Engelstead Hollow

Location: Zions National Park
Rating: Advanced 4B III
Length: 6-10 hours
Longest Rappel: 300ft (91m)
Start: 8.4 miles up the North Fork Road
End: Temple of Sinawava
Permits: Required
Wet Suit: Not needed. Recommended in cold weather.
Shuttle: Yes

** Permits can be obtained from Zion National park through an online lottery system. The lottery is 2 days, 7 days or 3 months in advance. Mystery and Subway are the only canyons with a lottery 3 months in advance. Click here for site lottery.

Overview: This canyon contains the longest rappel Zion has to offer. Cold river temperatures and heavy current in the Zion Narrows and Orderville Canyon possible. River Running is unavoidable exiting Zion Narrows. Park one vehicle at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Drive a second vehicle to the Engelstead trailhead | Birch Hollow trailhead 8.4 miles up the North Fork Road on the East side of Zions. 3.2 miles from Ponderosa Ranch on dirt road.

Approach:

Head east out of Zions National Park to North Fork Road. Follow North Fork 2.8 miles past Ponderosa Resort to another 4-wheel road on the left. Park here off the road if you don’t have a high clearance vehicle to venture another ¼ mile. Follow old ATV path for 15 min until you see another ATV trail branch to the right – this is Birch Hollow rout. Follow the road for 25 minutes to a log staging area, and continue off the end of a ridge down to a wash. Follow the wash to the BIG DROP! Multi-stage can be accomplished by rappelling 80' down the wall to a 2 bolt anchor, then proceeding from the 2 bolt anchor another 160' to a large bowl in the wash below, then another 40' from the bolt station in the bowl to the canyon floor.