Shelf Canyon (Nontechnical Route)

Shelf Canyon is a short, interesting hike to a brief, but cool (in both senses of the word) slot on Zion's east side. At the end is a slanted room with a unique set of natural ledges (thus the canyon's name) that can be followed at least 40 feet above the canyon floor (but not out the top). It may be the quickest way to find air conditioning in Zion in the summer! Some have rappelled in from the top, but going technical here is not worth the trouble. On the other side of the road, Pine Creek forms a short but impressive slot canyon before dropping into the technical section, that the crowds parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail never seem to notice. It's a great way to spend an hour away from the Zion masses.

Use the upper developed parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail. It is located about 200 yards east of the tunnel on the north side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (Utah Highway 9). When the park is crowded, finding parking can be a challenge, and you may have to go further up the road to find parking then walk along the road to return to this parking lot. Shelf Canyon is the drainage directly to the north. This is not an official signed trail, but the most obvious access is a steep trail dropping in on the east (right) side; alternatively, you can avoid the down-and-up by skirting along the slickrock from the parking lot on the west (left) side. Once in the bottom, simply follow it upstream to the end.

The canyon is not technical, but it is steep and has several spots of basic bouldering, slickrock hiking, and stemming. Anyone who has hiked on slickrock will be fine, but I have seen not-so-serious-hikers give up in frustration. It is a fun canyon for children who want some challenges. Water is very rare. The length going in is about 1/2 mile, and the round trip can be completed in about 45 minutes.

Return the way you came. Don't forget to cross the highway and drop into the "Middle Pine Creek Narrows." It may be the best 300 yard hike in Zion! Under the bridge, you can peek into the famous technical section, but don't go any further without proper technical canyoneering equipment. Exit by climbing the hill under the brigde to the parking lot, then return to where you parked.

If you are doing this as a hike you will not need a permit. Limit your group to 12 people.

If you choose to try to do this as a technical route you will have to get a permit, and your group size cannot exceed 6 people. All technical canyoneering routes require a permit regardless of whether they are known routes or not. Other than Keyhole and Subway, group sizes cannot exceed 6 for technical canyoneering routes. More information about canyon access and permits in Zion National Park is available here: http://www.americancanyoneers.org/access-zion/