Things to Do in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area

Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area is located in western Kane County, Utah, along the eastern boundary of Zion National Park. It features dramatic slot canyons, open drier sections, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. The area is recognized for its technical canyoneering routes and diverse natural features.

Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, jogging, and mountaineering. Canyoneering is a primary activity, involving navigation through varied terrain. The area has received an average rating of 4.61 out of 5 stars from more than 97,000 visitors.

Hiking is a primary activity in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area, with routes often involving a mix of dry and wet sections. Information on various hiking options is available in the Hiking in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area guide. Some routes require navigation through obstacles like boulders and chockstones.

Yes, there are options for less strenuous hikes. Users can find suitable routes in the Easy hikes in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area guide. These trails may offer a less challenging experience compared to the technical canyoneering routes.

Family-friendly hiking options are available within the Wilderness Study Area. Specific routes designed for families can be found in the Family-friendly hikes in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area guide. These trails typically feature less technical terrain.

Canyoneering in Orderville Canyon involves navigating a mix of dry and wet sections, with obstacles requiring downclimbing, hand-lining, or rappelling. The full top-down route can be an 11-mile (17.7 km) journey with rock scrambling and wading in cold water. Permits are required for the full top-down canyoneering experience.

Permits are required for the full top-down canyoneering experience in Orderville Canyon. Information on obtaining these permits can be acquired from the Zion National Park Visitor's Center. A portion of the canyon can be explored without a permit by hiking from the Temple of Sinawava.

Mountain biking is an available activity in certain sections of the Wilderness Study Area. Specific routes for mountain biking are detailed in the MTB Trails in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area guide. The rugged terrain within the canyon itself is generally not suitable for mountain biking.

While the rugged canyon terrain is not ideal for typical jogging, some approach trails may offer suitable opportunities. Information on running routes can be found in the Running Trails in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area guide. These trails are typically in more open and drier sections.

The area is characterized by dramatic slot canyons and features 'hanging gardens' with maidenhair fern and various wildflowers beneath rock overhangs. Approximately 21% of the WSA is covered in pinyon-juniper woodland, Ponderosa pine, fir, and maple. Clay soils within the canyon can make surfaces slippery.

Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area, MTB Trails in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area, and Running Trails in Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Guides for easy, family-friendly, and waterfall hikes are also available.

Orderville Canyon Wilderness Study Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The official website for information is blm.gov/visit/orderville-canyon-wsa. The BLM Utah Kanab Field Office can be reached at +1-435-644-1200.