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Imlay Canyon (Full)

One of the hardest canyons in Zion, and the difficulty is not fixed: full potholes make it go, adverse conditions make it extreme. Sixteen to twenty four hours from Lava Point, across 46 rappels.

Approach is about five miles of West Rim Trail from Lava Point to Potato Hollow, then the side trail toward Campsite 8. Before the campsite, turn right into the field, cross the berm, and follow the faint use trail along the canyon edge down to the R1 tree, a 150 foot rappel off a large pine down a low angle slope. RopeWiki notes the big wall rappel sequence was moved and rebolted after a rockfall hazard, dated 6/26 on the page, so treat older anchor beta for that section as out of date. Start pre dawn if you intend to do it in one push. Keeper potholes are the crux and the usual reason parties get benighted. Group size is capped at six. A vehicle pass to leave a car in Zion Canyon is issued to parties starting from the canyon floor up the West Rim Trail, but not to parties starting from Lava Point, so settle the shuttle first.

Logistics

Sources

• permitType: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/canyoneeringpermits.htm
• manager: https://ropewiki.com/Imlay_Canyon_(Full)
• desc: https://ropewiki.com/Imlay_Canyon_(Full)
• notes: https://ropewiki.com/Imlay_Canyon_(Full)