickrock, we found the lightly cairned route. I recommend ascending to the headwall far above, where a social trail leads south along the cliff face. The social trail then wraps up through a weakness in the cliffs and then around into the bowl I mentioned before. The trail becomes difficult to locate here since there's a combination of slickrock and deviating route options. Once within the slickrock bowl, we kept to the right on slabs and ascended Class 2/3 slickrock to the sandy ridge above. This sandy ridge is the same landmark used for accessing peaks like Bridge MountainRoof Peak, etc. From here we could clearly see Destination Peak ahead on the right.

We dropped west from the sandy ridge in order to reach the base of Destination Peak, where we immediately had to deal with Class 3 obstacles and some inconvenient work-arounds to avoid short cliffs. The most efficient option in this section still eludes me to this day, and I haven't found a consistently excellent route down. That being said, there are many options for these few hundred feet of descent, so choose your own adventure while being careful not to descend too far left where there's a major cliff.

The cliffy terrain evens out into a sandy and flat section, but rather than continue deeper into the drainage where cliffs will block progress, wrap to the north toward the base of Destination Peak. A headwall that looks unclimbable gives way via a set of switchbacks on its ledges (Class 3). The route to Bridge Mountain heads left and down a major ramp here, but Destination Peak goes to the right. The slickrock ramp has plenty of loose sandstone blocks, but doesn't exceed Class 2/3. At the top of the slab, we were now at the base of a major gully on the south side of Destination Peak. It's clear where to go here, a narrowing gully with brush within. Class 2 on boulders leads to the crux move. A short, dirty Class 3 scramble on boulders took us to a small ledge, where we located a Class 4 crack on the left. Featuerd holds on either side of the crack made this a reasonable set of moves.

Above the crux, a social trail led to the ridge crest, where we got excellent views to the west. We continued along the ridge crest when we could, wrapping around little outcroppings when they popped in. A final set of Class 3 moves brought us up a headwall, wrapping around a wide ledge, and then we were on the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Destination Peak
6560 ft
400 rise

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After dropping down from the parking lot, we ascended on this slab. A social trail continued into Gifford Canyon. The first bunch of photos are repeats from another trip report with my friend Luke since I've documented this section of the route enough times already.
After dropping down from the parking lot, we ascended on this slab. A social trail continued into Gifford Canyon. The first bunch of photos are repeats from another trip report with my friend Luke since I've documented this section of the route enough times already.
Within Gifford Canyon, which we followed for a while.
Within Gifford Canyon, which we followed for a while.
We left Gifford Canyon and ascended the slickrock slope.
We left Gifford Canyon and ascended the slickrock slope.
Higher up, just beneath the cliff band above.
Higher up, just beneath the cliff band above.
A social trail beneath the cliff band.
A social trail beneath the cliff band.
View back down into Gifford Canyon.
View back down into Gifford Canyon.
Along the social trail, well-cairned.
Along the social trail, well-cairned.
Another shot down into Gifford Canyon.
Another shot down into Gifford Canyon.
The social trail wraps into the slickrock bowl, which you can start to see on the left there.
The social trail wraps into the slickrock bowl, which you can start to see on the left there.
View back down into the slickrock bowl as we ascend out of it on its north side. Alternatively, you could traverse to its south side, seen top right, and get out that way.
View back down into the slickrock bowl as we ascend out of it on its north side. Alternatively, you could traverse to its south side, seen top right, and get out that way.
On the sandy ridge between Destination Peak and Gifford Peak. The goal is to reach the diagonal tree-riddled slope in the center of this photo.
On the sandy ridge between Destination Peak and Gifford Peak. The goal is to reach the diagonal tree-riddled slope in the center of this photo.
Class 2/3 descent from the sandy ridge.
Class 2/3 descent from the sandy ridge.
The rest of the photos are from the day with Yoshi. Here you can see him on one of the many obstacles encountered when descending from the sandy ridge.
The rest of the photos are from the day with Yoshi. Here you can see him on one of the many obstacles encountered when descending from the sandy ridge.
Reaching the bottom of the descent.
Reaching the bottom of the descent.
A view toward the route to Destination Peak. Head to the short-looking headwall seen left of center.
A view toward the route to Destination Peak. Head to the short-looking headwall seen left of center.
Below the headwall, a series of Class 3 ledges bringing us to its top.
Below the headwall, a series of Class 3 ledges bringing us to its top.
Navigating the ledges.
Navigating the ledges.
Class 3 on the ledges.
Class 3 on the ledges.
View back toward the Class 2/3 descent we had just finished leading down from the sandy ledge.
View back toward the Class 2/3 descent we had just finished leading down from the sandy ledge.
At the top of the headwall, a view toward the route up Destination Peak.
At the top of the headwall, a view toward the route up Destination Peak.
View down as we start up the slabs. Seen below is the canyon used to access Bridge Mountain.
View down as we start up the slabs. Seen below is the canyon used to access Bridge Mountain.
Gaining the gully higher up.
Gaining the gully higher up.
View back before we enter the gully.
View back before we enter the gully.
Class 2 within the gully leads to the Class 3 moves at the base of the bush seen ahead. Just above the Class 3 section, a Class 4 crux appears on the left (in the sunlight).
Class 2 within the gully leads to the Class 3 moves at the base of the bush seen ahead. Just above the Class 3 section, a Class 4 crux appears on the left (in the sunlight).
Class 3 on blocky sandstone.
Class 3 on blocky sandstone.
Yoshi on the Class 4 move.
Yoshi on the Class 4 move.
Above the Class 4 crux.
Above the Class 4 crux.
At the crest of Destination Peak, heading toward the summit.
At the crest of Destination Peak, heading toward the summit.
Yoshi scrambling along the crest.
Yoshi scrambling along the crest.
A Class 3 headwall below the summit. We headed toward the center, then wrapped left on a ledge.
A Class 3 headwall below the summit. We headed toward the center, then wrapped left on a ledge.
Yoshi scrambling up the headwall, Bridge Mountain seen on the left.
Yoshi scrambling up the headwall, Bridge Mountain seen on the left.
Summit of Destination Peak, view east.
Summit of Destination Peak, view east.
Summit of Destination Peak, view north toward the East Temple.
Summit of Destination Peak, view north toward the East Temple.
Summit of Destination Peak, view toward Gifford Peak.
Summit of Destination Peak, view toward Gifford Peak.
Summit of Destination Peak, view nrothwest. (Photo from 2015)
Summit of Destination Peak, view nrothwest. (Photo from 2015)
Close-up toward Bridge Mountain. (Photo from 2015)
Close-up toward Bridge Mountain. (Photo from 2015)
Close-up toward Mount Spry. (Photo from 2015)
Close-up toward Mount Spry. (Photo from 2015)
Quicksand! (Photo from 2015)
Quicksand! (Photo from 2015)

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