Trans-Zion Gear Checklist
The Trans-Zion Traverse links five trails from Lee Pass in the Kolob Canyons to the Grotto in Zion Canyon, about 37 miles in three to five days. Gear choices here are driven by water, because the springs are unreliable and the creek through Hop Valley is not safe to drink. Hikers who have done it cache water at the road crossings, wear shoes that handle mud and creek crossings, and carry a light shelter. Every group must also carry a waste bag for each person.
What shapes your gear on Trans-Zion Traverse
- Route and length
- Joe's Guide describes a 37 mile route from Lee Pass to the Grotto, with an overall descent of about 1,800 feet and many ups and downs on the way. It says the route used to run 48 miles to the East Entrance, but a 2019 rockfall shut the lowest stretch of the East Rim Trail by Weeping Rock. Older and some commercial pages still give 47 to 50 miles.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park and Paria Outdoor Products
- Time
- Joe's Guide gives 3 to 4 days and a sample plan with camps at La Verkin Creek, Sawmill Springs and the West Rim. A 2025 hiker spent 4 days, and a 2021 trip took 4 days and 3 nights. A retailer's guide suggests 3 to 5.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, TrailGroove, Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah and Paria Outdoor Products
- Permits
- Zion requires a permit for every overnight trip, picked up in person the day before or the day of the trip, and good only for the sites and dates written on it. Joe's Guide says you need a permit for each night at each campsite. A 2021 hiker found the online reservations very competitive, and a 2025 hiker booked at 10 am on the 5th of the month, three months ahead.
From National Park Service, Zion National Park, Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah and TrailGroove
- Where you can camp
- Joe's Guide says camping is allowed only in designated sites along La Verkin Creek, Hop Valley and the West Rim. None is allowed on the Connector Trail. On Wildcat Canyon Trail camping is allowed only off the Northgate Peaks spur and east of Russell Gulch. The 2025 hiker confirms the Northgate Peaks junction as the first dispersed camp after the Connector Trail.
- Water
- La Verkin Creek is described as reliable. Joe's Guide says cattle-contaminated Hop Valley water should be avoided at all cost. The route's other springs are Wildcat Canyon, Sawmill Springs, Potato Hollow and Cabin Spring, and they taper off in dry months. A 2021 hiker reported that most springs were dry, including some off-trail ones.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah and TrailGroove
- Best months
- Joe's Guide picks late spring (May) and fall (October) as the most pleasant. Winter snow buries the Wildcat Canyon and West Rim sections, and microspikes are suggested. March and April are the least predictable because of the spring thaw.
What the agency requires on Trans-Zion Traverse
A permit, carried and shown on request
The park requires permits for all overnight backpacking trips. They cover only the sites and dates written on them, and you carry yours and show it if a ranger asks.
One waste disposal bag per person
Wilderness permit groups must carry out their solid human waste in waste disposal bags, with at least one bag per person.
A hard-sided food container or a hung wire mesh bag
Food and trash go in a hard-sided container, or in an interlocking wire mesh bag that hangs from a tree where wildlife cannot reach it.
No campfires
Campfires are prohibited in the Zion Wilderness. Stoves and lanterns may be used but only lit on bare ground away from vegetation.
Water treatment
The park recommends carrying one gallon per person per day and says water from the wilderness is not safe to drink untreated. Boiling for 3 minutes works at most elevations in Zion.
What hikers carry on Trans-Zion Traverse
Water cached at the Kolob Terrace Road crossings
Joe's Guide suggests stashing water out of sight near the Hop Valley, Wildcat Canyon and West Rim trailheads and recording the coordinates. A 2021 hiker cached water at a road crossing near Firepit Knoll. An April hiker cached a gallon at Wildcat Canyon. The cache takes a drive up the road beforehand, which that 2021 hiker put at about an hour and a half round trip.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah and Backpacking Light forum: Zion early September
Room to carry six liters or more
A forum reply on a September trip wanted the ability to carry six liters a person. A retailer's guide suggests a bladder plus two or three collapsible bottles. The 2025 hiker topped up at Beatty Spring beside La Verkin Creek before the dry stretch.
From Backpacking Light forum: Zion early September, Paria Outdoor Products and TrailGroove
A filter or other treatment you trust
The park says wilderness water is unsafe untreated. Three separate people say the standing water in cow-grazed Hop Valley should not be drunk. Fill up at La Verkin Creek and Beatty Spring before you climb into it.
From National Park Service, Zion National Park, Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, Paria Outdoor Products and TrailGroove
Shoes that drain, and gaiters for the mud
Hop Valley is sandy and muddy with many creek crossings. Joe's Guide jokes about dodging cow droppings, and a retailer's guide suggests gaiters if you worry about your boots leaking. The 2025 hiker wore non-waterproof approach shoes that dry quickly.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, Paria Outdoor Products and TrailGroove
A double layer of dry bag for the sleeping insulation
On day 3 of the 2021 trip, 12 miles of rain and mud wet the gear. A single dry bag leaked on that trip. A second bag around the quilt kept it dry.
From Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah
A light shelter instead of a full double-wall tent
A retailer's guide suggests a tarp with mesh tent in spring or fall, and a quilt because mummy bags may be too warm. A forum reply for a September trip called the bugs very few and skipped a bug net. A 2025 trip in August saw lows above 40 degrees.
From Paria Outdoor Products, Backpacking Light forum: Zion early September and TrailGroove
A paper map and a shuttle plan
Joe's Guide recommends the Trails Illustrated map. The 2021 hikers found the trails easy to follow and never needed the GPS. The 2021 party hired a shuttle to Lee Pass and left its car at the visitor center, because the start is far from the finish. The Grotto end now connects to the free Zion Canyon shuttle, so you need to beat its last run.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park and Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah
Waste bags and a hard-sided food container
Joe's Guide says there are no restrooms, garbage cans or facilities at the campsites, and tells you to pack out all solid waste and toilet paper. The park sets the minimum at one bag per person.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park and National Park Service, Zion National Park
12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Trans-Zion Traverse
Counting on the springs
The 2021 hikers advised caching water after finding most springs dry, including ones they walked off-trail to reach. Joe's Guide says to check conditions at the Wilderness Desk because many springs taper off in drier months.
From Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah and Joe's Guide to Zion National Park
A single dry bag between you and the rain
The 2021 hikers had bags only seven or eight trips old, and the one around the clothes leaked in a storm. Double bagging worked.
From Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah
A heavy pack on Angels Landing
The last miles of the West Rim pass the Angels Landing junction. A retailer's guide suggests leaving packs at the junction, and the 2025 hiker dropped his at Scout Lookout before the chain section.
From Paria Outdoor Products and TrailGroove
A double-wall tent in spring or fall
A retailer's guide says the dry, milder weather means the double-wall tent can stay home. People disagree on bugs, so check the season, since the same guide warns about insects in the warm months.
From Paria Outdoor Products and Backpacking Light forum: Zion early September
Gear questions for Trans-Zion Traverse
How many days does the Trans-Zion Traverse take?
Joe's Guide gives 3 to 4 days for the 37 mile version that ends at the Grotto. A 2021 party took 4 days and 3 nights. A retailer's guide to the older 47 mile route suggests 3 to 5 days.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah and Paria Outdoor Products
Do you need to cache water on the Trans-Zion Traverse?
Most people who report on it say yes. Joe's Guide suggests caching at the three Kolob Terrace Road trailheads, and a 2021 hiker found most springs dry. La Verkin Creek is reliable early on, and the Hop Valley water is not safe to drink.
From Joe's Guide to Zion National Park and Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah
How do you get a permit for the Trans-Zion Traverse?
You need a permit for each night at each campsite. Zion hands them out in person, one day ahead or on the day itself. One 2025 hiker reserved online at 10 am on the 5th, three months ahead. A 2021 hiker called the system very competitive.
From National Park Service, Zion National Park, Joe's Guide to Zion National Park, TrailGroove and Backpacking Light forum: Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah
What must you carry out on the Trans-Zion Traverse?
The park requires every permit group to carry out its solid human waste, with at least one waste disposal bag per person. Food and trash must go in a hard-sided container or a hung wire mesh bag, and there are no campfires.
Sources
- Backpacking Safety and Regulations · National Park Service, Zion National Park · Agency
- The Trans-Zion Trek (Zion Traverse) · Joe's Guide to Zion National Park · Blog
- Hike of the Week: Trans-Zion Trek · Paria Outdoor Products, Bart Przybyl · Blog
- Backpacking Across Zion National Park: A Desert Traverse · TrailGroove, tmountainnut · Trip report
- Zion Traverse, Zion National Park, Utah · Backpacking Light forum, John Menna · Forum thread
- Zion early September · Backpacking Light forum · Forum thread