Stave Spring Trail

Stave Spring Trail is a short spur -- about 0.3 miles, roughly 15 minutes -- leading to a water source on Zion's East Rim Trail system, in the park's backcountry east of Zion Canyon. The National Park Service is upfront about what this is: not a scenic destination, but a functional stop for wilderness travelers doing the longer East Rim routes between Weeping Rock and the park's east entrance area.

What's actually there

• The spring itself is a pipe in the ground that provides water, after treatment, to overnight hikers -- flow is seasonal and can run low or dry in late summer and fall.
• It sits near a trail junction close to the Cable Mountain/Deertrap Mountain spur, in a stand of ponderosa pine that's a common backcountry camping area.
• Access to the dedicated trailhead is via high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive dirt roads off North Fork Road, separate from the main East Rim Trail approach from Weeping Rock.

Any overnight stay in this area requires a Zion wilderness permit. Treat the water source as a bonus for backpackers passing through, not a hiking destination on its own.