I will be looking into Zion this spring for the first time.It looks like May will be the month.What are your MUST SEE 1-day canyons.
Yahoo Canyons Group
I will be looking into Zion this spring for the first time.It looks like May will be the month.What are your MUST SEE 1-day canyons.
neil wilkinson
If this is your first time in Zion and you think there is a good chance you will go more than once there is some logic in this thinking. Doing a coupe of the classics even if they are not the “greatest” of all time and getting the lay of the land would certainly not disappoint. It’s a great place, I’m guessing you’ll be pressed not to enjoy yourself regardless of what you do. Besides, if you really want to ‘see’ Zion you are not going to do it in one trip unless you’re going to be there for a month.
The view from the permit line just after dawn is especially nice.
Neil
desertres desertres@yahoo.com> wrote: I prefer a more laidback approach. Arrive in time at Kolob ranger station earliest May this year, pick up permit for the Subway, a top Zion canyon, which can be hard to get a permit for otherwise later in the year, and spend of the rest of the day getting comfortable with the Zion layout. Take in a hike or two or ten..depending. Drive to the start&exit as well, look around that sort of thing.
Next day ,not tired, do Mystery or Orderville if the narrows are open, if tired ,do Pine Creek and Keyhole.
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desertres
I prefer a more laidback approach. Arrive in time at Kolob ranger station earliest May this year, pick up permit for the Subway, a top Zion canyon, which can be hard to get a permit for otherwise later in the year, and spend of the rest of the day getting comfortable with the Zion layout. Take in a hike or two or ten..depending. Drive to the start&exit as well, look around that sort of thing.
Next day ,not tired, do Mystery or Orderville if the narrows are open, if tired ,do Pine Creek and Keyhole.
That will be about it for a first visit. Unless in Yellowstone you would recommend a first time visitor to Yellowstone to go backpacking in the Thorofare or Pitchstone Plateau in May. Then just go ahead and book Kolob, get the permit, go to sleep, and you are ready. Dont even look at the CFS conditions, the higher the better right ?! If you meet a cougar, just tackle it and tell it you are a canyoneer. Just like if you see a grizzly charging, better to just bullrush it and tackle it LOL.
scott c.
I am no master, quite the opposite actually. But I love Zion. If this is your first time, I really would wait till June to have the best chance of do-able water flows (as determined by the rangers) Of course the canyon choices depend on skill level. Believing that you are up for it, for the first time, the ever popular Pine creek is a must due. The double arch rap and the final intimidator rap are spectacular. Fun half day. You may want to throw in Key hole just for fun for the other couple of hours to burn in one day. For what I think is a “taste of Zion” in other words a little of everything. Do the Subway. Need a little excitement and slot with the Subway? add the Das Boot route. I can’t number the photos I have taken in the Subway. I can’t help my self. Since I haven’t done Imlay and Heaps, two of the three crown jewels (that I am aware of) I can only comment on Kolob – the full meal deal and third of the crown jewels. Kolob canyon was my favorite in Zion. The technical section was amazingly beautiful. When I did Kolob, my group and I slept in the canyon after the technical section and then did the long but very scenic hike through Kolob Creek into the Narrows and out. Great time. You catch the best of “the Narrows” and the Kolob Creek narrows. One of my other favorites was Englestead. Breathtaking 300 foot entry rap with all natural anchors for the rest. Great canyon and the best parts of Orderville if you go down as gravity intended. Other suggestions– like big raps? Behunin. Like fun sequential raps and a cheering crowd on your last rappel? Mystery. OK if I keep going I will have suggested about every trade route. I haven’t done a bad canyon in Zion. Big walls, water, spectacular scenery. . . doesn’t get any better than that. BTW – Heaps and Imlay are doers this summer. Got to complete the crown 😉
Scott Card
davewyo1 davewyo@hotmail.com> wrote: The masters may not have an opinion.What’s yours? Should I try to push it into early June instead of May?I know Zion gets a lot of snow and runoff.What is the beginning of the”good”season?I will have a wetsuit and all kinds of other stuff…I probably won’t sue you for telling me your favorite Zion canyon(just kidding,I may sue you…)
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, scott patterson wrote:
> Others know Zion better than me, but I assume places like Kolob, Heaps, or anything draining into the Narrows is a no-go in May. Icebox still had quite a bit of snow when we did it in mid-June. > I assume ones like Spry, Englestead, Behunin, Misery, and Pine are good choices with a wetsuit?
I will let the masters answer.
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>
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— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “davewyo1” wrote:
I will be looking into Zion this spring for the first time.It looks > like May will be the month.What are your MUST SEE 1-day canyons.
May might be a tad early for the long, cold swimmer type canyons.
1 dayers?
Keyhole/Pine Creek for sure. Short 1/2 day. Really, Pine Creek is a must do. Its popular for a reason.
Middle Echo. Also short 1/2 day. Can be very cold water, so, just ’cause its hot out, don’t underestimate the cold swims.
If the snowpack continues on its present course, the stuff near Lava Point might be kinda doable.
Kolob, Oak Creek (main or north fork and south fork aka eye of needle), Boundary. Kolob gets top bill for sure. Will be pretty cold water exposure in May, and, I’d really watch that flow, might be too high in May with runoff. Ditto the Oak Creek forks (especially exiting via Kolob Creek).
Left Fork of North Creek into the Subway via Russel Gulch is super.
Imlay short cut especially if the pools are topped off and the narrows are below the 120 or 140 cfs. For a first timer, in a day, you’re skills and fitness need to be strong to punch this dude out in the daylight hours. Predawn start for sure. You’ll want to be able to move move move too.
Fat Man’s is fun, with a bonus of getting to see some of P-weap down to the falls (as nice as the narrows, IMHO). Longer entry and egress in terms of hiking, though. But, neat if you like slickrock hiking and cross country type travel.
I wouldn’t suggest Heaps as a one dayer if you haven’t canyoned in Zion. Plus, it’d be a shame to rush it anyhow.
Behunin is fun, especially if the water flow is high other places, and the hike to it can be combined with Telegraph. Even alone, Behunin makes for a nice tour as its a loop which connects some neat areas in Zion. Combo with a side trip to the summit of Angel’s Landing. Or, bust up all the way to the West Rim for the views.
Mystery is pretty neat. Also, nice loop hike if you start at the bottom.
Englestead and out Orderville is really really good. I’d pick that over Mystery. Car shuttle really helps make this much easier especially if the shuttle driver knows where to drop you off. Again, tehough, check narrows flow.
Kinda depends on how long your trip to Zion is, and, if you have the Ram-esque ability to reload day after day after day…(ha ha). Easy to go long short long, or, short long short too.
-Brian in SLC
adkramoo
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Bo Beck” wrote:
> Employeelodgemountainofthesunwyliecoyote canyon!
That is a mouthful. One of these days. Looping over Twin Brother has always had me back at Rte. 9
> My personal 2 Favorites are; Heaps via Gunsight or Phantom and Kolob > Creek exiting MIA. (I LOVE the Exit!). Get early (4AM) starts on these > though! http://www.zionnational-park.com/kolob-canyon.htm
A person who loves the MIA (Too bad it is kinda trailed now ;-)), Gunsight AND early starts. If you was a woman…….. On a lighter note 😉 Thanx for talking to Ray and passing along information about changes to the Zion Narrows permit system Rumor has it that permits will be granted for cetain canyons under the same levels allowed for Mystery Canyon? 140 Cfs? What canyons? You da man Thanx Ram
Bo Beck
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “davewyo1” wrote:
I will be looking into Zion this spring for the first time.It looks > like May will be the month.What are your MUST SEE 1-day canyons.
Employeelodgemountainofthesunwyliecoyote canyon!
On a less serious note; Birch Hollow/Up Orderville; Englestead/ Down Orderville; Mystery; Keyhole combo Pine Creek;
My personal 2 Favorites are; Heaps via Gunsight or Phantom and Kolob Creek exiting MIA. (I LOVE the Exit!). Get early (4AM) starts on these though! http://www.zionnational-park.com/kolob-canyon.htm
neil wilkinson
Ah Zion. Ram has a great point! It is so highly dependent on spring snow levels. Typically the last week in May and the first weekend in June are great. This past season that was different. How do you feel about some really cold running water? Willing to rap in a waterfall?
Kolob is certainly a must see, just make sure you’re ready for what the conditions are. Depending on the exit don’t underestimate the hike out. Some find the exit more physically demanding than they expected.
If you’re doing Kolob stay up high and do Boundary on day 1 or 2 …. less water than Kolob, shorter than Kolob but great in it’s own right. If the water conditions are similar to last year you’ll want a wetsuit in Boundary. Mystery is a canyon everyone should do once.
It’s not a true technical canyon but the hike down Engelstead/Orderville is another on the ‘must’ list for me.
Heaps is my favorite Zion canyon but don’t underestimate the physical toll this canyon can ask. Do Kolob first and if you think, ‘that wasn’t very hard’. Start thinking about Heaps. When you start thinking about canyons like Heaps and Imlay the water conditions in the canyon vary greatly and will greatly effect how hard or easy the canyon can ‘feel’.
Enjoy …. I love Zion. Since moving to Colorado this year it’s been like leaving a lover.
adkramoo adkramoo@aol.com> wrote:
I know that Tom and other say mid May is the average. I don’t have the figures, but I always thought somewhere right after the 7th, into the next week has been historically the transition time.
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adkramoo
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “davewyo1” wrote:
The masters may not have an opinion.What’s yours? > Should I try to push it into early June instead of May?I know Zion > gets a lot of snow and runoff.What is the beginning of > the”good”season?I will have a wetsuit and all kinds of other > stuff…I probably won’t sue you for telling me your favorite Zion > canyon(just kidding,I may sue you…)
I know that Tom and other say mid May is the average. I don’t have the figures, but I always thought somewhere right after the 7th, into the next week has been historically the transition time. I have always wanted to be around for the first day that the flow stops in the Left Fork and other canyons. It is something special to see the systems right as the flow stops. Your first for the season and all the surprises that the thaw and runoff provides are there for you to discover. The water quality is great, the days are warm and the biting flies are still a few weeks away most years. One is taking a tad of a risk , on the timing, but the snow pack up high is generally a known and it is fairly predictable as to when access comes available. favorites…no one is saying…and not because they are secret. Just because there are so many. The important thing is to plan so that awful permit system doesn’t rule you any more than it has to. Combine a few peaks with non permitted canyons alternately with permitted canyons. Get the permits 2 days at a time and alternate your short days when you can be down standing in line, with the longer full days. Have the rest day folks get the permits. Same for people coming in the middle of the trip. Try to guess your numbers for the next day, get everyone’s licence plate numbers on a list and give a list to everyone, cause they want that too and on and on and on. Shhhh! before i spoil my own mood. The full left Fork from the Lava is a spring love affair. It is even OK flowing with the runoff up to around 4-5 cfs. Sparkles ram
davewyo1
The masters may not have an opinion.What’s yours? Should I try to push it into early June instead of May?I know Zion gets a lot of snow and runoff.What is the beginning of the”good”season?I will have a wetsuit and all kinds of other stuff…I probably won’t sue you for telling me your favorite Zion canyon(just kidding,I may sue you…)
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, scott patterson wrote:
> Others know Zion better than me, but I assume places like Kolob, Heaps, or anything draining into the Narrows is a no-go in May. Icebox still had quite a bit of snow when we did it in mid-June. > I assume ones like Spry, Englestead, Behunin, Misery, and Pine are good choices with a wetsuit?
I will let the masters answer.
> > Photos > Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP.
>
scott patterson
Others know Zion better than me, but I assume places like Kolob, Heaps, or anything draining into the Narrows is a no-go in May. Icebox still had quite a bit of snow when we did it in mid-June. I assume ones like Spry, Englestead, Behunin, Misery, and Pine are good choices with a wetsuit?
I will let the masters answer.
Photos Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP.
scott patterson
> I will be looking into Zion this spring for the first time.It looks > like May will be the month.What are your MUST SEE 1-day canyons.
All of them Shane says Behunin is best.
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Eric
> I will be looking into Zion this spring for the first time.It looks > like May will be the month.What are your MUST SEE 1-day canyons.
All of them