Lady Mountain, Zion National Park

Lat/Lon: 37.25°N, 112.96°W
Lady Mountain is the monolith with a sheer cliff on it’s north side located across the road
from Zion Lodge in the majestic and colorful Zion National Park (home of big wall
climbing). It was named after a section in the climb that resembles a woman’s face over
Emerald Pools. Most of the mountain is covered in Navajo Sandstone from the Mesozoic
era. Due to deaths and bothersome rescues, two ladders and 2000’ of cable hand line that
used to exist on this route were removed in 1978.   The summit gives way to tremendous
360 degree views of the canyon including, Red Arch Mountain, the Great White Throne,
Deer Trap Mountain, Cable Mountain, East Temple, West Temple, Cannan Mt, Three
Patriarches and Castle Dome.

Getting There
Zion is a 229 sq mile National Park located about 20 minutes on State Hwy 9 off of I-15
north of St George (also a great sport climbing meca) in southwestern Utah.    Zion is an
ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary and is full of sculptured
canyons and soaring cliffs. Lady Mountain is one of those cliffs rising above the canyon
floor directly across from Zion Lodge located in the middle of the south section of the park.
Drive through the Park Gates on the edge of Springdale via Hwy 9 and continue to the
Lodge. Park at the Grotto Picnic area on your right.

Red Tape
You will not need a climbing permit, but you will have to pay a National Park fee to access
the park. I always purchase an annual pass to US and Canadian Parks.   If you are going
to make more than 4 visits per year, I advise this option.

No bears to worry about, but I did accidentally step on a scorpion. He vibrated my boot to let
me know. Then he took off unharmed. Guess I might try that on my next Grizzly encounter
up north.

When to Climb
March to October is what the Park Service recommends. I booked this in March. It should
be damn hot in mid summer.

Camping
There are great campsites in Zion. We stayed at the South Campground just inside the
gates. We found a great spot on the North Fork of the Virgin River. This is a first come, first
serve campground via self registration. March it was not overcrowded. This is a popular
park however and I advise booking a site ahead of time at Wat chman Campground if you
think you are going during a popular period. If you demand the luxuries of town, I
recommend Majestic View Lodge. I have stayed here on a separate trip and the rooms are
first class and views are unbeatable.

Mountain Conditions
The Zion National Park website has everything you need including trail conditions or
closures, wildlife notices, weather conditions, camping permits, canyon water levels, etc.

Route
You start in the parking lot at 4276’. Cross the road and hop onto the footbridge. The total
route is 3.6 miles round trip gaining 2700’+/- from the canyon floor with several 5.7
climbing problems. Take the Middle Emerald Pools Trail beyond the rock slide interpretive
sign.   After about 10 minutes from the bridge, you will leave the trail and scramble the
slope above to a large headwall at the base of the climb.

Proceed left onto a somewhat worn trail. There are two locations where a rope will be
useful for ascent and descent. The first is a chimney that has an overhanging 8' boulder
move, V-0 with an anchor at top. It is an easy boulder move, but with exposure. The
second crux is a right facing off width dihedral about 12' high, with a few 5.7 moves.
From here, route find your way up the mountain. In March the snow covered some of the
trail evidence. It is fairly straight forward however. Once you break onto the summit ridge,
you will be treated to 360 degree views. The final trek to the summit is short and sweet.
There is a summit marker and views abound including, Red Arch Mountain, the Great White
Throne, Deer Trap Mountain, Cable Mountain, East Temple, West Temple, Cannan Mt,
Three Patriarches and Castle Dome.

Equipment
I took a party of about 7 up the route myself without a rope, but of course that does not
mean I am sane. An 80’ rope is suggested by the Park, thus, I recommend it.’.

Trip Report
I took my daughter and 4 of her college age friends, my wife and her brother on this route.
We started at the Emerald Pools parking lot and scrambled off trail within the first 10
minutes.   We headed straight up into a large headwall at the base of this climb, then
proceeded left onto a somewhat worn trail. There are several small cruxes, but only 2
significant ones. The first comes as a left facing small overhang. But once you get up in it,
it is not overwhelming. I had to help this group individually up and back down it. We did not
have a rope, but probably should have. There is some exposure here. Be careful. The next
significant crux is a smooth piece of rock that is difficult to smear up. We formed a human
chain here and it worked fine. I would hop up it solo with no worries. From there you will hit
a little snow this time of year, but nothing that presents any major obstacles. This turned
out to be a great group scramble. From the road, it looks like a much more impressive
climb than it really is. Fun in the sun!!!!