Start: Water Canyon, Hilldale UT
RT Stats: ~ 8 miles & 3,200 feet
Difficulty: Class 4 slab

The Beehive, not to be confused with Beehive Butte west of Moab, is located in the southwest corner of Utah, 6 miles south of Zion National Park and just 3 miles north of the Arizona border. Though The Beehive is rarely climbed (we had never heard anyone doing it), nearby Water Canyon is a somewhat popular canyoneering route.

Not knowing what to expect from the mysterious slickrock formation, AA, DB, CP & I came prepared for potential technical challenges. However, a south to north traverse of the peak proved reasonable without a rope. The Beehive's summit area is unique and beautiful and the views are quite expansive.

We then found our way to nearby UN 6,860, surmounted its 4th class summit boulder, and stood atop the impressive arch on its west shoulder before descending Squirrel Canyon and making our exit.



AA drops a piece of webbing for DB as we scramble toward The Beehive's South Ridge.


CP on a hoodoo overlooking Short Creek Canyon.


Incredible, smoothe, white slickrock area just south of the summit.


Approaching the summit of The Beehive. The highpoint on the left is a 3rd class scramble via ledges on its west (left) side.




We descend the North Ridge which requires careful routefinding and a short secction of slabs to 4th class.


Looking back at the slabs we descended on the north side of The Beehive.


The Beehive as seen on the hike over to UN 6,860.


The colorful North Ridge of UN 6,860.


CP on the 4th class summit block of UN 6,860.


Atop the arch on the western shoulder of UN 6,860 above Water Canyon.




The Beehive's East Face as seen as we descend toward Squirrel Canyon from UN 6,860.


The trail along Short Creek is very sandy.

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