Canyoneering - Birch Hollow (Extreme)

*This is a lottery event. You will be notified on Aug 8th if you got in. If you are on the waiting list, you will be notified as spots open up. 

**This is a rescheduled event and those who signed up originally will have priority. 

Prerequisites - MUST have completed a Canyoneering Clinic in the last 12 months

Itinerary:

Friday (overnight camping - optional at Archers Overlook East Zion dispersed camping  (Free) or Zions Ponderosa ($60+):

Saturday:

Carpool   - 4:00 am - 8:30 am

Trailhead  - 8:30 am

Set up Shuttle - 830-930 am 

Run Canyon - 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Shuttle Back to Trailhead - 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Dinner & Drive Home - 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Directions: Entrance - Birch Hollow Trailhead

Exit - Orderville Canyon 4x4 Trailhead Parking 

(It takes about 1 hour to set up the shuttle and 2 HIGH clearance 4WD vehicles)

Camping - Archers Overlook dispersed camping

Activity: Canyoneering Birch Hollow - From the trailhead, follow the obvious and well traveled trail to the bottom of Birch and head down the canyon. In about 30 minutes, you'll reach a dryfall, which you can rappel. However, the rocks are particularly loose, so you can easily bypass the first rappel via a trail to the left of the canyon edge.

From there, the canyon will begin to deepen and narrow. Rappel 1 is about 60 ft and is an overhang with some water. Rappel 2 and 3 are about 30 ft. Rappel 4 is about 105 ft and is the biggest in the canyon. Be sure your rope is long enough! A quick trick is to bring a 60 m (197 ft) rope and 10 m (33 ft) of webbing. You can rappel single strand and use the webbing to extend the pull side as needed.

The final rappels come in quick succession. Rappels 5 and 6 are both about 30 ft. Rappels 7 and 8 are about 60 ft with the bottom of rappel 8 being the confluence of Orderville and Birch. Out of the canyon, turn right and follow the trails back up to North Fork Road and the exit trailhead. Download a map (we like Gaia or Road Trip Ryan) to help you navigate back to the shuttles. Road Trip Ryan Trip Report

Gear: harness (can rent), helmet (can rent), rappel device (ATS, Squirrl, Critter, etc), locking carabiners, (NO COTTON) thin liner T-shirt, hiking pants, fleece jacket, rain/windproof jacket, hiking boots or grippy shoes, headlamp, backpack, 2 L water, 6-8 snacks, first aid kit, small knife, sunscreen, sunglasses, 3 65 m 8-9mm static ropes w rope bags, repeads, webbing

Rentals:

- Harness: $5/day (BYU Outdoors Unltd) 

- Helmet: $4/day (BYU Outdoors Unltd); $6/day (UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

Guide: Emily Hacken 801-860-4591

Base Commander: JD Hacken 801-793-1809