Tinaja Knoll, Cave Knoll, and Spendlove Knoll in Zion National Park, UT

Hike Tinaja Knoll, Cave Knoll, and Spendlove Knoll Zion National Park, UT

Class 3 4.9 miles 1700 gain 3-5 hrs Shuttle Apr 14, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Tinaja Knoll, Cave Knoll, and Spendlove Knoll GPX Track

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A surprisingly fun route, the traverse of Tinaja Knoll, Cave Knoll, and Spendlove Knoll has some incredible slickrock and hoodoos. Start from a dirt pulloff southwest of Tinaja Knoll, the highpoint of which is difficult to identify because of all the hoodoos along the ridge, and follow a dirt road into a wash. The wash leads to the base of Tinaja Knoll's south slope. We found a Class 2 route up into the hoodoos, making our way to the high point as we navigated around lots of pretty hoodoos. Just below the summit was a gorgeous tinaja, for which the peak was named. We dropped down on the east side of the ridge to avoid cliffs, working down a section of Class 3 slab before getting back onto the ridge. This lightly forested ridge, known as Hoodoo Ridge, linked us to the base of Cave Knoll, where waves of slickrock led us to the Class 2 summit. To the north, we noted Spendlove Knoll, which looked like a particularly boring hill, but realizing the route to descend would take us most of the way up anyway, decided to go for it. Along the route from Cave Knoll, we passed likely the most gorgeous hoodoo landscape I've ever seen. It's a bit of an interesting Class 2+ maze to go around and over these hoodoos, which eventually leads to where the sandstone splendor meets brown dirt, the base of Spendlove Knoll. We saw a social trail leading down to the northwest, and assumed this was the standard route people take to get to Cave Knoll. Instead, we bushwhacked along ample animal trails to the summit of Spendlove Knoll, where we then continued over its north side to the road.

This route is best done as a traverse, but unfortunately despite having two cars, Yoshi and I didn't have the foresight to set up a shuttle *eyeroll*, so instead we ran back to our cars via the road. The views were nice along the road. Mileage/stats assume you do it as a shuttle (+3.1 miles if you walk back on the road like we did).

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Tinaja Knoll
6360 ft
n/a rise
2
Cave Knoll
6495 ft
95 rise
3
Spendlove Knoll
6895 ft
415 rise

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At Kolob Terrace Road, looking north at the dirt road we'd follow to the base of Tinaja Knoll.
At Kolob Terrace Road, looking north at the dirt road we'd follow to the base of Tinaja Knoll.
Yoshi within the wash leading to the base.
Yoshi within the wash leading to the base.
After a short search, we found this Class 2 weakness to get up the cliffs.
After a short search, we found this Class 2 weakness to get up the cliffs.
The hoodoos were spectacular.
The hoodoos were spectacular.
Yoshi working up the Class 2 weakness as we approached the hoodoos.
Yoshi working up the Class 2 weakness as we approached the hoodoos.
Traversing north toward hoodoos.
Traversing north toward hoodoos.
More hoodoos.
More hoodoos.
Pine Valley Peak visible in the center as we navigate around hoodoos in search of the Tinaja Knoll high point.
Pine Valley Peak visible in the center as we navigate around hoodoos in search of the Tinaja Knoll high point.
Image 8 from gallery
Looking back along the ridgeline, Tabernacle Dome visible on the left.
Looking back along the ridgeline, Tabernacle Dome visible on the left.
Class 3 to the Tinaja Knoll high point.
Class 3 to the Tinaja Knoll high point.
Tinaja Knoll, looking south. South Guardian Angel far left, Tabernacle Dome center right.
Tinaja Knoll, looking south. South Guardian Angel far left, Tabernacle Dome center right.
Tinaja Knoll, looking northeast. You can see the tinaja below and Pine Valley Peak on the right.
Tinaja Knoll, looking northeast. You can see the tinaja below and Pine Valley Peak on the right.
Close-up of the tinaja.
Close-up of the tinaja.
Yoshi's reflection ruining my photo of the tinaja. *shakes fist*
Yoshi's reflection ruining my photo of the tinaja. *shakes fist*
From the summit of Tinaja Knoll, cliffs barred easy access to the north. We dropped off the east side on this Class 3 slab section.
From the summit of Tinaja Knoll, cliffs barred easy access to the north. We dropped off the east side on this Class 3 slab section.
After the Class 3 slab, headed along Hoodoo Ridge, Cave Knoll in the center - our next peak.
After the Class 3 slab, headed along Hoodoo Ridge, Cave Knoll in the center - our next peak.
Looking back toward Tinaja Knoll.
Looking back toward Tinaja Knoll.
Cave Knoll ahead. You can also see Spendlove Knoll peeking out on the right. Firepit Knoll visible far right.
Cave Knoll ahead. You can also see Spendlove Knoll peeking out on the right. Firepit Knoll visible far right.
Looking back along Hoodoo Ridge as we start working up toward Cave Knoll.
Looking back along Hoodoo Ridge as we start working up toward Cave Knoll.
Image 20 from gallery
Beautiful slickrock on the way up to Cave Knoll. Class 2.
Beautiful slickrock on the way up to Cave Knoll. Class 2.
Looking back toward Hoodoo Ridge and Tinaja Knoll.
Looking back toward Hoodoo Ridge and Tinaja Knoll.
Summit of Cave Knoll ahead..
Summit of Cave Knoll ahead..
Cave Knoll, looking south toward Tinaja Knoll, Tabernacle Dome, and South Guardian Angel.
Cave Knoll, looking south toward Tinaja Knoll, Tabernacle Dome, and South Guardian Angel.
Cave Knoll looking north toward the gorgeous hoodoos and Spendlove Knoll.
Cave Knoll looking north toward the gorgeous hoodoos and Spendlove Knoll.
Cave Knoll close-up of Yoshi on another hoodoo.
Cave Knoll close-up of Yoshi on another hoodoo.
Starting north again from Cave Knoll, another tinaja.
Starting north again from Cave Knoll, another tinaja.
The same tinaja, Cave Knoll center back.
The same tinaja, Cave Knoll center back.
Hoodoo wonderland. The lighting was rough, but the textures and lumps of rock are really spectacular.
Hoodoo wonderland. The lighting was rough, but the textures and lumps of rock are really spectacular.
Image 30 from gallery
Kind of hard to tell, but it takes some thought to work around and over these hoodoos. This is the view south toward Cave Knoll.
Kind of hard to tell, but it takes some thought to work around and over these hoodoos. This is the view south toward Cave Knoll.
View north from the maze of hoodoos.
View north from the maze of hoodoos.
Image 33 from gallery
Spendlove Knoll ahead, as the hoodoos fizzle out.
Spendlove Knoll ahead, as the hoodoos fizzle out.
Sandstone ends, dirt begind.
Sandstone ends, dirt begind.
Looking back toward Cave Knoll as we work up Spendlove Knoll's animal trails.
Looking back toward Cave Knoll as we work up Spendlove Knoll's animal trails.
Spendlove Knoll ahead.
Spendlove Knoll ahead.
We went under the NPS boundary (it's barbed wire for some reason??) This ended up being unnecessary since we had to cross it again to get to the summit. I guess the peak pretty much marked the boundary.
We went under the NPS boundary (it's barbed wire for some reason??) This ended up being unnecessary since we had to cross it again to get to the summit. I guess the peak pretty much marked the boundary.
Spendlove Knoll summit, looking north down toward the Hop Valley Trailhead. We bushwhacked down from here. There are a lot of animal trails, but we did get a bit scratched up anyway.
Spendlove Knoll summit, looking north down toward the Hop Valley Trailhead. We bushwhacked down from here. There are a lot of animal trails, but we did get a bit scratched up anyway.

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