Variety is the Spice.
A fun and scenic technical canyon just inside Zion National Park. Like DED, Eastern Sun is far from the madding crowd, has a delightfully remote feel to it, and a variety of interesting raps, anchors and downclimbs. Expect to do some anchor building, and you will find a FiddleStick useful. A permit is required. Since the canyon faces north and is a long way up the North Fork road, ES is unlikely to be accessible in spring until all snow is melted and the road dried out.
The technical part of the canyon is a fair bit meatier than its next door neighbor, Dead Eye Dick. It CAN be done with one car, taking the DED one-car approach and bushwhacking over the hill into Eastern Sun, but… it’s a lot easier with two cars. Spot a car at Chamberlain Ranch for your exit then drive back to the Dakota Hill Road. An early start will be a big help on those hot summer days.
Canyon Profile
Logistics
RATINGS
3B III ★★★☆☆
TIME REQUIRED
~8 Hours
PERMIT REQUIRED
Yes. You will also need a Narrows day-hiking permit, which you can reserve in advance; a good idea in the busy season.
SEASON
Summer or fall
LONGEST RAPPEL
155 feet (48m)
ACCESS
Begins off Dakota Ridge, ends at Chamberlain Ranch. Possible as a one-car adventure from Chamberlain Ranch.
EMERGENCY
Zion Wilderness Desk: (435) 772-0170
Zion EMERGENCY: (435) 772-3322
Equipment
ESSENTIALS
Helmets, rappelling gear, webbing and rapid links. A FiddleStick may be useful. This canyon is rarely descended, so you will likely need to build a few anchors. Many people will like poles for walking up the Narrows.
COLD WATER PROTECTION
Wet suits not needed except in the coldest/wettest conditions. The canyon does not hold water.
DRINKING WATER
Bring plenty. Water can be pumped on the walk out.
DIFFICULTIES
FLASH FLOOD RISK
Moderate to Low, but the road could be impassable with rain even to 4WD vehicles.
SKILLS REQUIRED
This is a technical canyon in a wilderness setting.
ANCHORS
All raps are off natural anchors. Please do not add bolts to this canyon.
WGS84 Zone 12S Waypoints (UTM)
Parking Spot, Dakota Hill Road: 335166mE 4135641mN
Dakota Ridge departure pt: 331755mE 4136020mN
First Rappel: 330729mE 4137285mN
Approximate times:
Driving from Springdale: 1 hour
Car Spot: 40 minutes
Approach to the first rappel: 2:45 hours
Time in the canyon: 2:15 hours
Hike to DED/ES: 0:45
Hike out: 1:45 hours
Total Time Car to Car: About 8 hours including car shuttle
Getting there
Spot an Exit Vehicle
The exit is out the top of The Narrows, so spot a car at Chamberlain Ranch.
Getting to the Start
The canyon starts on Dakota Ridge, off the North Fork Road. The road can be impassable when wet, even to HC 4WD vehicles. From Springdale, take Utah State Route 9 through the Park. Continue 2.3 miles beyond the East Entrance, then turn left (north) onto North Fork Road. The road is paved at the beginning, but turns to dirt after a few miles. At 11.4 miles, note a dirt road on the left, signed for Orderville Canyon ORV Area. Continue straight on North Fork Road another 2.5 miles. At the apex of a 90-degree rightward bend, there is a small road on the left; this is the Dakota Ridge Road. There is a shack hidden in the trees on the right side of the road about 100 feet from the North Fork Road.
Spot a car at Chamberlain Ranch, 3.7 miles further down the road, then return to the Dakota Ridge Road.
Drive out the rugged Dakota Ridge Road 1.23 miles to an open area and a road junction. The road has numerous washouts and rocky sections. While 4WD is not required, high clearance is required for all but the most reckless drivers. Park at the road junction, off the road. It is possible to continue down the right-hand road another .3 miles, but this section is rutted and slow, so walking is faster.
Approach
The canyon is the first canyon going north into the Narrows after the Park Boundary, 1.5 miles northwest of the peak of Dakota Hill.
From the carpark, follow the right fork of the road as it cuts down across the north end of the hill. It soon deteriorates as it crosses the top of three gullies. About ¾ mile (25 minutes) from the carpark, the road turns sharply left (south) just as the slightly-rocky summit of Dakota Hill comes into view. Do not follow the road south; continue west toward Dakota Hill, finding a thin path on the crest of the ridge. Where the main ridge turns left (south) follow a sub-ridge that crosses over to Dakota Hill. You will have to drop down to the subridge; do so with as small a drop as possible. Follow the sub-ridge to the crest of the Dakota Hill ridge.
At the crest of the ridge, hike left to the summit of Dakota Hill. Drop down the steep west face to the flatter ridge heading west. Follow the crest of the ridge 1.1 miles past the first drainage heading north. Pick a likely-looking place to descend into the second basin, the Eastern Sun basin. Descend a bit over a mile to the first rappel, steeply at first, then mellowing out, then following the wash bottom. There is a wire fence along the way and some small downclimbs close to the first rappel.
Follow the wash downcanyon. Walk around the first little drop on the left.
The Business
You won’t have any problem finding the first rappel.
R1: 155 feet (48m) off a pinch just below the lip, with a nice ledge that allows access. The webbing is likely to need replacement.
R2: 33 feet (10m) several anchors have been used for this rap. Find one you like. Walk under some huge chockstones.
R3: 40 feet (14m) off a sling around rocks.
R4-7: Up to 25 feet (8m), off various rocks and logs. Several might be downclimbed at a reasonable level of difficulty.
R8: 20 feet (6m) – natural anchor.
R9: 60 feet (18m) – natural anchor.
There is a “WFife” inscription at the base of R9. Head downcanyon to The Narrows.
The Exit
Turn RIGHT and walk up The Narrows 5.9 miles (2:30 hours) to Chamberlain Ranch.
AUTHORS EXPERIENCE
First Descent by Kip Marshall, Gaydon Leavitt, Bruce Wilson and Tom Jones, July 28, 2012.
I have descended the canyon at least three times, but the only adventure I have written up for the Rave is our first descent:
Trip Reports
Maps
East side overview. Click for higher resolution
Specific canyon beta. Click for higher resolution
