Second Mary

Second Mary is one of the Three Marys, a cluster of sandstone summits rising east of the West Temple above Springdale. There's no maintained trail here — reaching the peak is an off-trail scramble through wash and slickrock, popular with local climbers rather than casual hikers.

What to know before you go

• Access starts on Lion Boulevard; park on the street and walk the wash right of the gate near the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater turnoff, a Utah Tech University venue rather than a trailhead facility.
• Climbing the Marys together runs roughly 4 miles round trip with about 2,500 feet of elevation gain.
• Expect Class 3-4 scrambling with sections of roped climbing (routes in the 5.0-5.4 range) — this is a backcountry objective for people comfortable on exposed rock, not a standard day hike.
• The payoff is a summit view of the West Temple, the Towers of the Virgin, and Zion Canyon below.