Introduction:
What? :
Water Canyon
Arch (or Eye of Heaven Arch) is located high in the cliffs above Water Canyon in
Canaan Mountain Wilderness, right near Hilldale, Utah.
This is a
strenuous 10 miles out and back trail with 2,000 ft of total elevation gain.
The trail start
from Squirrel Canyons small parking and follow Short Creek, from there it climb
steeply into Squirrel Creek canyon to reach the high area of Canaan Mountain Wilderness.
From here you
will climb another ridgeline and hike down to the see the arch. The arch span
right at the edge of 1,500 ft cliff wall, hanging over Water Canyon.
I came here to
visit the arch, but the views and the amazing slick rock formation and color
are even more impressive.
Where? :
This area is
located near the border of Utah and Arizona and the towns of Colorado City,
Arizona and Hildale, Utah. The two towns are really one community, but the
state line runs through them.
If you are
coming from Hurricane, take highway 59 (Utah) east and drive to Hildale, if you
are coming from Fredonia (Kanab, UT) take 389 (Arizona) west to Colorado City.
At the city of Hildale/Colorado
City drive into town north and take Canyon St. in the direction of “Zion
Glamping Adventures”.
At about 3.5
miles in you will turn right into a dirt road, Water Canyon Rd.
On your 1-mile drive
to the trailhead you will pass the glamping site on your left and reach the
first parking lot on your right, this will be Squirrel Canyon trailhead.
The road is
typically accessible by low clearance cars, but after heavy rain sections of
this road could be in muddy conditions.
Water Canyon
Arch hike start at Squirrel Canyons small parking lot and not at the end of the
road.
Google Map Link
All this area
is protected under Canaan Mountain Wilderness. This is a 44,531-acre (180.2
km2) wilderness area in the US state of Utah. Located north of the town of
Hildale in southeastern Washington County, right on the border with Arizona (Colorado
City). At its north side the wilderness borders with remote section of Zion
National Park.
When? :
The trail is
open year-round and is beautiful area to visit anytime of the year but the best
season to hike here is Spring and Fall.
Summer are very
hot and temperatures over 100f are common mid-days.
Because this is
a strenuous hike with steep climb I do not recommend hiking here when it is hot.
Start your hike very early in this morning and finish with the climbing section
when it is not hot.
Winters are cold
and can even have snowstorms so come prepared for snow/ice covered trails in
the upper trail’s elevation.
If it is a warm
week after heavy snow creek water levels can be high.
Due note 1:
No need to pay
for parking or permit to hike in the wilderness.
Due note 2:
There is
another parking and trailhead leading to the high section of the wilderness at
the end of Water Canyon Rd, near the reservoir.
Due note 3:
There are no
restrooms or water at the trailhead.
I think you can
find restrooms nearby, at Water Canyon Trailhead.
Due note 4:
Most of the
trail is clear but there are some sleek rock sections that are not marked and involved
with some path finding, have an offline map with you.
Due note 5:
When hiking
here it is unlikely that you see many other people, I hiked here during weekend,
and I saw only one other hiker the entire day.
Due note 6:
I understand
that dogs are welcome and may be off leash in some areas.
Due note 7:
There is a lot
of soft sand on many sections of this hike, so it is more challenging to hike.
Due note 8:
Water source:
You may have
water in Short Creek but this is an active cow location so water might be
unsuitable for drinking without a very good treatment.
There are few
small springs in Squirrel Canyon section, just before the steep climb up, I was
here late summer and there was still water in the sprogs, make sure to filter
the water before drinking.
Due note 9:
Most of the
trail in the upper plateau is exposed to the sun, heat, long sleeves and sunblock
is recommended.
Due note 10:
You can make
this as a much longer loop hike by walking west on Canaan Mountain Trail and down
into Water Canyon Trail that ends at the reservoir at the end of the dirt road.
Due note 11:
Loading, food,
gas and other touristic needs can be found in the nearby town, Hurricane and
St. Gorge, Utah are also not far away.
My thoughts:
I learn about
this area few years back but after visiting here once I know that I will come
and visit here again. The wilderness high ragged area with all its amazing rock
formation and color patterns is a hidden gem.
It was relatively hot day when I visit here,
and the climb up was not so long but very steep. The arch itself is located
right on the 1,500 ft cliff edge so when you are hiking here you can only see
it from above. The area of the exposed sandstones is beautiful and need
additional exploration.
The Hike:
Adjacent to the southeast boundary of Zion National Park, Canaan Mountain Wilderness is comprised of approximately 44,500 acres of public land in Washington County. In this wilderness, an 8-by-10-mile block of Navajo Sandstone, bounded by 2,000-foot-high cliffs, has been sculpted by wind and water over time into a landscape of soaring cliff walls, natural arches, and slot canyons.
On the
highest plateaus, stands of ponderosa pine are surrounded by cream-colored
slickrock. Pinyon pine, Utah juniper, scrub oak, and sagebrush cover the
mountain slopes, at lower elevations.
From the
Squirrel Canyon Trailhead you take the trail leading down and crossing the
Water Canyon wash, you climb on the other side of the creek and followed the
trail along the private property fence.
When I visit
here, Sep. 2024 the creek was dry.
After walking
0.4 mile you will get into Short Creek, pass it to the other side and turn
left.
Walk up the
creek on the sandy road, here there are many old willow trees. If you will look
up above you, you will see the south section of the Beehive dome formation.
When I visit
here the creek has some water in it but not significant, depending on the time
of year and rainstorms, the water levels may be higher, so you may need to get
your feet wet.
You will pass a
creek coming from the right and after hiking 1.4 mile from the trailhead you
will see a clear canyon join from the left side.
Here you need
to cross the creek under the trees and find the trail heading into this side
creek, named Squirrel Canyon.
This canyon get
narrow as you climb up, along the way you will pass few water springs, here you
can see a small dam for collecting water.
At some point
the trail following the left side of the canyon and start to climb up a very
steep cliffside.
This steep
climbing section is not so long but it is very steep!
At the end of
this climb the view start to open-up, look back on the canyon you just climb,
and you can also see The Beehive from the “back” side.
The trail keep climbing up and after 2.9 miles you will reach a clear trail junction with Canaan Mountain Trail (or maybe trail name is Sawmill Trail).
The area is sandy, but
you can’t miss this junction.
Remember this
location because when you will be heading back you will need to turn here to
the trail leading back into the canyon.
Turn left
(west) on the sandy Canaan Mountain Trail and start to hike in the direction of
the slickrock wash saddle, on your right you will see beautiful rock formations
dome and colors.
The sandy trail
drop into the slickrock wash area and climb to the saddle a head of you.
At the saddle
you need to look for Eye of Heaven Arch Trail leading to your left, in the
direction of Water Peak ridgeline.
This trail
junction is 3.7 miles from your starting point.
This trail is
also covering deep sand areas for most of it sections, but it also pass through
some exposed slick rock sections where it is not clear where you need to walk.
Look for the
sandy trail a head of you and walk in that direction.
Do not climb to
the top of the ridge or to the left side, the trail climb to the right side of Water
Peak ridge line, the Alltrails map tracking the correct path of this trail.
At the top of
the sandy hill the trail looping a large rock formation on it right and start
to descend in the direction of the arch to the right side.
At some point, just
before the last descent on the sandy slop take right and walk to the cliff edge
and see the arch from above., if you missed this point on your way down, I do
recommend walking there when you are climbing back from the arch.
After looking
from above the trail going down to the arch and you will get to the place where
the arch connected to the main cliff rock.
The arch is
incredible, it is hanging out of the red-rock cliff edge, about 1,500 ft above
the canyon below you.
It is
challenging to get a good view of the entire arch because it is so close to the
cliff.
You can walk on
the arch itself; it start relatively wide but getting narrower as you progress
to it remote side.
Try not to fall
here, this will be the last thing you will do, ever !
Here you can
put your backpack off, rest, drink and eat something, enjoy the arch and the
view.
From here the panoramic
views to the other side of Water Canyon cliffs, south and below into Water
Canyon Reservoir, and the Hildale opening are breathtaking.
You can also
look up to the west and see the White Domes area of the wilderness.
If you look
carefully into the canyon opening below you, you can see the small parking lot
you started your hike.
When I was here,
I saw helicopter tours flying inside the canyon below me.
I did not saw
any one on my way up and I was the only one here.
The view and
the solitude was relaxing but after some time it was time to hike back.
You start with
climbing back on the sandy trail to the ridgeline. from here you are going down
in the direction of the exposed slickrock mountain and the saddle in the
middle, there a right turn into the beautiful, exposed rock drainage section
and back to the sandy trail going down. Taking right into Squirrel Canyon trail
and climbing down into the canyon and all the way to the parking lot.
Overall, this
was a 10 miles hike and with the long resting breaks and taking pictures it
took me 5 hours.
Wilderness,
arche, amazing rock formation and panoramic landscape views, what a fun hike!
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