Kolob Canyon
An irrigation dam, not the weather, decides how much water runs through this slot, and Kolob Creek has been notorious since a scout troop was trapped here in high water in 1993 and two of their leaders died.
Check the water release before anything else. Washington County Water Conservancy District controls the dam above the slot and pushes a dribble through most of the summer, so the potholes stay full of clean, clear, very cold water when the surrounding desert is bone dry. Climb-Utah puts the danger threshold at any flow above 3 cfs, and Zion will not issue a permit above 5 cfs; 435-673-3617 is the number for the release schedule. If you reach the creek and more than a trickle is moving, turn around. Full wetsuits are the floor and a drysuit is better. Kolob Creek is not on Zion's online reservation menu, so the permit has to be picked up in person at the Wilderness Desk instead of reserved in advance. The MIA exit closes the loop and saves a shuttle; the traditional Narrows exit turns the trip into two days with a car waiting at the Temple of Sinawava.
Logistics
| Manager | NPS Zion National Park |
|---|---|
| Permit | Required, verify with land manager |
| Distance | 7.8 mi |
| Time | 8 hr-22 hr |
| Technical | 14 rappels, longest 165 ft |
| Season | Late Spring; Summer; Fall |
| Vehicle access | Passenger |
| Coordinates | 37.3948, -113.0222 |
Sources
- permitType: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/canyoneeringpermits.htm
- manager: https://ropewiki.com/Kolob_Canyon
- nearest town: https://ropewiki.com/The_Subway
- desc: http://climb-utah.com/Zion/kolob2.htm
- notes: http://climb-utah.com/Zion/kolob2.htm
- notes permit pickup: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/canyoneeringpermits.htm
- notes grade: https://ropewiki.com/Kolob_Canyon