Many Pools (Root Canal)

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 37.22328°N / 112.91463°W
Additional Information Route Type: Hiking
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Difficulty: Hike
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

Clear Creek has carved a beautiful slickrock valley in the eastern parts of Zion National Park. Visitors who enter the park from the east, travel on Route 9 through this scenic valley. Between the park’s east entrance and the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, Route 9 provides access to many side valleys and canyons that drain into the Clear Creek Valley. While exploring some of the canyons requires technical skills, many of the valleys can be hiked. There are, however, no established trails and no signs on the road for these hikes.

Many Pools is one of the side valleys on the north side of Route 9. Running water has dug a continuous series of small pools in the slickrock floor of the valley resembling beads on a string. The valley can be hiked for about a mile north of Route 9 where it turns into a tight canyon. Further hiking requires serious bushwhacking. Please see Bob Sihler's Page if you are interested in hiking to reach the top of the mesa where the trail to Deertrap Mountain and Cable Mountain run.

On a topographic map, Many Pools and the valley immediately to the west of it resemble a root canal. For this reason, these valleys are sometimes referred to as the Root Canals.



Many Pools Map
Map


Getting There

Please note that there are no signs on the road for this hike. It is obviously very important that you identify and enter the correct valley. Study your map carefully. The GPS coordinates below may also be helpful.

From the town of Springdale, drive east on Route 9. Go through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel (the long tunnel) and continue east. You will soon reach the small tunnel. Continue east 0.8 miles on the east side of the eastern entrance of the small tunnel until you see a pull-out on the right (south side) of the road. Park here and hike east on Route 9 for 500 ft until you reach the Many Pools Valley.

GPS Coordinates for the entrance into the Many Pools Valley from Route 9 are:
37 degree, 13.397 minute North
112 degree, 54.878 minute West

Route Description

The information below takes you from Route 9 to the beginnings of the tight canyon where bushwhacking starts. All distances are per my GPS.











-

Place
Elevation
Distance
Route 9
5350 ft
zero miles
Dry Waterfall
-
0.75 miles
End of Hike
5850 ft
0.35 miles
Total
1.1 miles



Descend a short distance down the road embankment, enter the Many Pools Valley and head north. You will find yourself in a wide, colorful slickrock valley with slickrock mountains all around you





Beginnings of the Valley
 
Beginnings of the Valley
 
Beginnings of the Valley
 
Beginnings of the Valley
 


Turn around frequently and enjoy the view to the south




Looking South
Looking South
Looking South
Looking South


You will soon go by this interesting formation



Interesting Rock
Rock Formation


Depending on the time of the year, you may note a trickle of water running down the slickrock valley floor



Trickle of Water
Trickle of Water


After 0.75 miles, you will reach a dry waterfall. You can hike up the slopes on the west side of the falls





Dry Waterfall from Above
Dry Waterfall from Above
Dry Waterfall from Below
Dry Waterfall from Below
Near Dry Waterfall
Near Dry Waterfall


You will see pools like beads on a string. Looks closely to see frogs in and around the pools






Pools Like Beads on a String
Many Pools
Pools Like Beads on a String
Many Pools
Desert Frog
Frog, by Bob Sihler
Desert Frog-- Many Pools, Zion
Frog, by Bob Sihler


More slickrock scenery




Above the Dry Waterfall
 
Above the Dry Waterfall
 
Above the Dry Waterfall
 


You will then reach a wide open area surrounded by trees



Wide Open Area
Wide Open Area


Further north, a tight canyon begins to form. As you go farther, bushwhacking becomes more intense. This is the end of the hike.



Canyon
Canyon
Canyon
Canyon


Weather & When to Hike

See the forecast for Springdale, UT

Summer may be too hot to hike. The best time is Spring & Autumn. Winter in this area is mild.

Red Tape

Day hikes do not need a permit.

When I checked with the Back Country Desk at the park headquarters, I was told that day hikes into non-technical canyons do not need a permit. I recommend that you personally check with the park before hiking.

See link below for all rules and regulations:
http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

External Limks

Many Pools

Children

Children

Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For example, the Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children.