Peak Climbed: "Squirrel Peak"

Peak Height: 6,310'

Route: South Ridge

Difficulty: Class 3

Location: Zion National Park vicinity, Utah

Trailhead: Water Canyon

Mileage & Gain: 2 mi & 1,300 ft RT

Date Climbed: November 26, 2019

"Squirrel Peak", so called because of its position above Squirrel Creek, lies about seven miles south of the Zion National Park border. Access is via the town of Hilldale, the infamous heart of the FLDS in Utah. You can read horror stories of what has transpired here in Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven". I always find it spooky driving through town to the trailhead.

In 2015 a devastating flash flood swept through this area killing 13 people, mostly children. They've recently been doing a lot of work here and the Water Canyon Trailhead has been greatly improved since my last visit in 2013.

Heavy snowfall forced us out of Zion proper and left us in search of less ambitious objectives. Squirrel Peak fit the bill. A steep uphill grunt leads to the south ridge and easy routefinding and casual scrambling gets you to the top. The splattering of new snow did not pose any difficulties. Views of neighboring "Water Peak" and The Beehive are fantastic.