Canyon Name: Pine Creek
Class: 4B III
Gear: WCCM layers, 3 – 120′ ropes, webbing, rappel rings, dry bags, headlamp, self-rescue gear. Permits from the Zion N.P. Visitors Center. Please note the longest rappel in bold below and the recommended rope above refers to WCCM rule which is to bring 3 times the longest rappel of rope into any canyon route.
Expected Time Commitment: For a solid team, car to car 4-6 hours
Technical Obstacles: Rappels and swims up to 100′, awkward starts, swimming disconnects
Non Technical Obstacles: cold, dark conditions, frigid water, route finding required at egress. Permit required for Zion National Park Visitor Center.
Recommended Time of Year: Spring, Summer and Fall. Never during the threat of Flash Floods.
Finding the Trailhead: Take Highway 9 from the Visitor Center after you get your permit, heading toward the Mt. Carmel tunnel. The canyon egress ends at the second switchback up Highway 9 toward the tunnel. Stash one car here if possible. Continue driving up and through the tunnel, pulling into the parking lot on the right hand side on the immediate far side of the tunnel.
The Approach: Descend the marked trail near the outhouse to the canyon floor and take a right to head down canyon. Be wary of erosion occuring on the trail down, watching how and where you place your feet.
The Canyon Descent:
Walk a few minutes and gear up just before the first downclimb.
Downclimb 10 feet assisting each other through the potholes to the first rappel.
Rappel #1: 90 feet from bolt anchor – 70 feet into a pothole and then 20 more feet. Watch the rope lay for the pull
Rappel #2: 10 feet off log anchor
Rappel #3: Great Cathedral – belay out leader to bolt anchor on canyon left. 65 feet to pool. First one down may wish to take a tag line to assist the rest of the group out of the pool.
Rappel #4: 20 feet off a bolt anchor high and to the right. Sand is very slippery here so watch your step around the corner, setting a retrievable handline here could help ensure safety on the approach to the anchors.
Rappel #5: 20 feet off a log
Make your way through the boulder field. Favor canyon right to put you in the right spot for the next rappel.
Rappel #6: 70 feet off a bolt anchor canyon right
Squeeze through the birth canal crack and watch your step as you approach the final anchor. Upclimb to the left and then towards the edge where you’ll spy the downclimb to the final anchor of bolts in the wall. Take care to ensure excellent edge protection – belay out the leader and have them spot each arriving rappeller with an accesible clip-in point made available.
Rappel #7: 105 feet to canyon floor off bolts. Free hanging for much of the rappel so set friction accordingly. 2009 Due to recent rock fall the drop is a bit shorter, but be prepared for at least 105′ Heads up on more rocks coming down.
Egress: Take your time descending the canyon following the main water course, moving between huge boulders and lots of unstable rocks. Move together as a group, taking your time. When you spot the masonry wall of the switchback, look for a faint use trail to make your way up and out of the canyon bed.
