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Canyoneering Route Description

Birch Hollow - 3A IV
Zion National Park, Utah

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Pictures 7-26-09

Quick Facts

07-26-09, 4 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 12 hours - Exit down Orderville) (4.6 hours - trailhead to Orderville Jct.)
06-05-10, 5 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 7 hours - Exit up Wild Wind Hollow) (3 hours - trailhead to Orderville Jct.)

Distance - 9.6 miles Total, 0.8 miles Technical
Rappels - 10 Rappels, Longest Rappel 100 feet.(2 extra raps if exiting down Orderville)

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the technical mileage is determined.

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, one 200 foot rope, and 50 feet of 1” webbing for sling replacement.  If exiting down Orderville Canyon, wet suits are recommended only if done during cooler months.

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the gear used list is determined.

General Comments

The technical portion of Birch Hollow is deep, narrow and twisty!  The technical section is short but involves 10 rappels in quick succession making it fun.  The upper part of the approach looks as though it would be a muddy mess if done shortly after heavy rains. 

There are 3 options for exiting Birch Hollow; Down Orderville then out the Zion Narrows, Up Orderville to the upper Orderville trailhead or up Wild Wind Hollow (one drainage east of Birch Hollow).

If exiting down Orderville Canyon this is long day but well worth the time.  The lower portion of Orderville has a few treats for you as well.

Exiting up Orderville is not yet included in this route description.  I will add this later when I have the opportunity.

Exiting up Wild Wind Hollow is not recommended.  After doing it once it is doubtful I will do it again.  But maybe I will get the urge to try it out again and find a better route up.  The start up Wild Wind Hollow is in a mud flow zone that would be a complete disaster if the area were wet so this exit would only be advised in dryer months.  The route up Wild Wind Hollow starts up the drainage then follows social and game trails up a ridge line that leads back close to the top entry for Birch Hollow.  The route has sections of steep bushwhacking and is no fun (especially when it is hot out).  What is attractive about this route is the elimination of the need for a shuttle vehicle.

All 10 raps in Birch Hollow are in the 0.4 mile section just before reaching Orderville so the raps are rapid fire.

Getting to the Trailhead and Exit Vehicle (Escape Pod) Parking

To get to the Trailhead

From the East Gate of Zion National Park, travel 2.4 miles east on highway 9 to the turn for North Fork.  Turn Left (north) toward North Fork and drive 5.3 miles on a paved road to the turn for the Ponderosa Ranch. From the turn for the Ponderosa Ranch, continue 3.1 miles on the North Fork Road to a large turn out on the left (west) side of the road.  The pavement ends a few hundred feet past the turn for the Ponderosa Ranch.  The turnout is the trailhead for Birch Hollow.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

Leave an exit vehicle at the Zion Visitor center.  After the route take the Zion shuttle back to the visitor center to pick up the vehicle.  Then drive up to retrieve the entry vehicle.

Maps

Map showing entire route.

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Right Click then select "Save Target As" to save the Hi-Res version.

Map showing mostly the first section of Lodge Canyon and the side trips.

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Right Click then select "Save Target As" to save the Hi-Res version.

GPS Waypoint Information

Waypoint coordinates are given with the WGS84 datum and in Lat/Lon hddd° mm.mmm' format unless otherwise noted.

Details

The Approach:
From the trailhead / turnout () drop into the wash at the north end of the turnout.  There is a well used use trail leading the way.  If the trial was not used frequently this area might involve some serious bush whacking.  The foot traffic through this area appears to keep a clear path cut through the vegetation.  Along the wash are sections with fallen trees or other obstacles.  Most of the time there is a bypass trail that takes a quick detour up and around it.   

About 0.3 miles from the trailhead is a sandy slope on the right (north) that is white on the top and pink at the bottom.  The outer layer of white sand has washed away from the lower portion of the slope exposing the pink earth underneath on the lower portion of the slope (wBirchHlwRp-1).  

About 0.6 miles from the trailhead is a wooden ramp made of 4X4 posts (wBirchHlwRp-2).  The ramp is on the floor of the wash and has become part of the trail.  After the ramp that canyon gets a bit wider and has better defined trails.

The Canyon / Technical Section:
At 1.1 miles from the trailhead is the top of a large dry water fall (yBirchHollowTp).  The top of the water fall is on the edge of a huge bowl shaped area.  There is lots of loose rock along this area which may make rappelling a bit hazardous.  The best route down this drop is along a use trail on the left (southwest).  To get to the use trail go up the slope on the southwest side of the wash by a large tree with exposed roots.  From there follow the well worn path that traverses the path for a few hundred feet then drops down a slope of loose dirt through a bunch of pines.  

Below the dry fall the canyon is deeper but still wide open.  There is less dense vegetation but the area still has all the comforts of a forest.  

Rap 1 (dBirchHlwR1) is about 0.4 miles down canyon f the large dry fall.  Rap 1 is anchored from a log about 20 feet up stream from the rap.  Rap 1 drops about 50 feet down a dry fall.  A few feet down the rap an overhang giving a short free hang section.  

Shortly down canyon from rap 1 the canyon begins to narrow and take on the twisted slot look.  Along the way down the narrow sections are a few easy down climbs until reaching rap 2.  

Rap 2 is anchored from a choke stone about 20 feet up stream of the rap.  Rap 2 drops about 15 feet.  

Rap 3 is about 700 feet down canyon of rap 2.  Rap 3 is about 15 feet dropping down a pile of boulders.  Rap 3 could be considered a down climb by some.  With the use of a handline it is easier to just down climb then to set up a rap.  

Rap 4 is a short distance from rap 3 and is anchored from 2 bolted hangers LDC.  Rap 4 drops about 20 feet.  If there have been recent rains the pool at the bottom of rap 4 may get pretty large but should not get deep enough to need to swim.  

After rap 4 the canyon opens briefly with lots of trees along the way.  After about 500 feet of open canyon there is a sudden drop in the water course which is rap 5.  

Orderville canyon is only 350 feet away but there are still 6 more rappels to get there.  This section is short but fun as it is in a deep, tight twisted section of canyon and feels like it is rap after rap.  

Raps 5, 6 and 7 are one right after another. Then it is about 300 feet to raps 8, 9 and 10 which are also one right after another.  After rap 10 it is about 100 feet to the junction of Orderville Canyon.  

Rap 5 is anchored from a tree LDC and drops about 100 feet down into a tight section of canyon.  Rap 5 follows down a dry water fall along a soft round fluted wall.  Rap 5 is the longest rap on the route.   The total drop is actually about 90 feet but is a total of 11 feet from the tree anchor over to teh rim then down to the floor.

Rap 6 is only a few feet from the bottom of rap 5.  Rap 6 is anchored from 2 bolted hangers RDC and drops about 30 feet.  

Rap 7 is only a few feet from the bottom of rap 6.  Rap 7 is anchored from 2 bolt and hangers RDC and drops about 40 feet.  

Below rap 7 the canyon widens a little but only for a very short distance.  There is a down climb over some boulders before reaching the last series of rappels, raps 8 – 10 about 300 feet after rap 7.  

Rap 8 is anchored from 2 bolt and hangers RDC and drops about 30 feet.  

Rap 9 is only a few feet from the bottom of rap 8.  Rap 9 is anchored from 2 bolted hangers LDC.  From the top of rap 9 it looks like it drops into a pit with no place to go once at the bottom.  After rapping down you can look around a very tight corner to see the continuation of the canyon.  Rap 9 drops about 70 feet down a fluted wall.  A large round chock stone wedge high above rap 9 looks like it might roll out at any time.

Rap 10 is only a few feet from the bottom of rap 9.  Rap 10 is anchored LDC from 2 bolted hangers and drops about 50 feet.  While looking up rap 10 you still have a good view of that round choke stone way over head.

After rap 10 it is about 100 feet around a corner to the junction of Orderville Canyon (yBirchHollowBt).

The Exit:
To exit the canyon, travel down left (west) Orderville Canyon to the Zion Narrows.  Optionally you can go up Orderville to the Orderville trailhead for a shorter route.  

Traveling down Orderville is a very scenic area, especially as you get closer to the Zion Narrows.  Orderville is wide open and pretty with very little down climbing in the upper section but does offer some tall narrow sections to enjoy along the way.  

About 2 miles down canyon from Birch Hollow is rap 1 in Orderville.  Orderville Rap 1 is anchored from 2 bolt and hangers RDC and drops about 15 feet into a pool which can sometimes be a muddy mess.  The junction with Englestead Canyon is about 0.3 miles below Orderville rap 1.  

After Orderville rap 1 the narrow sections become more frequent and longer.  There is also more water and frequent down climbs.  I like the lower section of Orderville more that the upper section.  It is more scenic and offers more obstacles.  

About 2.4 miles down canyon of Orderville rap 1 is Orderville rap 2.  Rap 2 in Orderville has a huge (house sized) choke stone overhead that has a tree and bushes growing on it.  The rappel drops about 12 feet to a pool below and is anchored from 2 bolted hangers LDC.  This is one of my favorite rappels.  It is short but has very high wow factor with the huge rock over head and the pool below.  It is just very pretty.  

Down canyon from rap 2 in Orderville the canyon has more and more water.  The further down canyon you go the more the water is flowing.  This is some of the best scenery in Orderville.  There are also more down climbs.  One of the down climbs drops into a pool that requires about a 30 foot swim.  

About 1 mile below Orderville rap 2 is the junction with the Zion Narrows.  From the Narrows junction turn left (south) and travel 1.4 miles down the narrows to the steps leading to the sidewalk.   Follow the sidewalk another 1 mile to the Temple of Sinawava Shuttle stop.  From there it is a shuttle ride back to the visitor center.  Pick up your vehicle there to go get the vehicle left at the Birch Hollow trailhead.

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