Deep Creek (Zion National Park)

not verifiedpermit unconfirmed 2026-08-18 Ungraded Unknown flood risk Springdale, UT

A major tributary of the North Fork of the Virgin, the stream that becomes the Zion Narrows. Climb-Utah puts the whole route at 23 1/4 miles, most of it spent in the water.

Miles of wading, chest deep in places, plus a couple of possible short swims. There is no rope work; the mileage and the water are the entire difficulty. Any vehicle reaches the trailhead in good weather, which is a real caveat on these roads once they are wet. Sources disagree on permits: Climb-Utah states a Zion backcountry permit is required for this canyon. Settle it with the Zion Wilderness Desk before you go, especially if you intend to continue downstream into the Narrows, which carries its own permit.

Logistics

Manager	NPS Zion National Park
Permit	Permit status genuinely unsettled. NPS requires a wilderness permit for all technical canyoneering in Zion and for every overnight trip, and neither rule plainly reaches a non technical day walk, but NPS publishes no canyon specific exemption either and this route is not named on its permit pages. The park entrance fee applies. Check with the Zion Wilderness Desk before the trip rather than treating the absence of a listing as permission.
Technical	longest 0 ft
Coordinates	37.3851, -112.938