I had to be back in town by 2:00 for a daughters doctor appointment so I knew I would have to go on a shorter hike today. I had a list of a few hikes, but finally decided on Eagle Crags. It is a hike I had first heard about when Dan Lackey, a hiking buddy of mine, and I were hiking a couple years back. Everytime I would go to Zion National Park, I'd glance over at the rugged Eagle Crags knowing that some day I would hike over to them.
To get to the trailhead, we drove to the small town of Rockville just a few miles from Zion National Park, and took Bridge Road south across the Virgin River on a really cool bridge. Bridge Road is very easy to miss if you're not really looking for it, although there is a sign pointing to "Grafton" from SR 9 where Bridge Road is. Grafton is an old Ghost town which merrits exploration in it's own right. It was founded in 1859 and completely abandoned due to flooding and Indian attacks by 1944.
Once you've found Bridge Road in Rockville and headed across the river, the paved road to grafton turns right (west) but the road to get to the Eagle Crags trailhead continues straight in a dirt road. I was nervous about the condition of the dirt road because I had read that a 4-wheel drive is required and after a rainstorm the road can even be impassible for the 4-wheel drive vehicle.
It had rained all day the day before our hike so I was nervous about how the road would look, especially since we had a 2-wheel drive mini-van as our mode of transportation. I had planned on being forced to park just across the bridge and hiking the extra 4 miles to the trailhead (there and back) that this would add to our trip. The first section of road was graded very well and the van had no trouble with it.
Soon, however, the road began to climb uphill steeply and there were a few puddles here and there in small potholes. We made it to the top of the cliff band and continued on to the cattle guard which marks the end of private property and the beginning of BLM land. From here the road deteriorated. Large muddy potholes and washed out road guarded the next dozens of yards of road and I stopped and got out of the van to assess if I thought we could make it any farther. I found a way to navigate between the potholes. Not much passed the potholes, the road began to climb again and huge rocks began protruding once again complicating the drive.
Shortly after we made it up the hill and passed the rocks we came to a small sign on the right hand side marking the Eagle Crags trailhead (about 1.9 miles from SR 9). The trailhead is at an elevation of a little over 4300 feet. We started on the trail at 9:02. The trail is easy to follow as it descends at first down rocky terrain in a south-easterly direction. The trail is surrounded by sage brush, juniper trees, and prickly pear cactus. We took some time to pick a couple fruits off the cactus and eat, careful not to touch the thin fiberglass like splinters coming out of the fruit.
We continued on, passing an old barbed wire fence that, from what I've read, used to have a hikers gate attatched to it. Today, there was no gate and even the fence it's self was easy to miss. Just before it's conclusion, the trail climbs up some moderate switchbacks and lets you off at the base of Eagle Crags. We continued on to the east of the Crags and a bit south as well until we came to an area with really pretty views into Zion Canyon and Parunuweap Canyon, just east of Zion Canyon. The trail became more faint at this point as it descended farther south along the east side of the Crags. From what I've read, this is an old stock trail that those with a knowledge of the area can take to reach Lower Mountain, Canaan Mountain, and Water Canyon.
We decided to stop here after about 2.6 miles and have some lunch at 11:00. The elevation where we stopped was a little over 5200 feet. The clouds were low and were blocking some of the promenent landmarks of Zion Canyon. After taking some pictures we headed back the same way we came in and made it back to the car at 12:03. The total hike was 5.33 miles and took us 3 hours and 1 minute to complete.
Liz and I at the trailhead. There is also a register at the far left of the picture.
Carefully getting a prickly pear fruit.
Getting the prickly pear ready to eat.
Matthew Arscott and I on the trail.
Where we stopped for lunch and turned around.
Eagle Crags partially hidden in the low clouds.
Where's Waldo?
