One of the hikes in Zion National Park’s lesser-visited high East rim, the Many Pools trail lets you get away from the tourist crowds in the Valley.
It’s called the Many Pools trail for a good reason – the many pools in the slickrock as you wind your way up.
We were lucky enough to have complete solitude, with the exception of a large herd of Bighorn Sheep that we stumbled across. They were just as surprised to see us as we were to see them, but they quickly returned to mowing their way through the scrubby vegetation.
When the official trail ends, you can connect to the Deertrap Mountain trail and spend days wandering around the backcountry.
Unfortunately we have timetables, so no extended backcountry excursions for us this time.
Many Pools
It’s called the Many Pools hike for a very good reason.
The Whirl
The angles and layers in this shot make it feel like a vortex or whirlpool twisting it’s way in.
Woah
Somebody is doing the math.
Really?
These bighorn sheep paid very little attention to us as they grazed nearby. They would all move from one bush to another, chomping it down before moving along.
Backcountry
I’m guessing this counts as backcountry. The bighorn sheep are visible in the lower middle right of the frame.
Stepping Carefully
Slickrock has amazing grip when dry, but turns to owl snot the minute it has any water on it.
Under The Lip
Giant alcoves along the trail.
Start Me Up
This old Chevrolet might need a bit of work to get back on the road.
Thirty Seconds of Chomp Chomp Chomp
30 seconds of Bighorn Sheep chomping away on scrubby plants along the Many Pools trail
