Fun, Wet, Narrow.

Orderville is a wonderfully fun canyon. With two short obstacles where ropes are often used, it is the easiest technical canyon in the Zion: Canyoneering book, or the hardest off-trail hike. Due to the clay soils in its headwaters, Orderville can be exceptionally slippery, so the experienced Ordervillean brings a short rope on all trips. Orderville changes from trip-to-trip more than most canyons, and the washing away of a log or filling of a pool could make that easy move last trip difficult and dangerous. Bring a rope to use as a handline, and the skills required for using it safely.

Orderville Canyon is named for the town of Orderville, founded in 1875 by the pioneers in Mount Carmel who enrolled in The United Order of Enoch. Orderville became the most successful expression of the communal United Order movement, and included Zion luminaries Isaac Behunin and William Heaps. It expanded to 546 people by 1877. Interest in the communal life waned and the town returned to ordinary capitalism about 1883.

Orderville Canyon sees quite a few accidents. Jumping into shallow pools tends to break ankles and lower legs. Rescue is slow and difficult. Don't jump.

The start of Orderville includes a fair amount of hiking in the full sun. In summer, an early start is highly recommended. The short spur road down to the floor of Orderville is a high-clearance 4WD road, and should only be attempted by experienced jeepers. Once started down this road, turning a vehicle around is impossible.

The bottom half of Orderville is wet - great fun when it is hot out. A backcountry water-park. Water protection for cameras and anything else you want to keep dry is essential. The footing can be uncertain, and the technical difficulties are few, so ski or trekking poles, or a hiking staff, are useful.

Canyon Profile

Summer- Start early to avoid the heat, the first half of the hike is usually dry and in full sun. Bring plenty of water.

Fall- Wetsuits recommended for cooler temps and shorter days. Beautiful fall foliage usually present in the upper half of the canyon.

Winter- Can be hard to access the top trailhead when the North Fork road is wet, snowy or icy.

Spring- Check for closures for spring snowmelt in the Narrows. Wetsuit recommended.

The Business

Stroll downcanyon. At first, the canyon is open with large trees, punctuated by short sections of interesting narrows. The narrow sections become longer and more frequent, the terrain providing a wide variety of scenery. Numerous canyons come in from the north and south, including Esplin Gulch, named for Lynn Esplin, who made the first descent in 1947 while looking for missing sheep. Unfortunately, he did not survive his descent. Other drainages dropping into Orderville are named for pioneers that farmed in Orderville Canyon and ran livestock on the high ground to the north and south.

About an hour downcanyon from the mudslide, the hearty canyoneer arrives at the first obstacle. A large boulder blocks the canyon, with a bolt anchor on the right wall. This is the Park Boundary Boulder, as it is very close to the Boundary between Zion National Park and BLM land to the east. Youth groups and others not concerned with human frailty slide down the rock and jump to the ground below, but more mature individuals will wish to use a rope to rappel, or as a handline for downclimbing the chimney below the anchor. Slippery clays can make this treacherous – use caution.

Further downcanyon, the narrows become more continuous. A few small springs provide water and a small flow starts. A log dam often backs up a shallow pool, and another one requires a short downclimb next to a waterfall. Stay in the watercourse in these areas and avoid using trails to the side that contribute to erosion.

The second obstacle is reached about an hour and a quarter past the first obstacle. A large boulder blocks the canyon. Thirty feet above the canyon floor, an even larger block spans the width of the canyon as a chockstone, and has been there long enough to have a lush growth of vegetation on its top. This is The Guillotine. Bolts and slings on the left side overlook a steep v-slot with logs leaning against it. This downclimb is especially slippery because the trees are polished and practically frictionless. Use the rope to rappel, or as a hand-line to assist and protect the downclimb. If there is water at the bottom, it is likely shallow.

A half-hour past this, another boulder blocks the width of the canyon. A scary-looking V-slot downclimb on the left looks like the obvious path, but following the water down a short fall on the right is easier and safer. This is Corkscrew Falls. Soon after, a slippery downclimb into an overhead-depth pool appears, for which a rope and handlines are likely a good idea.

Numerous interesting obstacles make for fun splashing in the water. In another half-hour, Veiled Falls is passed on the left using some shallow moki-steps. This is a popular destination for folks hiking upriver, so don't be surprised to find a crowd. A couple of downclimbs past logs might require a short swim. About an hour past The Guillotine, the final narrows section soars spectacularly skyward. Just beyond, Orderville joins the Narrows. Turn left and hike downstream about an hour to the Veranda at the end of the paved path leading 1 mile to the Temple of Sinawava.

Photo Gallery

orderville canyon