⊗ Pine Creek Canyon

August 24, 2017 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Zion National Park → ⊗ Pine Creek Canyon

⊗ Technical Route ⊗
Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Upper East Canyon, Zion National Park, Utah

Distance: 1.3 miles total, 0.5 miles technical

Elevation Gain: 128 feet

Time Required: 2-5 hours

Rappels: 6, lengths up to 100 feet

Red Tape/Notes: Permit required – visit the Zion Permits website; Shuttle (or short hitchhike) is required for this route (route is from Upper Pine Creek to the Lower Pine Creek Bridge). For more info on this route (and others in Zion and around Utah), visit the Canyoneering USA website.

What’s Nearby?: Canyon Overlook Trail, Keyhole Canyon, Spry Canyon

This is a very popular technical route in Zion, and for good reason. It’s relatively short, so if you’re new to the sport you don’t have to worry about being pressed for time, the approach couldn’t be any easier (you practically fall out of your car into the canyon), and it’s absolutely beautiful. You’ll really feel like you’re in a magical underground world, especially if you’re here when the light sparkles off the walls around you in rippling patterns, and some of the rappels – particularly The Cathedral and The Grotto – are what canyoning dreams are made of. For a real treat, do this in the spring while in a drysuit. You’ll be nice and toasty warm in the frigid cold waters, and even better, your drysuit is like a giant floaty. While other canyoneers are slogging through the long swims in their heavy wetsuits, you float serenely by on your back, a flick of your hands on the walls of the narrow corridor sending you sailing effortlessly downstream. Or simply float languidly and watch the light patterns on the rock around you. It’s really great. Downsides to this canyon are the need for a shuttle or hitchhike (I hate hitchhiking…the perpetual rejection is awful) and the fact that its popularity make it often very crowded. While your canyoning skills might make it feasible to do this canyon in 2 hours, you’ll likely end up waiting at rappels for other groups, thus extending your time considerably. Consider combining this canyon with nearby Keyhole for a longer day (you’ll already be wet, so might as well!).