The Hidden Canyon Trail is a moderate day hike in Zion National Park, which is located near the city of Springdale in southwestern Utah.http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/hiking-in-zion.htm http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm This 2 mile round trip hike follows a steep trail 850 feet up and across a sheer cliff face to the mouth of a shaded canyon where hikers can continue on an unimproved trail and explore.http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm Nestled between the walls of Cable Mountain and the Great White Throne, Hidden Canyon is sometimes referred to as the “great white crack.”http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm

Hidden Canyon was discovered in 1927 during a rescue mission to recover injured climber, William H. Evans. The first person to climb the Great White Throne, Evans reached the summit but fell during his descent. He was found alive, and the discovery of the previously unknown canyon led the park service to create the trail to the canyon in 1928.http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/hist.php

The trailhead for the Hidden Canyon trail is located at the Weeping Rock shuttle stop.http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/hiking-in-zion.htm This trailhead can be reached via the shuttle system in Zion National Park, which runs from April through October each year. The remaining months of the year, the trail is accessible by car.http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-shuttle-system.htm

Upon arriving at the trailhead, hikers can take advantage of restrooms near the parking area before making the steep climb; however, there is no water available along the trail.http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm The Hidden Canyon trail begins across a footbridge just past the Weeping Rock trail.http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm From here, hikers encounter a steep trail that follows a series of switchbacks which also lead to the Observation Point trail.http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/zion_national_park/hidden_canyon.html

Hikers follow signs where the trail splits and continue on through more switchbacks until reaching a section of trail carved directly into the rock face.http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/zion_national_park/hidden_canyon.html Here, hikers encounter steep drop-offs hundreds of feet above the canyon floor. Chains are available in some areas for safety.http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/zion_national_park/hidden_canyon.html

The maintained trail ends at the mouth of Hidden Canyon, and hikers can then continue on as far into the canyon as they are able. This area of the trail is shaded, fairly flat, and cool, in contrast to the previous trail. Hikers can continue on for about a mile into the canyon, though they will encounter boulders and logs which require some scrambling.http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/zion_national_park/hidden_canyon.html http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-hidden-canyon-trail.htm

Due to icy conditions, the Hidden Canyon trail is closed during the winter months.