The Bishopric West in Zion National Park, UT

Hike The Bishopric West Zion National Park, UT

Class 4 16.8 miles 4300 gain 10-14 hrs Out + Back Apr 6, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

The Bishopric West GPX Track

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November 2021 Update: While this route is a nice out-and-back for reaching the area, we redid much of this route as a much bigger day, including Cougar Mountain and others near The Bishoprics. The page you're on might be helpful in ascending Trail Canyon, but the newer report outlines alternative routes and peak add-ons that might be worth checking out.

I love these long Zion backcountry adventures. They've consistently taken me to some of the most gorgeous desert spots I've ever experienced. This route was no exception. Although the approach to the mesatop was tedious and sometimes unpleasant, the work was worth it. The views of the major Zion monoliths to the south, the incredible slickrock approach to our summit, and the seasonal waterfall made this a pretty unforgettable adventure.

We followed the Right Fork Trail through a meadow and down to the North Creek. A social trail led us on the north bank to a confluence with the Left and Right Fork. Left Fork goes to the subway, while The Right Fork was the start our route for today. We passed a recent large mudslide that looked like solid rock, but according to my muddy leg, was apparently not. Otherwise, just a bunch of boulder hopping and attempting to avoid getting wet. We would have saved a ton of time if we had just walked through the creek, since we got wet anyway.

Eventually, Trail Canyon appears on the right, which we followed south. It's not a pleasant drainage: it's muddy and boulder-choked and the views are not the normal exception Zion wonders. On the way up we kept to the main drainage the whole time. While this is likely the best option for the first half, the latter half has social/animal trails on either side of the drainage, depending on where you are within Trail Canyon. There were two major obstacles along the way worth mentioning. The first was a 20-foot dryfall that can be avoided by keeping to the right slope. Almost directly after this fall, there was a much larger dryfall. You'll need to avoid this once completely by trudging up the slope on its right. On our ascent, we did some awful maneuvering to get up and around this dryfall, but found a rough social trail that took us down the slope on the descent (my map reflects the better option). Eventually Trail Canyon eases up (still kind of not great, though), and we took pretty much the first opportunity to leave it and scramble up a dirty Class 2+ slope to the east, a few obstacles slowing progress. As soon as we got to the top of the slope, the beauty began in full force. A later 2021 trip gave me the insight to let you know it's better to just ascend all the way to the head of Trail Canyon and then ascend from there rather than leaving Trail Canyon as soon as you can.

To the east was Cougar Mountain, a mostly brushy-looking approach but still interesting and not like other areas I've seen in Zion. To the southwest were the Zion monoliths near the main Virgin River Canyon. To the west was a spectacular seasonal waterfall nestled between Elephant Head and the slickrock wonderland. Everyone was happy to hear that we would be passing right by the waterfall on our route to The Bishopric West, our summit, which was now also visible. Though not as impressive-looking as its neighbors, we were sure the views would be pretty incredible from its summit. A long walk through the mesa's meadows led down into slickrock and hoodoos via a pretty little canyon, where some route-finding led us to an overlook of the waterfall, and then more route-finding led out of the hoodoo maze and down into Terry Wash. There are at least two options to get out of the canyon and into Terry Wash, Class 3. Terry Wash was the source of the waterfall. We took a short detour to get to the top of the waterfall and all its majesty. It was probably the highlight of the day for all of us. A later trip left us upset because the fall was dry.

We worked our way up the sometimes tedious Terry Wash until we got to a big orange slickrock bowl. This was the spot where we determined we wanted to bag The Bishopric West rather than The Hamster (north of The Bishopric West). I'll have to come back for it at some point, since likely only Yoshi would have wanted to repeat this long approach just to bag a few peaks. I was hesitant at first because beta I read stated The Bishopric West was Class 5, but hopefully we'd be successful with five people. Right? Anyway, we worked our way up the slickrock southwest ridge of The Bishopric West and encountered a crumbly obstacle just below the summit, where we kept to the right and located the Class 5 section, a 10-foot slab that I was personally not psyched to do. I hate slab. I located a Class 4 dihedral just left of the slab and climbed that instead, happy for an alternative. On a 2021 trip, we found that sticking to the ridge crest was Class 3/4 via a single move (see other trip report for this move). The summit views were incredible, and we hung out for a bit before starting the long return trip. I would have liked to grab a few more peaks while we were way out here, but it was a good scouting mission for my next visit, which will absolutely be happening as soon as possible.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
The Bishopric West
7000 ft
360 rise

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Starting from the Right Fork Trailhead.
Starting from the Right Fork Trailhead.
Beautiful morning light on the meadows.
Beautiful morning light on the meadows.
Heading down along a social trail to North Creek.
Heading down along a social trail to North Creek.
Working our way along North Creek.
Working our way along North Creek.
Confluence of Left and Right Forks of North Creek. We kept to the right.
Confluence of Left and Right Forks of North Creek. We kept to the right.
Heading up Right Fork.
Heading up Right Fork.
Boulder-hopping to avoid water. I recommend just walking through the water, really.
Boulder-hopping to avoid water. I recommend just walking through the water, really.
A mudslide that looked solid, but was in fact not.
A mudslide that looked solid, but was in fact not.
Image 8 from gallery
Junction with Trail Canyon. This photo is looking up Trail Canyon.
Junction with Trail Canyon. This photo is looking up Trail Canyon.
Within Trail Canyon, looking north.
Within Trail Canyon, looking north.
Trail Canyon starts to become unpleasant.
Trail Canyon starts to become unpleasant.
Image 12 from gallery
Image 13 from gallery
First 20-foot dryfall obstacle. Passable via right slope.
First 20-foot dryfall obstacle. Passable via right slope.
Second dryfall obstacle, passable via the slope on the right in this photo. I recommend just going up the slope at the first chance you get rather than venturing into the terraced-looking rock terrain.
Second dryfall obstacle, passable via the slope on the right in this photo. I recommend just going up the slope at the first chance you get rather than venturing into the terraced-looking rock terrain.
Ascending the slope.
Ascending the slope.
Above the second dryfall, looking north toward Trail Canyon.
Above the second dryfall, looking north toward Trail Canyon.
Continuing up Trail Canyon for literally ever.
Continuing up Trail Canyon for literally ever.
Image 19 from gallery
Approaching the head of Trail Canyon.
Approaching the head of Trail Canyon.
The Class 2/2+ slope leading to the mesatop.
The Class 2/2+ slope leading to the mesatop.
View from the top of the slope down into Trail Canyon, Cougar Mountain visible on the left.
View from the top of the slope down into Trail Canyon, Cougar Mountain visible on the left.
And let the views begin! The route heads into these hoodoos.
And let the views begin! The route heads into these hoodoos.
View as we enter the hoodoos, Cougar Mountain in the distance.
View as we enter the hoodoos, Cougar Mountain in the distance.
Once through the hoodoos, we got this lovely view. The Bishopric is seen on the right. Sunbeam Peak visible on the left.
Once through the hoodoos, we got this lovely view. The Bishopric is seen on the right. Sunbeam Peak visible on the left.
Heading along the ridge.
Heading along the ridge.
Another incredible view. Monoliths of Zion Canyon on the right. Our route on the left. A seasonal waterfall in the center, nestled beneath Elephant Head.
Another incredible view. Monoliths of Zion Canyon on the right. Our route on the left. A seasonal waterfall in the center, nestled beneath Elephant Head.
Elephant Head and the seasonal waterfall.
Elephant Head and the seasonal waterfall.
Continuing through the meadows on the mesatop.
Continuing through the meadows on the mesatop.
Image 30 from gallery
Image 31 from gallery
Heading down into a slickrock wonderland. Elephant Head still visible on the right.
Heading down into a slickrock wonderland. Elephant Head still visible on the right.
Image 33 from gallery
Another view of the waterfall and Elephant Head.
Another view of the waterfall and Elephant Head.
Close-up of the waterfall, just a hoodoo garden of route-finding away.
Close-up of the waterfall, just a hoodoo garden of route-finding away.
Navigating the hoodoo garden.
Navigating the hoodoo garden.
Shawn and Josh enjoying the waterfall.
Shawn and Josh enjoying the waterfall.
The seasonal waterfall. Absolutely incredible.
The seasonal waterfall. Absolutely incredible.
Working our way out of the hoodoo garden.
Working our way out of the hoodoo garden.
Looking back toward the way we came.
Looking back toward the way we came.
Entering Terry Wash below.
Entering Terry Wash below.
Quick detour within Terry Wash to see the top of the waterfall.
Quick detour within Terry Wash to see the top of the waterfall.
At the top of the waterfall.
At the top of the waterfall.
Headed east up Terry Wash.
Headed east up Terry Wash.
An obstacle within Terry Wash.
An obstacle within Terry Wash.
Avoiding Terry wash sometimes because it was brush-choked.
Avoiding Terry wash sometimes because it was brush-choked.
There's The Bishopric West!
There's The Bishopric West!
Gorgeous slickrock bowl at the base of The Bishopric West.
Gorgeous slickrock bowl at the base of The Bishopric West.
Josh walking through the bowl.
Josh walking through the bowl.
Looking down Terry Wash as we ascend the bowl.
Looking down Terry Wash as we ascend the bowl.
Image 51 from gallery
At the base of The Bishopric West.
At the base of The Bishopric West.
Steep slickrock basically the whole way to the summit.
Steep slickrock basically the whole way to the summit.
Looking back toward Terry Wash, Elephant Head on the left.
Looking back toward Terry Wash, Elephant Head on the left.
Image 55 from gallery
Yoshi enjoying the view to the south.
Yoshi enjoying the view to the south.
The Bishopric East visible on the right.
The Bishopric East visible on the right.
Image 58 from gallery
Just below the summit, this scary face blocked easy access. We went around the right side.
Just below the summit, this scary face blocked easy access. We went around the right side.
Hard slab move ahead.
Hard slab move ahead.
Chandler about to start the slabs. Just to the right out of frame is the alternative Class 4 dihedral I chose to ascend, avoiding the slab.
Chandler about to start the slabs. Just to the right out of frame is the alternative Class 4 dihedral I chose to ascend, avoiding the slab.
Chandler on the slab move as Yoshi heads up to the summit.
Chandler on the slab move as Yoshi heads up to the summit.
Image 63 from gallery
The Bishopric West summit, looking north toward The Hamster.
The Bishopric West summit, looking north toward The Hamster.
The Bishopric West summit, looking east. The Bishopric East on the right.
The Bishopric West summit, looking east. The Bishopric East on the right.
The Bishopric West summit, looking west toward the way we came. Elephant Head on the left, followed by Terry Wash below. The hoodoo garden and slickrock to the right of that, and the mesa we traversed in the distance. The peak on the right is called Zippy.
The Bishopric West summit, looking west toward the way we came. Elephant Head on the left, followed by Terry Wash below. The hoodoo garden and slickrock to the right of that, and the mesa we traversed in the distance. The peak on the right is called Zippy.
The Bishopric West summit looking toward the incredible Zion monoliths to the southeast.
The Bishopric West summit looking toward the incredible Zion monoliths to the southeast.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!