Pine Creek

Location: Zions National Park
Rating: Intermediate 3C III
Length: 2-6 hours
Longest Rappel: 90ft (27m)
Start: East entrance of Mount Carmel Tunnel
End: Hwy 9 west of Mount Carmel Tunnel second pull-out
Permits: Required
Wet Suit: Yes | 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 is an awesome Canyon! Its miniature size with pools, high canyon walls, dark corridors, and rappels lets you get a great taste of what canyoneering really is about. A wetsuit is recommended, although I’ve done Pine Creek without a wetsuit, it’s much nicer with one – especially in high water. In fact I couldn’t have done it without a wetsuit when Pine Creek was full. The last rappel used to be about 100ft but in 2010 a large portion of the canyon wall came away and now the rappel is 15ft shorter.

Approach:

Head east on Hwy 9 toward tunnel form Zion Visitor Center. Once past Canyon Junction you will park a second car at the second pull-out. Drive the first car through the tunnel. Parking is just after tunnel on the right. Immediately drop on past the Porto-Potty and follow the bridge wall down the short trail. This is Pine Creek.