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mountain man
12-18-2009, 07:38 PM
Upper Orderville
A very short canyon with a series of beautiful fluted drops that can be combined into a single rappel. In my opinion it’s best to combine with a canyon dropping into Orderville and exiting up Orderville.

Rating: 3A I
Time Required: very short for the canyon
Longest Rappel: all drops can be linked with a 185' rope

Permit Information
none

Camping/Lodging
BLM land around, standar Zion

Preferred Season
Late spring, summer, fall

Water Concerns
none

Equipment Suggestions
standard equipment. 185' rope & rope edge protectors

Directions to Trailhead
follow standard Orderville directions

Approach
Hike towards Orderville following the trail from the lower 4X4 parking area. When you get to the drop off and dirt slope to get into Orderville do not go down the dirt slope instead head back the way you came and walk down the Orderville drainage wash. Soon you will come to a cliff and a series of fluted rappels.

It could be done on the way down the standard Orderville hike. But in my opinion it’s not worth taking that much rope all the way through Orderville out the Narrows.

Best to do this canyon when exiting another canyon up and out Orderville. Follow your canyon exit and when escaping Orderville canyon near the dirt slope at its head walk to the sand wash and follow the wash to the head of Orderville canyon. You should have enough rope to do it this way.

Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
approx cords N 37.32590 W 112.87007

Description
Anchor located on the right cliff (LDC). You will need rope edge protectors. Or better yet, construct an anchor to go straight down the water course would be a better rap aesthetically, and for the rope. All drops can be combined with a single 185’ rope. If you used the anchor on the right, instead of pulling ropes (up or down) throw the rope down and coil/stuff at the bottom. That way you won’t cause any ugly rope groves.

Exit
Back the same way up to the Orderville parking or go down full Orderville to Zion NP