Not getting to Zion very often, I am probably much more ignorant than others on this site as to specific closures and issues in Zion. That being said, why is Goose Creek closed? Is it permanent? Who here has seen it? Would I have been in violation of the closure if I had climbed over that huge log jam at the bottom and explored up it a small ways when I was there last? Forbidden fruit is often the sweetest. My curiosity was very high last time through.
Yahoo Canyons Group
TomJones
I’ve done it at least twice. It’s a good canyon, in fact, it is a wonderful, intermediate canyon, with a walk out the Narrows. A delightful one-night overnight.
It is closed as a Research Natural Area by the General Management Plan. They snuck it in at the last moment. It is closed for owl research, but… there are about 100 miles of owl habitat that could be used for that, it is pretty bad policy to remove a high-quality recreation resource from the public when it is not necessary. Brian and I are still pretty sore about it.
It is not like Imlay or Kolob. It is more like Engelstead, with a longer walk out.
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, scott patterson wrote:
“That being said, why is Goose Creek closed?” >  > Research Natural Area. >  > “Is it permanent?” >  > Yes, at least as far as the NPS is concerned. >  > “Who here has seen it?” >  > I know Brian Cabe has.  I think Tom has as well. >  > Several members of the canyons group have seen it, but they aren’t so active any more.
From what I’ve heard, Brian really liked the canyon, some other old timers told me that it was really brushy and not as good as Kolob or Imlay.
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scott patterson
“That being said, why is Goose Creek closed?”  Research Natural Area.  “Is it permanent?”  Yes, at least as far as the NPS is concerned.  “Who here has seen it?”  I know Brian Cabe has.  I think Tom has as well.  Several members of the canyons group have seen it, but they aren’t so active any more.
From what I’ve heard, Brian really liked the canyon, some other old timers told me that it was really brushy and not as good as Kolob or Imlay.