Poverty Gulch Trail

Poverty Gulch — also called Poverty Wash or Poverty Trail — is an old cattle route turned network of BLM roads and ATV tracks about 2.8 miles east of Zion's boundary, reached off Highway 9 near Glendale. It's a vehicle route more than a hiking trail; the surface mixes sand and slickrock and generally needs a high-clearance vehicle, though the final mile in is restricted to foot and horse travel.

Why it connects to Zion

• The route drops through the Parunweap Canyon Wilderness Study Area to reach the East Fork of the Virgin River, right at the approach to the Barracks — the dramatic narrows section of Parunweap Canyon just outside the park boundary.
• Hikers doing the Barracks sometimes use this route as an alternate approach or side diversion rather than the main trailhead.
• Along the way there are canyon rim overlooks and some petroglyph sites, but this is BLM backcountry, not a maintained park trail — go prepared for real navigation and no services.