Gooseberry Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildlife

It is likely that you will get sucked into seeing what's around the next bend on the White Rim Trail so bring enough water to enjoy the desert safely.

From the parking area head straight out across the slickrock following cairns until you reach a junction. Head left to descend Gooseberry (going right takes you to an overlook). The descent is unrelenting in grade and has a few exposed sections with chopped steps and others with loose rock.

Once you reach the wash you'll follow it down the canyon with cairns to reassure you are on track. Make sure you look around at the trail/wash junction to remember what it looks like for the climb back up. A few miles of nice wash running leads to the White Rim Trail just north of the Gooseberry campsites (permits required through NPS). There is no water on the trail, but there is a bathroom at the campsites.

From here you can either return the way you came or explore the rolling doubletrack of the White Rim Trail in either direction. Going right (south) from the Gooseberry Junction is very scenic and has a tendency to keep pulling you further and further to see what lies around the corner.

Desert bighorns, cottontail rabbits and snakes are often sighted.