short and sweet | birch hollow canyoneering

4 mi . 6820 ft high . 1370 ft ascent . 120 ft rappel . about 8-10 rappels

Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area

Note: This is a technical route, rappelling and rescuing techniques required to descend the canyon.

Okay, so I’ve never really known any canyon to be actually short and sweet, but this comes quite close! I had just finished a sunrise photoshoot and we were all feeling lazy after driving from Las Vegas. But after lunch, we rallied and decided that we could do a short canyon in the afternoon! I honestly needed a lot of persuasion because I was definitely very tired and the desert sun really got to me. But when else would I go canyoneering except in Zion with my friends? I’m so glad we did it and even though we had to hike out and gain back what we descended, it was still worth getting outside and exploring.

Need-To-Know

• Permits are absolutely required for canyoneering within Zion National Park. However, if ascending back up to the car instead of taking Orderville through the national park, you are actually not crossing any Zion boundaries, so no permit is needed.
• Route Description: I really like using canyoneeringusa for their in-depth guide but it’s always good to consult another such as reading further here for photos to know what to expect.
  • CanyoneeringUSA: most comprehensive with map, gear and beta
  • RoadTripRyan: I don’t think this site always has the most accurate beta but helpful to see more photos
  • RopeWiki: a good highlight (high-level) view of the route, not very detailed
  • CitrusMilo: pretty good with details and photos

Birch Hollow Canyon

If you’re staying on the east side of Zion National Park, like we did, it was an easy, short drive! There even is a google pin for the Birch Hollow Trailhead, so you know it’s legit! But in all seriousness, it is easy to navigate to with plenty of parking and even a sign up front that gives you a heads up on proper canyoneering etiquette. It’s a fairly common guided canyon since no permits are needed.

We had to hike about a mile on a fairly good trail (given the backcountry) before we hit our first and largest rappel. I love that so many of the Zion canyons start with a dramatic entrance.

The first two rappels are separated by a short walk in the canyon but are both substantial and free-hanging. As the first canyon trip we’ve done in many years, it took a rappel or two to figure out what setting we wanted our devices to be on compared to which ropes. We definitely had one slicker rope than the other that needed more friction and a stiffer rope that required less friction to get going.

After the second rappel, we walked a bit further again, this time with a cute slot canyon before the series of rappels began. The next set were short, then a longer rappel, and a few more short rappels. So much fun and the perfect way to ease back into canyoneering.

I likely have missed a couple short rappels in between Rappel 5 and 6 but they were fun and consecutive! The last rappel was gorgeous and I honestly wished the whole canyon was longer.

Wild Wind Hollow Exit

We decided to take the Wild Wind Hollow Exit. In theory we could’ve taken the Orderville downstream or uphill. However the Wild Wind Hollow would put us closer to our car and reduce a car shuttle. It also meant we had to hike up as much as we rappelled down. It was not the most fun in the heat but at least the last half is relatively flat.

Notes

• Start/End Trailhead: Birch Hollow Trailhead
• Other potential ends: Temple of Sinawava (down Orderville), Orderville Trailhead (uphill)
• It took us about 4 hours to complete as a group of 4 at a relatively easy but efficient pace
• Permits are not required if you return to the same trailhead. They are required if you enter Zion National Park. See recreation.gov
• We completed this canyon in late April/early May and it wasn’t too hot for the canyon or hike out.

Photos taken on Canon 5D Mark IV