Zion Horseback
Zion Horseback
 Zion
National Park is located in the heart of Southern Utah's Color Country and
is Utah's most popular national park. Along with offering spectacular scenery
365 days a year, Zion is home to some of the most incredible hiking trails
in the world. Zion National Park has a wide diversity of hiking tours, for
both beginners and advanced hikers. Choose from short nature walks, to canyon
overlook hiking trails that lead to high plateaus over two thousand feet
above the Virgin River in the bottom of the Zion National Park Zion hiking
will give you the thrill of a lifetime as they journey through the world
famous Zion Narrows, a collection of slot canyons that converge to form
Zion Canyon.Zion Horseback  This
very demanding, 13-mile hike introduces visitors to the wonders of river
hiking in Zion's Narrows. After accessing the hike through Zion Ponderosa
Ranch's Orderville Gulch, hikers enter the canyon. The beginning of the
canyon is marked by a 125-foot dry fall. At many times during the year,
pools of water line this dry fall. Hikers will continue to descend deep
into the canyon. Within a couple of miles, any noticeable trail has become
a streambed and thousand-foot cliffs tower on both sides of the stream.
Orderville Canyon is much drier than the more populated narrows trail that
begins at Chamberlain's Ranch, so the walking is faster. Hikers must still
watch their footing as they traverse the small stream in the canyon.Zion Horseback Upon crossing into the Park, hikers will arrive at a 15-foot drop off. This obstacle must be negotiated with care. The use of ropes and some down-climbing experience is recommended. This obstacle is one of the reasons that Orderville Canyon is much less visited than other Narrows hikes. After 9.7 miles, hikers will reach the confluence of the Orderville Canyon and the North fork of the Virgin River. The water is much deeper now and remains that way for the remaining three miles of the hike. Wading and sometimes swimming is necessary ot continue downstream. The water can be quite cold and footing on the river bottom is very difficult. Hikers must take extreme caution in this part of the hike. You DO need a permit for this hike. Permits can be obtained from the Visitors Center at the west entrance of the Park. Zion Horseback |
