Englestead Hollow Canyon

Beta for Englestead Canyon in Zion National Park

Duration

6

- 10 hrs.

Rating

4

Technical Class Indicates the technicality of the terrain and the tyoe of rope work require.

1 - 

Canyon Hiking Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.

2 - 

Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.

3 - 

Intermediate Canyoneering Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope is required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.

4 - 

Advanced Canyoneering Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrollean traverse, or guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors. Rappels longer than 200 feet will usually earn a canyon a Class 4 rating.

A(B)

Water Rating indicates complications due to flowing or still water, under normal conditions.

A - 

Normally dry or with very little water. Wading to waist deep at most.

B - 

Water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls are normally dry or running at a trickle. Swimming expected.

C - 

Water with strong current. Waterfalls. Wet canyon rope techniques required.

III

Time or Grade indicates the length of the adventure.

I - 

Short. A couple of hours.

II - 

Requires about a half day.

III - 

Normally requires most of a day.

IV - 

Expected to take a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp. Possible bivy.

V - 

More than one day. Normally done in two days.

VI - 

Two full days or more.

Additional Risk Rating indicates the presence of more risk factors than might be expected.

No Rating - 

Normal risk factors are present on this adventure.

R - 

One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgment required. Not appropriate for beginners, even with competent leadership.

X - 

Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgment will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should be attempted by expert canyoneers only. This is the least-well-established part of the rating system, and the most subjective. Use by beta-providers varies widely, to the point that this part of the rating means very little.

Longest Rappel

294 ft

Number of Rappels

10

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: Springdale

Approaches:

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First Rappel:

First Rappel Icon

Last Rappel:

Last Rappel Icon

Exits:

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Calculate time for your adventure

Select your approach, exit, and any shuttles in order to calcualte an estimated time

1. Approaches:

2. Canyon Time:

5 hour(s).

3. Exit Time:

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Englestead Hollow Canyon

WARNING

This canyon contains a BIG rappel. All of your group members should have appropriate devices for descending and should know how to add friction while on rappel.

Englestead Hollows Rappels

- 10 rappels

Going dow the first rappel in Englestead Hollow Canyon

Rappel 1

Length: 294 ft

Coordinates: 37.304955 ,-112.891302

Rappel 1 AnchorAnchor Icon

There are multiple anchor options for this rappel. The tree directly to the left of the head of the canyon is the typical anchor choice. All of the trees near the head of the canyon are viable sturdy options.


Overview

Rappel 1 can be anchored from various trees at the head of Englestead Hollow. The tree just at the head of of the canyon is the usual choice for an anchor. Rappel down a beautiful fluted chute almost 300 ft. to the canyon bottom. Enjoy the descent with its beautiful views.

Tips

There is a large ledge about 55 ft. above the bottom of the rappel that offers another anchor point just in case your rope does not reach the full length of the almost 300 ft. first rap. Make sure that everyone in your group has a belay device that allows them to add friction while rappelling and that they know how to do so.



Looking up the 2nd rappel in Englestead

Rappel 2

Length: 35 ft

Rappel 2 AnchorAnchor Icon

There is webbing slung around a boulder directly in the watercourse that provides and anchor for this rappel.


Overview

Rappel 2 is just down canyon from the bottom of rappel 1 and is anchored from a large boulder in the watercourse.



Descending the 3rd rappel in Englestead Hollow

Rappel 3

Length: 30 ft

Rappel 3 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored from a boulder. Webbing is slung around it and hangs over the edge of the rappel.


Overview

This third rappel is just down the watercourse from the bottom of the 2nd rappel and has a bit of an awkward entry as per usual in Zion canyons. You will need to use the webbing or and/or some downclimbing skills before you are completely weighted in your harness.



Peeking over the edge of rappel 4 in Englestead

Rappel 4

Length: 100 ft

Rappel 4 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored with webbing and two bolted hangers on the right-hand wall looking down canyon.


Overview

Just around the corner from rappel 3 is rappel 4. The drop is right at 100 ft. over two stages. The first stage will drop you about 15 into a pothole. The second stage will drop you the remaining 85 ft. down a beautiful but slippery flute. This rappel marks then end of the rappels for a while. So bag the ropes and walk down canyon for quite a ways. The canyon will open wide soon after this rappel and then slot up eventually another time.

Tips

A 60 meter (~197 ft.) rope is barely enough for both ends to touch the floor of this rappel.



Downclimbing the first log jam section in Englestead

Downclimbs

Length: ft

Anchor Icon

More anchor information coming soon.


Overview

The majority of downclimbs are encountered between rappels 5 and 6. A couple of the downclimb images featured in this section are encountered later in the canyon. Once the canyon begins to slot up again, you will encounter some rock and log jams. All of the downclimbs are under 20 ft. These jams can be downclimbed usually with minimal effort. If the downclimbs presented seem too difficult, the logs and boulders in the jams can provide solid natural anchor options for belays or rappels.



Descending rappel 5 in Englestead

Rappel 5

Length: 20 ft

Rappel 5 AnchorAnchor Icon

There is webbing slung around a log in the watercourse that hangs over the entry point of the rappel. This anchor is subject to change depending on flooding that causes logs to be moved.


Overview

This is a short rappel that might be possible to downclimb depending on the placement of logs in the watercourse.



Going down a short rappel 6 in Englestead Canyon

Rappel 6

Length: 17 ft

Rappel 6 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored from a wedged log in directly in the watercourse and is slung with webbing.


Overview

Downclimb over the edge to get weighed on rappel. This is easier than it looks. Rappel down to a pothole that is a semi-keeper. There are plenty of larger rocks in the pothole to push to one side to assist getting out of the semi-keeper if necessary.



Starting rappel 7 in Englestead Canyon

Rappel 7

Length: 15 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 7 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored from a wedged log in directly in the watercourse and is slung with webbing.


Overview

This is just another short rappel off of a natural anchor that is very simple.



Choosing to downclimb rappel 8 in Englestead

Rappel 8

Length: 15 ft

Type of Rappel: Optional Downclimb

Rappel 8 AnchorAnchor Icon

There is webbing slung around a log that is propped up in the watercourse.


Overview

From the top of this downclimb/rappel, you should be able to see a small natural arch at the bottom. Rappel down the smooth wall or downclimb on the right-hand side of the watercourse down what would be a fun slide if water was running down it. After this rappel walk down canyon and downclimb into a pothole. You can use a pack drag technique to lower yourself or use the assistance of another group member to get down. The first person down can spot the others on the downclimb.

Tips

If downclimbing, hug the log and swing out under it to reach the side of the watercourse that is able to be downclimbed.



Descending rappel 9 in Englestead

Rappel 9

Length: 30 ft

Rappel 9 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel uses a cairn anchor with webbing.


Overview

Rappel down a tight v slot to a small pothole.

Tips

Perform a "soft start" sitting down to enter this rappel to avoid unnecessary torque on the anchor.



Arriving at the top of rappel 10 in Englestead

Rappel 10

Length: 40 ft

Coordinates: 37.314393,-112.905837

Rappel 10 AnchorAnchor Icon

Another sturdy cairn anchor with webbing is in place at the top of this rappel.


Overview

On this final rappel right at the junction with Orderville, rappel down the watercourse about 40 ft. to the canyon floor.

Tips

You can bypass this rappel by scrambling over the left-hand side of the watercourse. It is a bit exposed, but would be considered lower 5th class. There is a good crack to help with the downclimb.



Englestead Hollow Canyon Trip Reports

July 11, 2021

This was an amazing canyon and it starts out with a bang! Our trip consisted of five people and we chose to exit via the Narrows. Our trip took a total of around 9 hours at a chill pace. When we arrived at the first rappel, we could not find any anchor station set up, so we added webbing to the first large tree just to the left of the head of the canyon. Most of the other anchors in this canyon are natural anchors and require some awkward starts. Going down Orderville Canyon to the Narrows after exiting Englestead was very beautiful and just as fun as the technical canyon.

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