Turning east on Highway 9 off of Highway 89 at Mount Carmel Junction, it is hard to imagine the massive canyon that exists just a few miles ahead. I have often wondered what the pioneers thought as they rode along these green high country plateau's to end at the thousand-foot sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park.
Highway 9 loops around a large ravine, formed by the runoff of water from the surrounding mountain peaks before entering the park, known as Mineral Gulch, the wash contains several slot canyons and petroglyphs.
UNP 6418
Sitting at this junction of Highway 9 and Mineral Gulch is the unnamed peak of 6418.
The soil in this area is highly unstable, as the roads bumps, twists, and turns will attest to, and UNP 6418 also contains large slide areas, as Meadow Creek continues to erode its western face.
An ATV trail circles the mountain peak, following the ridgeline from north to south, and I park in an old gravel pit used to reinforce the road passing nearby.
Trail view east of Highway 9 and the cliffs surrounding Mt. Carmel Junction
The hike is steep, and the ATV track shows signs of being for advanced riders only as I make my way toward the summit. Rising along the ridge while Mineral Gulch drops away below creates an inspiring view. The ATV track passes very near the summit, as I make my way to a rocky peak, shaded by Juniper Trees. Unlike the wooded mountain earlier today on UNP 9380, peak 6418 offers a stunning view across the canyon to the towering sandstone monoliths called Zion National Park.
Summit view west to Zion National Park