Canyoneering Route Description

Heaps Canyon - 4B IV (or V) R or X
Zion National Park, Utah

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Quick Facts

06-23-07, 4 people, 3 Day (Travel time in route 37.2 hours)

Distance - 11.6 miles Total via Lava Point OR 10 miles Total via Angel's Lading trail, 3.3 miles Technical
Rappels - 20 Rappels, Longest Rappel 290 feet.

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

Gear Used for Canyon

This was my second canyon ever. I am not really sure what to put on the gear list.

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

General Comments

Heaps canyon is a challenging canyon and I am happy to have had it as my second canyon ever. Quite a jump from Fat Man's Misery! I would like to return to do this route and see it with more experienced eyes. Not a lot of useable data is contained in this trip report. I was caught up in the ooh, ah and wow of the event and did not collect enough information to make it very useful. But the trip report and a few details are still fun to share. Not to mention pictures.

There are a couple of options for the approach to our drop in point at Phantom Valley. From Lava point is about 8.3 miles with an elevation loss of about 200 feet. We chose the route up from the floor of the valley via the Angel's Landing trail. This route is 6.7 miles with an elevation gain of over 2000 feet.

The technical portion of the canyon is only about 3 miles. That may not seem like too far, but DO NOT UNDER ESTIMATE THIS CANYON! The route involves working over and through pot hole after pot hole to the point of madness. The final section ends with 3 rappels in a row. 50 feet, 150 feet and the final rap of almost 300 feet. The last rap drops you right next to the Upper Emerald Pool right next to a bunch of unsuspecting tourists. The last rap is a site and experience to remember for a life time. From the Upper Emerald pools it is a little over a mile trail to the Zion Lodge where you can catch the shuttle back to your vehicle.

I did not gather good beta on this route. It was my second canyon ever and I was too caught up in the moment. The information given here is intentionally left vague until I have a chance to go back and redo this canyon.

If you would like to read an account of my first trip through Heaps, feel free to read "Heaps - Through the Eyes of a Beginner Canyoneer."

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

To get to the Trailhead

From the visitor center take the shuttle to the trailhead for Angel's Landing.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

If going up the Angel's Landing trail no exit vehicle is needed since you will return to the same place. If going from Lava Point an escape vehicle will need to be placed at the visitors center.

Maps

Map showing entire route.
Heaps Canyon Zoomed Out Map Lo Res Version
Click for High-Res version.
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.

Approach Waypoints

tAngleLnd
Angel's Landing Trailhead.
N37 15.599 W112 57.091, Elevation 4176 ft.

jWestRimS
Junction off the Angel's Landing trail for the Southern West Rim Trailhead. This is known as Scouts Lookout.
N37 16.495 W112 57.051, Elevation 5250 ft.

cWstRmBridge
A bridge allowing the trail to cross a stream.
N37 17.159 W112 57.349

yBehuninTp
Top entry for Behunin Canyon.
N37 16.952 W112 58.199

jTelphnCynTrl2
Junction where the Telephone Canyon trail and the Cabin Springs trail both meet the West Rim Trail.
N37 17.204 W112 58.108, Elevation 6738 ft.

yHeapsPvTp
Top of Heaps Canyoneering route Phantom Valley route. Leave the West rim trail approximately here to start the Phantom Valley Route to Heaps Canyon
N37 17.154 W112 59.147, Elevation 7340 ft.

Canyon / Technical Section Waypoints

dHeapsPVR1
Rapel 1 on the Heaps Canyoneering Route Phantom Valley Route.
N37 16.911 W112 59.174

dHeapsPVR2
Rapel 2 on the Heaps Canyoneering Route Phantom Valley Route.
N37 16.843 W112 59.157

wHeapsCrossRds
A point called the Cross Roads on the Heaps Canyoneering Route. It is where the North Fork and Phantom Valley routes merge.
NN37 15.678 W112 58.656, Elevation 5353 ft.

yHeapsBt
Bottom of Heaps Canyoneering route. Ends at the Upper Emerald pool with a 300 foot rappel.
N37 15.474 W112 58.018, Elevation 4602 ft.

Exit Route Waypoints

yHeapsBt
Bottom of Heaps Canyoneering route. Ends at the Upper Emerald pool with a 300 foot rappel.
N37 15.474 W112 58.018, Elevation 4602 ft.

tEmrldPls
Trailhead for Emerald Pools by the Zion Lodge.
N37 15.068 W112 57.561

Details

The Approach:
From the Angel's Landing trailhead at the Grotto shuttle stop, follow the West Rim Trail 2.2 miles to Scout's Lookout. Continue on the West Rim trail another 2.9 miles to the junction for Cabin Spring. Follow the West Rim trail another 1.6 miles to a point about 500 feet beyond camp site 4. Turn off trail and work through the forest about 0.3 miles to Rap 1 (dHeapsPVR1).

The Canyon / Technical Section:
Rap 1 (dHeapsPVR1) is anchored from either a tree or huge flake of sandstone. From the bottom of rap 1 work down the knife edge ridge to rap 2. Rap 2 (dHeapsPVR2) is anchored from a tree and drops on the west side of the ridge down into Phantom Valley.

Head south down into Phantom Valley to the top of the first narrows for Heaps Canyon where you will soon find Rap 3 (dHeapsPVR3). Continue down Heaps canyon to the cross roads (wHeapsCrossRds). Continue through Heaps south east to a climb out up to the final 3 raps and the exit of Heaps (yHeapsBt).

The Exit:
After exiting Heaps follow the Emerald Pools trail back to the Zion Lodge and the shuttle system.

This route description is intentionally left vague since I did not collect good beta. When I have the chance to go back this will be updated.

Links to Pictures are at the top of the page.