Gunsight Point and West Rim Loop in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Gunsight Point and West Rim Loop Zion National Park, UT

Class 3 20.3 miles 4900 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Oct 16, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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During my usual endless hours of trip planning, I realized I never actually hiked up to the West Rim of Zion National Park! Despite my stupid number of days exploring the area, it was a reminder that no matter how much I've done I'll never stop finding new stuff. Fortunately, there are a couple of peaks that helped justify today's mileage. I parked at the visitor center and took the shuttle to the Grotto Trailhead, the wildly popular access point for Angel's Landing and the West Rim Trail.

I hiked the paved trail as it weaved up the base of Angel's Landing and entered Refrigerator Canyon. I ascended Walter's Wiggles and passed Scout Lookout, leaving the majority of hikers behind. The trail continues to ascend through typical Zion scenery characterized by towering sandstone cliffs, then dips down to a footbridge and onward west toward the base of the West Rim. The slickrock here is delightful, as are the views north toward the backcountry. Since I've done this portion of trail more times than I can count, I tried to charge through it all quickly. The fall colors were spectacular as I entered a prominent gully separating Mount Majestic from the West Rim. The trail makes its way to a saddle, Behunin Canyon on its opposite side. It's impressive how early trail builders constructed this section of the hike, a series of deeply carved switchbacks that provide access to the rim above.

After gaining the rim, I stopped at the junction where the West Rim Trail leads left, and the Telephone Canyon Trail goes right. Not only did I want to enjoy this new perspective of one of my favorite places, but a curiosity regarding another peak had been creeping into my mind along the hike so far and I had to decide if I wanted to add it to my itinerary. Though unranked, Gunsight Point looks excellent on a topo map, but I had no information and I knew it could eat a lot of time. I decided to continue along the West Rim Trail just to "check it out". I laid my eyes on its spectacular form separated from the rim by a landbridge. I had to at least try it. I left the West Rim Trail when I was directly north of the peak, taking a steep slope down to a short Class 2+ sandstone cliff band. I merrily continued south on terrain overall clear from brush except for some small maples that lasted a few hundred feet. Really, Gunsight Point is just a nubbin at the end of an earthy peninsula, but the approach to it is truly spectacular. I felt on top of the world.

After gaining some elevation and passing a few pretty pinnacles, I reached the northern end of Gunsight Point, an extended fin of loose-looking sandstone. On my ascent I wrapped around the east side of it, but I'd say this was a less good option. If you want to check it out, this route required a Class 2 side-hilling endeavor that brought me all the way around to the peak's southwest side before a Class 3 slab led to the summit. Alternatively, I recommend keeping to the right of the fin. Here I side-hilled for only about a hundred feet before picking my way up sandy blocks of sandstone and pulling a short Class 3 move up a partially-enclosed face. Past here there was some light bushwhacking to a poor view due to the brush.

I backtracked to the West Rim Trail and continued along this famous and scenic hike overlooking the Zion backcountry toward the difficult-to-access peaks I've fallen in love with, the closest of which are still on my to-do list. The trail leads over Horse Pasture Plateau, the high point of the West Rim Trail. If I wasn't paying attention to where the true high point was, I wouldn't have even noticed it. Enjoying the views, I continued north and was a bit sad when the West Rim Trail bent away from the majesty of the Zion landscape.

Since the trail continues all the way to Lava Point many miles to the north, I needed a logical turn-around spot. The provisionally-named Never Done Mountain made sense, a ranked summit along the rim located just off the trail. I met up with the junction with the Telephone Canyon Trail, keeping left. The trail dropped a few hundred feet, then regained some to reach the eastern slope of Never Done Mountain. From here I left the trail again and weaved around some initial brush. I recommend getting to the rim and sticking to it because it is free of brush, whereas the slope farther to the right is more annoying. Excellent views from up here had me excited to have made the effort to enjoy the West Rim.

I returned to the junction with the Telephone Canyon Trail and rather than backtrack along the West Rim Trail, I took this less well-maintained trail in order to make a partial loop. It's a lot less scenic, but has some nicely forested vibes and the drainage features a pretty meadow. I met back up with the West Rim Trail and headed back the way I came.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Gunsight Point
7085 ft
205 rise
2
Horse Pasture Plateau
7375 ft
335 rise
3
Never Done Mountain
7370 ft
355 rise

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Starting along the West Rim Trail.
Starting along the West Rim Trail.
Angel's Landing seen above.
Angel's Landing seen above.
View back into Zion Canyon.
View back into Zion Canyon.
The "quiet zone" within Refrigerator Canyon.
The "quiet zone" within Refrigerator Canyon.
Paved switchbacks through Refrigerator Canyon.
Paved switchbacks through Refrigerator Canyon.
Starting up Walter's Wiggles.
Starting up Walter's Wiggles.
View down Walter's Wiggles.
View down Walter's Wiggles.
Approaching Scout Lookout, the turn-off for Angel's Landing.
Approaching Scout Lookout, the turn-off for Angel's Landing.
Continuing up the West Rim Trail away from the bustling permitted-Angel's Landing Trail.
Continuing up the West Rim Trail away from the bustling permitted-Angel's Landing Trail.
View back as I ascend along the slickrock of the West Rim Trail. Refrigerator Canyon seen on the right.
View back as I ascend along the slickrock of the West Rim Trail. Refrigerator Canyon seen on the right.
Descending north briefly.
Descending north briefly.
A small footbridge over a chasm.
A small footbridge over a chasm.
West Rim seen ahead.
West Rim seen ahead.
The trail leads up some slickrock and then begins to enter a more forested section. West Rim seen above.
The trail leads up some slickrock and then begins to enter a more forested section. West Rim seen above.
View back.
View back.
Entering the gully that separates the West Rim from Mount Majestic.
Entering the gully that separates the West Rim from Mount Majestic.
Ascending to the saddle seen ahead.
Ascending to the saddle seen ahead.
Image 17 from gallery
At the saddle, looking back down into the gully.
At the saddle, looking back down into the gully.
The West Rim Trail ascends via a heavily-constructed ledge in the cliff face.
The West Rim Trail ascends via a heavily-constructed ledge in the cliff face.
Close-up down into the gully the trail just came out of.
Close-up down into the gully the trail just came out of.
View back. Behunin Canyon seen center.
View back. Behunin Canyon seen center.
Wild drop-off along the West Rim Trail.
Wild drop-off along the West Rim Trail.
A switchback as the West Rim Trail ascends to the rim.
A switchback as the West Rim Trail ascends to the rim.
Another shot back before reaching the rim.
Another shot back before reaching the rim.
Leaving slickrock as the trail overcomes the rim.
Leaving slickrock as the trail overcomes the rim.
Mount Majestic up there.
Mount Majestic up there.
Junction with the Telephone Canyon Trail, where I will be returning from later. For now I kept left along the West Rim Trail.
Junction with the Telephone Canyon Trail, where I will be returning from later. For now I kept left along the West Rim Trail.
Ascending through the forest.
Ascending through the forest.
Excellent views overlooking the Zion wilderness began popping in.
Excellent views overlooking the Zion wilderness began popping in.
View back along the West Rim Trail.
View back along the West Rim Trail.
West Rim Trail.
West Rim Trail.
Close-up toward Mount Majestic.
Close-up toward Mount Majestic.
View toward Gunsight Point as I leave the West Rim Trail.
View toward Gunsight Point as I leave the West Rim Trail.
View back at the Class 2/3 descent from the rim.
View back at the Class 2/3 descent from the rim.
Onward to Gunsight Point.
Onward to Gunsight Point.
Beautiful land bridge. Gunsight Point seen just ahead.
Beautiful land bridge. Gunsight Point seen just ahead.
A little brushy, but not too bad.
A little brushy, but not too bad.
View back toward the West Rim.
View back toward the West Rim.
When I reached the southern tail of Gunsight Point, I kept right. I stayed low for a time, ascending when the blocky sandstone seemed most reasonable.
When I reached the southern tail of Gunsight Point, I kept right. I stayed low for a time, ascending when the blocky sandstone seemed most reasonable.
View back as I traverse below the tail.
View back as I traverse below the tail.
Class 2/3.
Class 2/3.
View back once I gained the tail.
View back once I gained the tail.
Class 3.
Class 3.
View down the Class 3 crux.
View down the Class 3 crux.
Gunsight Point ahead.
Gunsight Point ahead.
Summit of Gunsight Point, view toward the crazy-looking ascent ramp for Mount Majestic.
Summit of Gunsight Point, view toward the crazy-looking ascent ramp for Mount Majestic.
You can also reach Gunsight Point by wrapping around its left side, though it's more brushy and effort.
You can also reach Gunsight Point by wrapping around its left side, though it's more brushy and effort.
Class 3 slab on the south side.
Class 3 slab on the south side.
View down the slab.
View down the slab.
Back on the West Rim Trail.
Back on the West Rim Trail.
A shot back toward Gunsight Point.
A shot back toward Gunsight Point.
The West Rim Trail ascends through the forest and meadows for a bit.
The West Rim Trail ascends through the forest and meadows for a bit.
View back.
View back.
Outstanding views of the peaks of the Zion backcountry across Phantom Valley that I've come to know and love.
Outstanding views of the peaks of the Zion backcountry across Phantom Valley that I've come to know and love.
Image 55 from gallery
Along the way to Horse Pasture Plateau, the highest point of the hike.
Along the way to Horse Pasture Plateau, the highest point of the hike.
Horse Pasture Plateau's high point.
Horse Pasture Plateau's high point.
Never Done Mountain seen on the right, my next summit.
Never Done Mountain seen on the right, my next summit.
Trail junction with Telephone Canyon. I continued along the West Rim Trail in order to reach Never Done Mountain.
Trail junction with Telephone Canyon. I continued along the West Rim Trail in order to reach Never Done Mountain.
After a few hundred feet of descent, I continued up toward Never Done Mountain seen ahead.
After a few hundred feet of descent, I continued up toward Never Done Mountain seen ahead.
View back at my descent to the saddle with Never Done Mountain.
View back at my descent to the saddle with Never Done Mountain.
View back just before leaving the West Rim Trail to reach Never Done Mountain.
View back just before leaving the West Rim Trail to reach Never Done Mountain.
Brushy on the slope, so I recommend staying left where it's clear from brush.
Brushy on the slope, so I recommend staying left where it's clear from brush.
Easy hiking farther left.
Easy hiking farther left.
View back from the summit of Never Done Mountain.
View back from the summit of Never Done Mountain.
Never Done Mountain, view north.
Never Done Mountain, view north.
Close-up west.
Close-up west.
I backtracked and took the Telephone Canyon Trail, a lot less epic than the West Rim views, but still pretty. This trail is a bit less maintained.
I backtracked and took the Telephone Canyon Trail, a lot less epic than the West Rim views, but still pretty. This trail is a bit less maintained.
Along the Telephone Canyon Trail.
Along the Telephone Canyon Trail.
View back.
View back.
Image 71 from gallery
Nearing the junction with the West Rim Trail again.
Nearing the junction with the West Rim Trail again.
A pretty meadow before reaching the junction.
A pretty meadow before reaching the junction.

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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!