Kolob Canyon - Zion West Side

Overview

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86° | 56°

Thu

84° | 57°

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( Rated 3.8 / 19 Ratings )

71 Todo Lists / 12 Ticks

RATING: 3C

CFS RANGE: 0 - 5

LENGTH: 9-11 hours (7.9 miles)

SEASON: Late Spring, Summer, Fall

GEAR: Standard Technical Gear

RAPPELS: 13 to 50 m ( 165 ft. )

WATER: Flowing, heavy wetsuit required (5mm+)

FLASHFLOOD: High

A permit is required for this trip. For permit information see this page.

Wed

86° | 56°

Thu

84° | 57°

Fri

80° | 56°

Sat

80° | 54°

Sun

82° | 55°

Getting SOAKED early in Kolob - Unkown Canyoneer

Kolob Rappel

Kolob is a very different animal than most other canyons on the Colorado Plateau. Except in fairly rare circumstances, it is a flowing water canyon, and can be extremely dangerous or deadly with higher flows! Call the Washington County Water Conservancy District at 435-673-3617 to find out the release rate for Kolob Reservoir, and if it is planning on being increased or decreased by the date of your trip. At 3CFS, it is fairly intense and requires good flowing water canyon experience. At 5+ it would extremely dangerous, stay out!

ACCESS ISSUE: Permission is required to use the MIA Exit before getting a permit from the Zion Backcountry Desk. The land is privately owned. Call 435.586.1182, prompt #2 to obtain permission.

OK, with the warning out of the way, Kolob is an amazing canyon. It is intense, flowing, and beautiful. Skilled canyoneers only for this one, it is no place for beginners or intermediates. The water is bitter cold, so a full wetsuit is required. I like a 2 piece 5mm, but if you are not cold tolerant, a 7mm suit may be prudent. Once you start, you will be in the water for several hours with no real respite. In 1993 two boyscout leaders were killed, and the rest of the group stranded for 5 days waiting for rescue. They attempted the canyon at an astounding 29CFS.