Canyoneering Route Description
Deadeye Dick Canyon - 3A II
Zion National Park, Utah.
08-11-12, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 6 hours)
Time for shuttle top down using a shuttle (Not recommended).
08-19-12, 6 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 7.25 hours)
Time for combining Deadeye Dick and Mighty Mouse Canyons.
09-19-20, 4
people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 8.25 hours) explored new easier approach
route.
Time Required - Deadeye Dick Only - 7 to 8
hours
Allow an additional hour if you add Mighty Mouse to the route.
Distance - 9.5 miles Total, 0.4 miles Technical
Rappels - 6 Rappels, Longest Rappel 120 feet.
Elevation Range - 5420 - 6130 Feet
Shuttle Required - No Vehicle - Passenger
can (High Clearance recommended), 4WD if bad roads
Permit Required - No
Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up
to 120 feet and 60 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.
Note:
Another name
tossed around for Deadeye Dick was Bellicose in case you here that name
floating around.
Warning:
The dirt portion of the North Fork Road can become impassable with rain due
to slick clay that becomes sticky and slick when wet. It takes very
little rain to make 4WD vehicles useless in the goopy slime. If there is a
high likelihood of rain, consider opting out of this route that day.
Afternoon showers can quickly make the road impassable. On our drive
out we got stuck (including the 4WD vehicles) overnight only 0.5 miles from pavement
due to an afternoon short monsoon downpour.
Note - Approach Route:
The route
from the bottom I originally used left the Narrows and went up a side
drainage then up a dry-fall then up to Deadeye Dick. A few people
complained about how difficult it was to upclimb the dry-fall so I went back and found an easier
way to approach Deadeye Dick. This route description has been updated
to reflect the now easier approach route. The new route is also easier
since it has less elevation gain.
The route described here approaches Deadeye Dick from the
upper end of the Narrows to make a loop route and not need a car
shuttle. Optionally you can come in from the top by following the approach
toward Bulloch Canyon and drop of of Dakota Ridge to enter Deadeye Dick but
this will require a car shuttle. I have done both routes and much prefer the loop route described
here.
Both the Deadeye Dick and Mighty Mouse routes are
outside Zion National Park so no permits are needed. While you do not
need a permit please keep groups to 12 people or less, travel in water
courses or use trails where possible to avoid land wear, pack it in - pack
it out and clean up any un-needed anchor material. The more we take
care of what we have the less likely it is that land management entities
will regulate us.
Both Mighty Mouse and Deadeye Dick Canyons are commonly
descended using natural anchors. Please refrain from adding bolts
to these canyons.
Route Combo Option (Deadeye Dick plus Mighty
Mouse:
Mighty Mouse is a short 1 hour canyon that you you can add to your day
during the exit route. Mighty Mouse is too short to hike in for that
canyon only but is a cool route and very much worth adding to your day on
the exit from Deadeye Dick. Little but powerful just like Might
Mouse the cartoon character. See the Exit details below for
directions of how to find Mighty Mouse Canyon on your way out. For details
about Mighty Mouse Canyon proper see the route description for Might Mouse.
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 (wEngDP-01). Turn Left (north)
toward North Fork.
Drive 5.3 miles on the paved North Fork Road to the
turn for the Ponderosa Ranch. The pavement ends (wBirchHlwDP-01) a few hundred
feet past the turn for the Ponderosa Ranch.
From the turn off for the Ponderosa Ranch continue on the North
Fork Road for 3.1 miles to a large turn
out on the left (west) side of the road which is the trailhead
for Birch Hollow (tBirchHollow).
From the turn off to Birch Hallow continue on the North Fork
road for 3 miles to a turn off (extOrderville) on the left
(west) for the Upper Orderville Trailhead.
From the turn off to the Upper Orderville Trailhead continue on
the North Fork Road for 1.6 miles to a turn off (extCotageWoods)
on the right (east) that goes up to a community called Cottages
in the Woods.
From the turn off to Cottages in the Woods continue on the North
Fork Road for 0.9 miles to a turn off (pkBulloch1) on the left
with a brown road marker signed as 90 and 92.
From the turn off at (pkBulloch1) veer right (northeast) and
continue on the North Fork Road 2.8 miles to a signed turn off (ExtNarowsTopTH)
for the Upper Narrows Trailhead.
Turn left at the turn off and drive west 0.4 miles to a gate
(tNarrowsGate1). Drive through the gate and close it
behind you.
Continue west another 0.4 miles to a fork in the road
(wNarrowsDP-01) with a sign saying left to go to the upper
trailhead for the Virgin River Narrow.
Turn left at the fork and drive about 700 feet to the upper
trailhead for the Virgin River Narrows (tNarrowsTop). Park here.
To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod
No exit vehicle is needed. This is done as a loop route.
GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom. For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the
Glossary page.
Click the links for maps of the route.
Map Over view of the Drive to the Trailhead.
Map Zoomed in for First part of Drive.
Map Zoomed in of last part of drive and first part of Approach.
Map Zoomed last part of Approach and Technical Section.
The Approach:
From Upper Narrows
Trailhead (tNarrowsTop)
follow the the trail /
dirt road southwest
along the Virgin River.
About 1.3 miles down the
road will be a small
building on the left
right next to the road
(wNarwsBuild-1).
Continue down the road /
trail for 1.1 miles to a
meadow on the left
(south) side with the old
broke down Bulloch's Cabin
(sBullochsCabin) about
100 feet from the road. Shortly after Bulloch's
Cabin the road fades
and you will be
hiking down the Virgin
River Narrows following
in the watercourse and a
few intermittent use
trails.
About
0.6 miles farther is the
bottom of the first
large side drainage on
the LDC (south) side
after passing Bulloch's
Cabin (Deadeye01).
About 0.4 miles farther
is the bottom of the
second large side
drainage on the LDC
(south) side after
passing Bulloch's Cabin
(Deadeye02).
To go to
Deadeye Dick Canyon,
pass this side drainage.
About 750 feet farther
is the apex of a left
hand bend in the river
(Deadeye03 ). To go to
Deadeye Dick Canyon,
walk up the semi steep
dirt slopes on the LDC
(southwest) side of the
river. Go up the dirt
slope for about 150 feet
to the base of a
prominent outcropping.
Note:
As of Sep. 2020 a use
trail has started
forming.
When at the base of the
prominent outcropping
(Deadeye04) turn right
(west) contouring along
the base of the
outcropping then follow
forming use trails left
(south) up moderately
steep dirt up onto the
wide ridge. As you
continue south farther
up the ridge, the grade
becomes a little more
gentle.
Note:
As you continue up,
there are a few trails
crossing your path and
they may tempt you to
veer to the right. Do
not be tempted and
instead continue south
up the ridge crest of
the wide ridge.
About 0.25 miles farther
the wide ridge levels
off (Daedeye05) a little
making for much easier
walking. Continue south
up the more gentle slope
for about 400 feet to a
prominent use trail just
before the ridge becomes
steep again.
Just before the ridge
becomes steep again
(Daedeye06) the route
tees into a very
well-worn use-trail.
Turn right (southwest)
and follow the use trail
southwest contouring
along the hill side and
crossing over a few
ravines.
About 400 feet farther
the use-trail goes
around the head of a
large steep ravine
(Deadeye07) then turns
more west and continues
contouring along the
hill-side going around
the head a few more
small ravines.
About 700 feet farther
the use trail crosses
another larger ravine
(Deadeye8).
About 100 feet farther
the use trail goes up a
short but steep slope up
wide open spaces
(Deadeye09) where the
trail fades away.
Route-find south about
380 feet to the top of a
major drainage.
From the top of a
drainage (Deadeye10)
follow it down to the
south down into Deadeye
Dick Canyon
route-finding around
logs and vegetated
sections as you descend.
About 425 feet down the
drainage is a minor fork
(Deadeye11) in the
drainage that does not
matter which fork you
choose. Just
continue south down the
drainage.
About 350 feet farther
is a drop of about 10
feet (Deadeye12) with a
forming use trail up and
around on the RDC side.
Continue south down the
drainage.
About 400 feet farther
the side drainage drops
into Deadeye Dick
(Deadeye13). Follow
northwest down the
Deadeye Dick drainage
passing under a
sandstone overhang
shortly down canyon.
About 500 feet farther
is a 20 foot dry-fall
(yDeadeyeDickTp).
The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
The 20 foot dry-fall at the head
of the canyon (yDeadeyeDickTp)
is
easily bypassable on the
LDC side then scrambling
down to the canyon floor
next to a large side
drainage on the RDC
(west) side. A little
over 400 feet down
canyon is the top of rap
1.
Rap 1 (dDeadEyeR1) has
two options.
Rap 1
option A uses about 20
feet of rope. Anchored
from a cairn anchor in
the watercourse and
drops about 12 feet.
Rap 1 option B uses
about 30 feet of rope.
Anchored LDC from a tree
about 150 feet down
canyon and drops about
25 feet down a sloped
wall.
Rap 2 (dDeadEyeR2) 75
feet rope travel.
Anchored from
chokestones at the top
of the drop and drops
about 70 feet. The top
half is in a convoluted
twisty flute while the
second half is down a
slightly sloped wall.
After the rap is a short
deep slot soon opening
up to wide wash with
lots of trees
Rap 3 (dDeadEyeR3) 60
feet rope travel.
Anchored LDC from a tree
up on a ledge and raps
down about 50 feet from
the anchor. The upper
part of rap 3 is in a
twisted convoluted flute
while the lower half is
down a slightly sloped
wall. Down canyon of the
rap the canyon remains a
deep slot until you exit
at the narrows.
Rap 4 (dDeadEyeR4-5) 50
feet rope travel.
Anchored RDC from
boulder debris and drops
about 40 feet over two
stages of boulder debris
and can be downclimbed
by the skilled and
brave. Down canyon of
the rap is a 12 foot
stem style downclimb
before reaching the next
rap.
Rap 5 - 40 feet rope
travel. Anchored
from a chokestone and
drops about 40 feet down
a sloped crack.
Extending the anchor
webbing past a second
chokestone is
recommended to avoid
sticking the rope when
pulled.
Rap 6 (dDeadEyeR6) 120
feet rope travel.
Anchored from a log
wedged in rock debris
and drops about 120 feet
down a VERY fun large
flute with slick walls.
It is a giggling good
time rapping down
sliding my feet along
the wall............
Plain Ol' Fun! At the
bottom of rap 6 is a
spot that could collect
waist deep water if it
rained recently but
looks like it would
drain quickly.
The last 500 feet of
canyon after the final
rap has a 6 foot
downclimb as the canyon
makes a sharp left turn
then an 8 foot
challenging downclimb
over boulder debris then
the canyon slowly widens
as it comes to an end at
the Virgin River Narrows
(yDeadeyeDickBt).
The Exit:
From the bottom
of Deadeye Dick Canyon (yDeadeyeDickBt)
turn right and walk east
back up the Virgin River
4.5 miles back to the
trailhead where you left
your car (tNarrowsTop).
Finding Mighty
Mouse. If
you plan to add Mighty
Mouse Canyon to your day
walk east about 0.4
miles up the Virgin
River from the bottom of
Deadeye Dick to the
bottom end of a side
canyon on the left
(north). That is
the bottom of Mighty
Mouse Canyon (yMightyMouseBt).
You can hike up a few
hundred feet to look in
the bottom if you like.
To find the approach
route continue east up
the narrows for about
0.2 miles to where the
river is making a hard
sweeping left turn on
the way up it. At
the apex of this turn is
a ridge dropping down
from the left (north on
the inside of the
corner). That
ridge is where you will
begin the ascent up to
Mighty Mouse. If
you go too far you will
go around the corner and
see a big wide dry fall
area on the left (north)
side with grayish white
rock.
For more info on the
approach and canyon see
the Mighty Mouse Canyon
route description.
Then scroll down to
where it says Starting
up Out of the Narrows.
Downloadable GPX files
available at
BG-Gear Store
(easier than manual entry and a great way to support
Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.
Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE
manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format.
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.
Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
| Deadeye Dick (1) - Drive in to Trailhead |
- wEngDP-01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.23934
W -112.83230
Elev: NaN Feet
Turn to the North Fork off Highway 9.
- wEngDP-02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.27285
W -112.87304
Elev: NaN Feet
Exit to the Ponderosa Ranch. If going to Englestead turn left, to the Ponderosa Ranch. If continuing up the North Fork road stay straight.
- wBirchHlwDP-01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.27620
W -112.87358
Elev: NaN Feet
Paved road turns to Dirt road.
- wBirchHlwDP-02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.30654
W -112.86085
Elev: NaN Feet
Dirt road / ATV trail leaves main road. Follow this to start an alternate route into Birch Hollow.
- tBirchHollow
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.30973
W -112.85655
Elev: 6,740 Feet
Trailhead for Birch Hollow. It is a very large turn out on the west side of the road.
- extOrderville
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.33710
W -112.83050
Elev: NaN Feet
Turn off for Orderville from the North Fork road. 11.4 miles from highway 9.
- extCotageWoods
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.35044
W -112.83240
Elev: NaN Feet
Turn off of the North Fork Road to go to Cattages in the Woods community.
- pkBulloch1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.35896
W -112.84125
Elev: 6,745 Feet
Turn off of the North Fork Road on the left as the main road makes a sharp right hand bend. Road sign post labeled as 90 and 92.
- ExtNarowsTopTH
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.39057
W -112.82569
Elev: NaN Feet
Turn off of the North Fork road to drive down to the upper trailhead for the Narrows.
- tNarrowsGate1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.38990
W -112.83293
Elev: 5,900 Feet
Gate near Chamberlins Ranch on the way to the upper trailhead for the narrows. Close the Gate Behind You.
- wNarrowsDP-01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.38694
W -112.83844
Elev: NaN Feet
Turn left here where the sign says to trun to the Narrows Trailhead.
- tNarrowsTop
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.38524
W -112.83897
Elev: 5,875 Feet
Top trailhead for the Narrows. This is also the location for the Zero Mile Mark on Zion Adventure Companies Narrows Map.
|
| Deadeye Dick (2) - Approach |
- tNarrowsTop
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.38524
W -112.83897
Elev: 5,875 Feet
Top trailhead for the Narrows. This is also the location for the Zero Mile Mark on Zion Adventure Companies Narrows Map.
- extNarwSrtCtBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37806
W -112.84739
Elev: NaN Feet
Bottom end of a road that can be taken down into the Narrows farther down than the standard trailhead. Need 4WD to handle washed out section. Bank owned land an may be illegal to use this road.
- wNarwsBuild-1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37737
W -112.85367
Elev: NaN Feet
Small building.
- sBullochsCabin
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37092
W -112.86658
Elev: 5,645 Feet
Bulloch's Cabin. An old broke down cabin in a meadow just off the road on the south side.
- Deadeye01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37129
W -112.87614
Elev: NaN Feet
Bottom of the first large side drainage on the LDC (south) side after passing Bulloch's Cabin.
- Deadeye02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37016
W -112.88270
Elev: NaN Feet
Bottom of the second large side drainage on the LDC (south) side after passing Bulloch's Cabin.
To go to Deadeye Dick Canyon, pass this side drainage.
- Deadeye03
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37165
W -112.88338
Elev: 5,502 Feet
Apex of a left hand bend in the river. To go to Deadeye Dick Canyon, walk up the semi steep dirt slopes on the LDC (southwest) side of the river. Go up the dirt slope for about 150 feet to the base of a prominent outcropping.
Note: As of Sep. 2020 a use trail has started forming.
- Deadeye04
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37147
W -112.88383
Elev: 5,552 Feet
Route passes just under a prominent outcropping. Turn right (west) contouring along the base of the outcropping then follow forming use trails left (south) up moderately steep dirt up onto the wide ridge. As you continue south farther up the ridge, the grade becomes a more gentle.
Note: As you continue up, there are a few trails crossing your path and they may tempt you to veer to the right. Do not be tempted and instead continue south up the crest of the wide ridge.
- Deadeye05
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36797
W -112.88521
Elev: 6,028 Feet
The wide ridge levels off a little making for much easier walking. Continue south up the more gentle slope for about 400 feet to a prominent use trail just before the ridge becomes steep again.
- Deadeye06
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36684
W -112.88539
Elev: 6,037 Feet
Just before the ridge becomes steep again the route tees into a very well-worn use-trail. Turn right (southwest) and follow the use trail southwest contouring along the hill side and crossing over a few ravines.
- Deadeye07
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36611
W -112.88635
Elev: 6,033 Feet
Use-trail goes around the head of a large steep ravine then turns more west and continues contouring along the hill-side going around the head a few more small ravines.
- Deadeye08
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36583
W -112.88854
Elev: 6,067 Feet
Use trail crosses another larger ravine.
- Deadeye09
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36575
W -112.88886
Elev: 6,130 Feet
Use trail goes up a short but steep slope up wide open spaces where the trail fades away. Route-find south about 380 feet to the top of a major drainage.
- Deadeye10
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36471
W -112.88935
Elev: 6,115 Feet
Top of a drainage follow it down to the south down into Deadeye Dick Canyon route-finding around logs and vegetated sections as you descend.
- Deadeye11
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36370
W -112.89008
Elev: 5,929 Feet
Minor fork in the drainage that does not matter which fork you choose. Just continue south down the drainage.
- Deadeye12
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36331
W -112.89104
Elev: 5,911 Feet
Drop of about 10 feet with a forming use trail up and around on the RDC side. Continue south down the drainage.
- Deadeye13
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36303
W -112.89236
Elev: 5,837 Feet
Side drainage drops into Deadeye Dick. Follow northwest down the Deadeye Dick drainage passing under a sandstone overhang shortly down canyon.
- yDeadeyeDickTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36423
W -112.89350
Elev: 5,820 Feet
Top of Deadeye Dick Canyon. 20 foot dry-fall at the head of the canyon (yDeadeyeDickTp) is easily bypassable on the LDC side then scrambling down to the canyon floor next to a large side drainage on the RDC (west) side. A little over 400 feet down canyon is the top of rap 1.
|
| Deadeye Dick (3) - Canyon and Exit |
- yDeadeyeDickTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36423
W -112.89350
Elev: 5,820 Feet
Top of Deadeye Dick Canyon. 20 foot dry-fall at the head of the canyon (yDeadeyeDickTp) is easily bypassable on the LDC side then scrambling down to the canyon floor next to a large side drainage on the RDC (west) side. A little over 400 feet down canyon is the top of rap 1.
- dDeadEyeR1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36529
W -112.89371
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 1 - Deadeye Dick has two options.
Rap 1 option A uses about 20 feet of rope. Anchored from a cairn anchor in the watercourse and drops about 12 feet.
Rap 1 option B uses about 30 feet of rope. Anchored LDC from a tree about 150 feet down canyon and drops about 25 feet down a sloped wall.
- dDeadEyeR2
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36640
W -112.89424
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 2 - Deadeye Dick Canyon (75 feet rope travel). Anchored from chokestones at the top of the drop and drops about 70 feet. The top half is in a convoluted twisty flute while the second half is down a slightly sloped wall. After the rap is a short deep slot soon opening up to wide wash with lots of trees.
- dDeadEyeR3
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36768
W -112.89393
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 3 - Deadeye Dick Canyon (60 feet rope travel). Anchored LDC from a tree up on a ledge and raps down about 50 feet from the anchor. The upper part of rap 3 is in a twisted convoluted flute while the lower half is down a slightly sloped wall. Down canyon of the rap the canyon remains a deep slot until you exit at the narrows.
- dDeadEyeR4-5
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36779
W -112.89386
Elev: NaN Feet
Raps 4 and 5 - Deadeye Dick Canyon.
Rap 4 (50 feet rope travel) is anchored RDC from boulder debris and drops about 40 feet over two stages of boulder debris and can be downclimbed by the skilled and brave. Down canyon of the rap is a 12 foot stem style downclimb before reaching the next rap.
Rap 5 (40 feet rope travel) anchored from a chokestone and drops about 40 feet down a sloped crack. Extending the anchor webbing past a second chokestone is recommended to avoid sticking the rope when pulled.
- dDeadEyeR6
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36813
W -112.89378
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 6 - Deadeye Dick Canyon (120 feet rope travel). Anchored from a log wedged in rock debris and drops about 120 feet down a VERY fun large flute with slick walls. It is a giggling good time rapping down sliding my feet along the wall............ Plain Ol' Fun! At the bottom of rap 6 is a spot that could collect waist deep water if it rained recently but looks like it would drain quickly.
The last 500 feet of canyon after the final rap has a 6 foot downclimb as the canyon makes a sharp left turn then an 8 foot challenging downclimb over boulder debris then the canyon slowly widens as it comes to an end at the Virgin River Narrows.
- yDeadeyeDickBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36964
W -112.89464
Elev: 5,420 Feet
Bottom of Deadeye Dick Canyon where is dumps into the Virgin River Narrows.
- yMightyMouseBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.37089
W -112.88965
Elev: 5,475 Feet
Bottom of Mighty Mouse Canyon where it dumps into the Narrows.
- jMightMouse
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.36940
W -112.88693
Elev: 5,510 Feet
To get up to Mighty Mouse Canyon leave the Virgin River here and scramble up to the ridge line to the RDC (north) side. The scramble route is slightly up canyon of a large obvious outcropping at the apex of the bend in the river here.
- tNarrowsTop
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.38524
W -112.83897
Elev: 5,875 Feet
Top trailhead for the Narrows. This is also the location for the Zero Mile Mark on Zion Adventure Companies Narrows Map.
|