Nippletop and South Ariel Butte in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Nippletop and South Ariel Butte Zion National Park, UT

Class 3 3.7 miles 2400 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back May 6, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Nippletop and South Ariel Butte are two lightly traveled backcountry Zion peaks on the east side of the park. Both are located just off UT-9 and their summits are visible from the road. Using the same trailhead and both having Class 3 routes, they pair nicely as two short out-and-backs.

Yoshi and I started with Nippletop first, leaving our cars at a pull-out and hiking south along some slickrock and into the Pine Creek drainage. We located a sandy, eroded slope on the opposite side and emerged onto the northern reaches of Nippletop on sandstone slickrock that characterizes much of the area. Hiking up the initially lower-angle slab, ahead we could see two ramp ascent options. We trended to the right in order to reach the western one since the eastern option seemed too steep. These two ramps would merge higher up anyway. We found it easiest to stick to our chosen ramp for the majority of our ascent to the ridgeline. The slickrock ascended progressively more steeply, slowly becoming Class 2/3 around the 6000' contour. Here we trended left and away from a very steep-looking face, and ultimately made it to the ridge crest of Nippletop.

There are a few little cliffs along the crest, but Class 2 wrap-arounds kept the going tame, only one or two low Class 3 moves required. We reached a little hump that provided an amazing view of the spine leading to Nippletop. We could see the mesatop rim ahead, a little cliff band of darker sandstone that would serve as the route crux. Dropping from this hump, we took in the fantastic views as the ridge narrowed and became more like a wide sandstone land bridge. To the left was a significant drop, while the right side was more sloped and provided an easier alternative rather than staying on the crest directly.

The beautiful ridge widened into a slope at the base of Nippletop, and then a social trail became more apparent. Climbing steeply, the sandy slope required some Class 2, followed by a Class 2+/3 move up a tiny obstacle. At the top of the slope, the crux of Nippletop appeared, a Class 3 set of moves on mostly solid sandstone blocks to overcome the mesatop cliff band. Once on the mesatop, we headed south in search of the summit. A couple of social trails lead in various directions, but it's pretty obvious where to go and the brush is avoidable. The summit block (the thing that vaguely resembles a nipple when viewed from the road, I guess) required a Class 3 move, and the views were outstanding.

Yoshi and I backtracked to the car, then started up South Ariel Butte. This being a short scramble just off the side of the east entrance road, its southern slabs might have people wandering around taking photos, but far fewer continue to the summit. The gorgeous slickrock climbs ridiculously steeply, our calves aching from a full day of Zion fun finally catching up to us. Keeping to the right of a small outcropping a couple hundred feet up seemed the best start, but past this you can ascend a variety of ways. Our first goal was to reach the base of the south end of the summit block. We found that following the crest to be the most straightforward option, but an easy Class 3 move might be necessary depending on the way you go.

Reaching the base of the summit block's south side, it became clear we couldn't ascend directly this way. Instead, we circled around to the left of the outcropping, contouring on an initially wide slope. Progressively, the massive drop-off to the left becomes more exposed and the slabs become more sheer, the terrain more loose. We kept to a vital sweet spot above the wildly steep slab to our left, but below the vertical face housing the summit block on our right. A couple of trees and plants have chosen to grow here, an indicator that there's at least possibly some purchase amongst the slickrock.

A particularly steep, exposed move with thin holds shook us both a bit (Class 3), but with enough shoe traction and stupidity we made it through the traverse on South Ariel butte's west face. The route then wraps east to gain the peak's north ridge. Again, there's a sweet spot below that stays low enough angle to be navigable, so be careful with route-finding here. The terrain is also very loose during this section, but no longer exposed. Once we reached the north ridge of South Ariel Butte, we scrambled along an impressive set of slanted blocks, ending with a Class 3 move to gain the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Nippletop
6715 ft
795 rise
2
South Ariel Butte
6251 ft
331 rise

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Crossing Pine Creek.
Crossing Pine Creek.
A ramp that's been human-eroded for accessing the sandstone slab start of Nippletop.
A ramp that's been human-eroded for accessing the sandstone slab start of Nippletop.
Mellow slab at the start of Nippletop that gets steeper.
Mellow slab at the start of Nippletop that gets steeper.
View back, South Ariel Butte seen center.
View back, South Ariel Butte seen center.
Ascending the slab.
Ascending the slab.
There's a fissure within the slab. I recommend keeping to the right of it and then traversing over farther up.
There's a fissure within the slab. I recommend keeping to the right of it and then traversing over farther up.
Steepening to Class 2/3 slab. Bear left here to avoid Class 4/5 terrain.
Steepening to Class 2/3 slab. Bear left here to avoid Class 4/5 terrain.
Along the ridgeline. There were some wrap-arounds to avoid little cliffies.
Along the ridgeline. There were some wrap-arounds to avoid little cliffies.
View back down the initial ascent.
View back down the initial ascent.
Close-up toward the fissure. We stayed to the far left of this photo before crossing over toward the top of the fissure.
Close-up toward the fissure. We stayed to the far left of this photo before crossing over toward the top of the fissure.
Nippletop comes into view.
Nippletop comes into view.
Close-up of the ridge spine to Nippletop.
Close-up of the ridge spine to Nippletop.
Hiking along the Class 2 ridge.
Hiking along the Class 2 ridge.
Approaching the base of the steep ascent to gain the rim.
Approaching the base of the steep ascent to gain the rim.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Class 2 at first.
Class 2 at first.
It's a steep ascent on loose terrain.
It's a steep ascent on loose terrain.
One Class 2+/3 move.
One Class 2+/3 move.
And then a section of Class 3 with some exposure.
And then a section of Class 3 with some exposure.
Yoshi coming up the Class 3 section.
Yoshi coming up the Class 3 section.
View back toward the ridge spine.
View back toward the ridge spine.
On top of the mesa, heading to the summit block.
On top of the mesa, heading to the summit block.
Cool rock formations along the way.
Cool rock formations along the way.
Final bit of Class 2 steepness.
Final bit of Class 2 steepness.
Class 3 move to gain the summit block.
Class 3 move to gain the summit block.
Nippletop summit, view southwest.
Nippletop summit, view southwest.
Nippletop summit, view west.
Nippletop summit, view west.
Nippletop summit, view toward The East Temple, Progeny, etc.
Nippletop summit, view toward The East Temple, Progeny, etc.
Nippletop summit, view toward Crazy Quilt Mesa.
Nippletop summit, view toward Crazy Quilt Mesa.
Next up, South Ariel Butte.
Next up, South Ariel Butte.
Crossing the road and starting up toward South Ariel Butte.
Crossing the road and starting up toward South Ariel Butte.
Steep slabs the whole way up South Ariel Butte.
Steep slabs the whole way up South Ariel Butte.
View back toward the trailhead, Nippletop seen top right.
View back toward the trailhead, Nippletop seen top right.
We passed this outcrop on the left and just kept ascending. I found keeping closer to the ridge crest was easiest, but almost any direction will work, with varying levels of steepness.
We passed this outcrop on the left and just kept ascending. I found keeping closer to the ridge crest was easiest, but almost any direction will work, with varying levels of steepness.
view back at our progress up the slope, the outcropping we just passed seen center.
view back at our progress up the slope, the outcropping we just passed seen center.
The slabs continue to be quite steep Class 2. you can see the summit block poking out in the center.
The slabs continue to be quite steep Class 2. you can see the summit block poking out in the center.
The ridge ends at the outcrop seen top right. Keep left of this. It gets very loose and much more exposed.
The ridge ends at the outcrop seen top right. Keep left of this. It gets very loose and much more exposed.
Starting tame, though with a big drop-off on the left, the slabs become more sheer and the terrain more loose.
Starting tame, though with a big drop-off on the left, the slabs become more sheer and the terrain more loose.
Very steep. There's one Class 3 move that didn't translate in photos, but it's a steep slab step with exposure.
Very steep. There's one Class 3 move that didn't translate in photos, but it's a steep slab step with exposure.
We rounded the bend and continued ascending to the north ridge. This is a view back.
We rounded the bend and continued ascending to the north ridge. This is a view back.
A view back at the gross, loose stuff before reaching the north summit ridgeline.
A view back at the gross, loose stuff before reaching the north summit ridgeline.
Class 2/2+ along the north ridge. One Class 3 move to gain the summit. Nippletop seen ahead.
Class 2/2+ along the north ridge. One Class 3 move to gain the summit. Nippletop seen ahead.
Image 42 from gallery
View at Yoshi about to start the Class 3 move.
View at Yoshi about to start the Class 3 move.
South Ariel Butte summit, view toward Nippletop.
South Ariel Butte summit, view toward Nippletop.

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