Two Pines Arch Zion National Park

March 25, 2009

Having completed a tour of Hidden Arch less than an hour ago, I once again consult online information on how to find this destination which also is not an official route.

Scrambling up an embankment from the highway enables me to go down into a wash and head north up the canyon.  There are footprints around, but no other markings.  Detouring around cactus and other obstacles for a quarter-mile enables me to achieve a point where my objective can be spotted.

Cactus is the most exciting plant around

Nothing but slickrock so far

The Manzanita are in bloom

The arch is well up the hillside

I head pretty much directly up the slope toward the arch.  This probably isn't the easiest way to go, but when climbing it really doesn't matter.  Along the way I encounter some interesting stuff.

One of the easier sections

Nice colors in the conglomerate

Plains Prickly Pear

A few rest stops later, I am almost there.  This scramble was a deceptively strenuous workout.

It's just ahead

It is easy to see how this arch got its name.  The two pine sentinels straddle the monument as if protecting it.  Being this close to such a delicate and relatively little-known formation is a special experience.

Two Pines Arch

From here I can see the highway in two different places.  This means, of course, that the arch can be seen from the road as well.  I'll check that out.

The view back

After munching a bit of trail mix and utilizing the camera's self-timer for a couple of wife-pleasing self-portraits, I head back down the hill.  This time I take a roundabout path that isn't so steep.  Walking on slickrock is treacherous, due to all the attendant surface sand and loose pieces.  One must tread more carefully around here than I am accustomed to worrying about.  In my home-territory Sierras, the rocky traverses are mostly on solid, non-slippery granite.

Near the trailhead

Back at the car, I peer up the canyon and, surely enough, the arch is in plain view.  One need only know where to look.

The arch is indeed visible from the road

Telephoto view

§: This hike was fun, although I feel more worn out than expected for a jaunt that took barely more than an hour.
 

• Trailhead: The little wash about .4 mile east of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, right at the westbound yellow sign that reads, "Caution Delays Possible Be Prepared to Stop."
• Distance: .8 mile
• Elevation: 5200' to 5600'
• Hikers: none
• Rating: 5

Zion National Park
Two Pines Arch