Northgate Peaks, Red Cone, Jumbled Knoll, Carl’s Peak in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Northgate Peaks, Red Cone, Jumbled Knoll, Carl’s Peak Zion National Park, UT

Class 3 11.4 miles 3900 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Apr 20, 2019
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Northgate Peaks, Red Cone, Jumbled Knoll, Carl’s Peak GPX Track

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I've passed by Northgate Peaks East and Northgate Peaks West a bunch of times on the way into other parts of the backcountry, but they felt too small to plan a trip specifically for them, so I wanted to include them in a route leading deeper into this interesting region of the park. My route here includes Northgate Peaks East and West, Red Cone, Jumbled Knoll, and Carl's Peak. I initially wanted to make it a loop, but intense bushwhacking got me to drop the loop idea in order to get back to town in time for a shower before the gym closed. Unless you're serious about bagging random Zion peaks, I'd recommend you turn back after doing Red Cone, which I would definitely recommend. Jumbled Knoll wasn't particularly interesting and Carl's Peak is just a bunch of undesirable bushwhacking with views inferior compared to the rest of the day.

I followed the Wildcat Trail to the Northgate Peaks Trail and broke off from the trail at an arbitrary point to the east of Northgate Peaks West, dropped into the wide gully, and then ascended the north ridge. There's a section of Class 3 by a small pine tree, just east of the ridgeline, and the views are great, including a nice sense for my route for the day. I returned to the Northgate Peaks Trail and followed it to the lookout point, where a large group was taking photos. I headed east down an unexpectedly clear social trail which led straight up to Northgate Peaks East, significantly easier than expected (barely Class 2).

I returned to the base of the peak and headed southwest, sticking to the western base of North Gurdian Angel to avoid brush and encountered a lovely slickrock drainage with water flowing. This drainage led to the base of Red Cone, which I ascended via on one of likely many Class 2 slope options on dirty slickrock and brush, then working up a small Class 3 section through the slickrock domes. On the descent, I was able to find an easier option, so I left both of my route options on the map attached. The views from Red Cone were really wonderful. It was a strange view of North Guardian Angel from this angle, and more interestingly, I could see into the cascades leading out of The Subway below. I descended from Red Cone, and I'm sure you could find any number of ways down, and found a way through brush and nonsense to the summit of Jumbled Knoll, located to the west. I'm not sure if I was on the true high point, but there was the remnants of a cairn and the other two potential high points weren't intriguing enough to go explore.

I headed back the way I came off Jumbled Knoll, then continued toward Little Creek, which I intended to follow up and around to the north side of Carl's Peak. There was so much brush that I immediately gave up and instead ascended a hill to the west, working on animal trails to the north side of Carl's Peak via the high ground rather than the creek. A sandy wash led to the base, and Class 2 led to a small Class 3 move at the summit. I noted Little Creek draining from the north. It looked awful. And it was. After Carl's Peak, I started up Little Creek and after a short time of bushwhacking and boulder-hopping, and rather than continue north (the creek's head would have landed me right back on the Wildcat Trail, close to the trailhead), I ascended to the east to a saddle and back down into the slickrock drainage to the west of North Guardian Angel. From here, I retraced my steps back to the trailhead. I'm sure this shortcut saved me a ton of time, despite adding a bit more mileage. Unless you're a masochist greater than myself, avoid Little Creek when there's water flowing.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
West Northgate Peak
7267 ft
467 rise
2
East Northgate Peak
7159 ft
279 rise
3
Red Cone
6440 ft
n/a rise
4
Jumbled Knoll
6280 ft
n/a rise
5
Carls Peak
6600 ft
n/a rise

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Along the Wildcat Trail.
Along the Wildcat Trail.
Image 1 from gallery
After following the Wildcat Trail and Northgate Peaks Trail, this is looking west toward Northgate Peak West.
After following the Wildcat Trail and Northgate Peaks Trail, this is looking west toward Northgate Peak West.
Starting up Northgate Peak West.
Starting up Northgate Peak West.
Northgate Peak West crux is at the tree visible above.
Northgate Peak West crux is at the tree visible above.
Looking back along Northgate Peak West ridge.
Looking back along Northgate Peak West ridge.
Northgate Peak West summit, looking toward North Guardian Angel.
Northgate Peak West summit, looking toward North Guardian Angel.
Northgate Peak West looking southwest toward the route I'll be taking. On the far left, you see Red cone, then to its right is a bramble of darker red rock, Jumbled Knoll. In the center (also a bramble of darker red rock) is Carl's Peak. The route I'll be taking to get down there follows the base of North Guardian Angel (where the slickrock meets greenery on the left).
Northgate Peak West looking southwest toward the route I'll be taking. On the far left, you see Red cone, then to its right is a bramble of darker red rock, Jumbled Knoll. In the center (also a bramble of darker red rock) is Carl's Peak. The route I'll be taking to get down there follows the base of North Guardian Angel (where the slickrock meets greenery on the left).
At the overlook at the end of the Northgate Peaks trail, looking toward Northgate Peak East.
At the overlook at the end of the Northgate Peaks trail, looking toward Northgate Peak East.
Trail leading up Northgate Peak East.
Trail leading up Northgate Peak East.
Looking back down along the trail to Northgate Peak East.
Looking back down along the trail to Northgate Peak East.
Northgate Peak east looking toward Northgate Peak West.
Northgate Peak east looking toward Northgate Peak West.
Northgate Peak East looking toward North and South Guardian Angels.
Northgate Peak East looking toward North and South Guardian Angels.
At the base of Northgate Peak East, heading south.
At the base of Northgate Peak East, heading south.
Just north of North Guardian Angel, wrapping around its west slope.
Just north of North Guardian Angel, wrapping around its west slope.
Looking back toward Northgate Peak West from within the slickrock leading around North Guardian Angel's west slope.
Looking back toward Northgate Peak West from within the slickrock leading around North Guardian Angel's west slope.
Image 16 from gallery
Image 17 from gallery
Image 18 from gallery
Image 19 from gallery
Within the drainage on North Guardian Angel's southwest slope, looking back toward North Guardian Angel.
Within the drainage on North Guardian Angel's southwest slope, looking back toward North Guardian Angel.
Red Cone ahead.
Red Cone ahead.
Class 2/2+ to get up to Red Cone.
Class 2/2+ to get up to Red Cone.
Looking back toward North Guardian Angel (Northgate Peak West poking out in the center). The route I took down here followed where the slickrock meets greenery on the left.
Looking back toward North Guardian Angel (Northgate Peak West poking out in the center). The route I took down here followed where the slickrock meets greenery on the left.
Slickrock to Red Cone' summit.
Slickrock to Red Cone' summit.
Image 25 from gallery
Red Cone summit, looking down toward The Subway.
Red Cone summit, looking down toward The Subway.
Red Cone summit looking west toward Jumbled Knoll (left) and Carl's Peak (right).
Red Cone summit looking west toward Jumbled Knoll (left) and Carl's Peak (right).
Close-up of South Guardian Angel from Red cone summit.
Close-up of South Guardian Angel from Red cone summit.
My chosen descent route off Red Cone.
My chosen descent route off Red Cone.
Working up a drainage between Red Cone and Jumbled Knoll.
Working up a drainage between Red Cone and Jumbled Knoll.
Heading up to Jumbled Knoll (right).
Heading up to Jumbled Knoll (right).
Image 32 from gallery
Almost at Jumbled Knoll summit, looking east toward Red Cone (left) and South Guardian Angel (right).
Almost at Jumbled Knoll summit, looking east toward Red Cone (left) and South Guardian Angel (right).
Jumbled Knoll summit ahead.
Jumbled Knoll summit ahead.
Jumbled Knoll summit looking toward other potential high points on the peak that I didn't go explore.
Jumbled Knoll summit looking toward other potential high points on the peak that I didn't go explore.
View toward Carl's Peak. You can see the ridge I will take to get there on the right. I went back the way I came from Jumbled Knoll into Little Creek.
View toward Carl's Peak. You can see the ridge I will take to get there on the right. I went back the way I came from Jumbled Knoll into Little Creek.
Passing Little Creek - brush everywhere. Initially, I planned to follow it to the base of Carl's Peak, but decided to instead head up the slope visible in the center here, avoiding the rock-hopping and bushwhacking.
Passing Little Creek - brush everywhere. Initially, I planned to follow it to the base of Carl's Peak, but decided to instead head up the slope visible in the center here, avoiding the rock-hopping and bushwhacking.
Along the ridge east of Carl's Peak, looking back toward Red Cone and Jumbled Knoll.
Along the ridge east of Carl's Peak, looking back toward Red Cone and Jumbled Knoll.
Light bushwhacking to the north of Carl's Peak.
Light bushwhacking to the north of Carl's Peak.
Taking a wash to the base of Carl's Peak.
Taking a wash to the base of Carl's Peak.
Class 2 to just below the summit.
Class 2 to just below the summit.
Looking back along the ascent to Carl's Peak. The wash I came up visible in the center. North Guardian Angel on far right. Northgate Peak West in the center.
Looking back along the ascent to Carl's Peak. The wash I came up visible in the center. North Guardian Angel on far right. Northgate Peak West in the center.
Carl's Peak, view toward Red Cone and South Guardian Angel.
Carl's Peak, view toward Red Cone and South Guardian Angel.
Carl's Peak, view toward Tabernacle Dome.
Carl's Peak, view toward Tabernacle Dome.
Carl's Peak, looking down the short Class 3 section.
Carl's Peak, looking down the short Class 3 section.
Back in the wash, headed north to Little Creek.
Back in the wash, headed north to Little Creek.
Little Creek. South Guardian Angel in the distance.
Little Creek. South Guardian Angel in the distance.
I followed Little Creek for a bit before giving up.
I followed Little Creek for a bit before giving up.
Only short section of workable ground. It was slow-moving.
Only short section of workable ground. It was slow-moving.
I left Little Creek and gained a saddle.
I left Little Creek and gained a saddle.
From the saddle, looking east toward North Guardian Angel. I dropped down into the bowl below.
From the saddle, looking east toward North Guardian Angel. I dropped down into the bowl below.
Back in the bowl from earlier. Retraced my steps.
Back in the bowl from earlier. Retraced my steps.

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