Keyhole 3B

[Dwayne27]

A short, dark, fun canyon that is a good destination if you have limited time in the area.

Rating: 3B I
Time Required: ~2-3 Hours
Longest Rappel: ~25 Feet

Permit Information
Permits required and can be obtained at the Zion NP Visitor Center.

Camping/Lodging
There are campgrounds in Zion NP, numerous hotels in nearby Springdale and plenty of primitive camping in the vicinity.

Preferred Season
Spring, summer, fall when rain isn’t threatening

Water Concerns
Lots of water- potential for long swims, very cold

Special Challenges
Always check conditions of both natural and artificial anchors. Replace webbing etc. as needed. Narrow, cold swims

Equipment Suggestions
Standard Technical Gear (harness, descending device, helmet, multiple locking carabineers, slings, etc), 150’ rope, dry bags, wetsuit, 20’ of webbing, rap rings/links

Topographic Maps
USGS 7.5’ Map ‘Springdale East’

Directions to Trailhead
From the Mt. Caramel tunnel, head east through the next tunnel. From there, continue east for 1.8 miles till you reach a small pull out on the right side of the road where a sandy wash crosses underneath.

Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
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Approach
Walk east on the highway for a quarter mile or so. Turn left off of the highway and climb into a slickrock bowl, then to a pass at the top of it. Drop down the opposite side on steep dirt, into a wash. This is the top of Keyhole. The hike in only takes 10 or so minutes from the highway. Continue downstream.

Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
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Description: Standard Route
Narrows, then an open spot, then a rappel into more narrows, along with some cold swimming and a few other drops to downclimb or rappel.

Exit
You should come out of the slot in the vicinity of your car. Please have someone take the quick entrance route to the first rappel, and retrieve any slings or gear left behind. The entrance hike is so short that there is little excuse for not keeping this rappel station clean.

Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
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[Dwayne27]

Reserved for accident reports from this canyon

[redneckoutfitters]

on saterday 9/20/08 a group left a member of there team between rappels 1 and 2 luckly another group came by and found him. so please make sure your entire group is down the rappel before removeing the rope.

[pitufo74]

So, that's what happened!

My girlfriend and I did Keyhole and at the end of the first Rap we saw a backpack all by its lonesome, we had been wondering what was going on since we saw noone around and no rope in place. Kind of spooky!

The group behind us took the bag and turned it into the visitors center.

Keyhole is a fun little canyon. But I would discourage anyone from going back on the first route, The rangers are strongly discouraging people from taking that route and are trying to prevent any further erosion in that area.

I would recommend some sort of retreival system

[deagol]

I have read that this canyon requires a permit, but on the Zion NPS website, Keyhole Canyon does not appear on the drop-down menu on the Backcountry Reservation System.
Is this because these permits are only issued in person?
Do you still need a permit for this?
Can I reserve it online?

Thanks..

[dancrev]

I am not certain, but I believe that during the road construction only walk-in permits are available for the canyons near the road.

Here is a posting:
http://www.nps.gov/zion/parknews/temporary-restrictions-on-permits-for-east-zion-canyons.htm

[deagol]

Thanks, that does appear to explain it.
Much appreciated..

[shagdeuce]

FYI on water protection (not advice, but rather my experience). I did Keyhole on 5/7/2011 (high of 88) in a spring suit (long sleeves, short legs, 2mm). There was a small flow and a lot of water. Started at 2:00 PM. It wasn't too bad. Once the canyon gets deep and cold, it ends pretty quickly.