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Zion
Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National
Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park
maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna,
campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Utah!
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Zion
National Park Map
Directions to Zion National Park
From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver.
Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east
entrance.
From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona
and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east
park entrance.
From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and
travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in
LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion
National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
Oversized
Vehicle Information
Zion
Canyon Shuttle Information
Well known canyoneer, Shane Burrows in Das Boot. Das Boot
is an exciting technical to entrance into The Subway.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Wildcat Trailhead
37°20.4512
N
113°4.5081
W
Cross over Russell Gulch to
the East side at:
37°19.6818
N
113°2.6851 W
Start Down Drainage to Das Boot at: 37°19.5681 N
113°1.9890
W
GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.
Options - The
Subway
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more information please visit the Zion National Park Forum
Suggested Equipment: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike a long distance in the Subway. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced hikers and Canyoneers often prefer a good quality rubber shoe like Sportiva Exum Ridge. Other prefer the AquaStealth Rubber Tennies or 5-10 Canyoneers but these are not as good for hiking. You might want to try wearing neoprene socks with them for added comfort if they are not already part of the shoe. Canyoneering Rope is required for this semi-technical canyon.
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Das Boot
Das Boot is an ice cold, dark and skinny canyon that requires the use of a rope and wearing a wetsuit. The end of the canyon opens up into the popular and easier canyoneering route, the Subway.
Das Boot at a Glance
Photo Album: Das Boot Pictures
Trail Maps: Das Boot Topo Map
Distance: 10.8 miles
Average time: 2 hours in Das Boot plus the
Subway time of 7 hours. The Subway exit can be time consuming if not in good
shape.
Equipment: 60' rope, webbing, harness,
rappel device, map, dry bag, sticky rubber shoes and a cold water wetsuit and
neoprene socks.
Technical: Up to 40' rappels, difficult downclimbing.
Difficulty: Moderate off trail hiking.
Technical canyon with swimming in cold pools. Good downclimbing skills are needed.
ACA Canyon Rating: 3B III
Permits:
Required.
Check the weather report
before hiking this trail. Do not hike if it looks like rain
Trailhead: Wildcat Trailhead - Kolob Terrace
Trailend: Left Fork Trailhead - Kolob Terrace
Trail Access: The Kolob Terrace Road.
Cold temperatures deter most hikers in the winter
months.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes.
Classic Zion Canyon: No
Best Season: mid-June to mid-September when the water
and air temperatures are warmer.
Hazards: High flash flood danger. Call the Zion Canyon
Visitors Center for weather conditions prior to the hike: (435) 772-3256. Hiking
in slot canyons presents a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not hike
this trail if it is raining. Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood.
Canyoneering: Never enter a technical canyon without the knowledge and skills needed to safely explore and return. Rappelling and downclimbing skills are required to navigate through Das Boot. Do not jump. Jumping in Zion's canyons have resulting in many broken bones. Many technical canyons, such as Das Boot, also require excellent map reading skills to navigate.
Das Boot
Das Boot is an addition to the traditional Subway Hike that can be enjoyed
by those wanting a "step up" in adventure from the standard "Subway" route.
This hike will add an additional 1.5 miles to the standard Subway Route (Approximately)
and an additional 2-3 hours of hiking - scrambling - downclimbing - rappelling
to the standard Subway Route.
2.5 miles: cross over Russell gulch
3.75 Miles to the drainage head where you start to drop into Das Boot
4.5 miles: Left Fork of North Creek and "Das Boot"
5.2 miles:Jct of "Das Boot" and Russell Gulch
Total miles: exit Left Fork Trailhead 10.75 miles.
Das Boot Trailhead - Leave the main section of Zion Park
and drive along SR-9 to the small town of Virgin. Turn onto the Kolob Terrace
Road (Kolob Reservoir) heading north for approximately. 9 miles and park at the
Left Fork Trailhead (first car) then continue north to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead
approximately. 8 miles to begin the Das Boot Hike.
The standard Subway Route begins at the Wildcat Canyon trailhead, and will
follow the Wildcat Canyon Trail for 1 mile until coming to the Northgate Peaks
Trail junction. Turn right at the junction onto the Northgate Peaks trail and
follow it for approximately 200 yards. At this point there is a sign that
indicates the "Left Fork of North Creek" and the "Subway".
The trail crosses slickrock and descends to the southeast toward Russell Gulch.
This trail is fairly easy to follow when in the forested areas, but
on the slickrock watch for rock cairns. Travel
this trail down towards Russell Gulch for approximately .5 miles then leave
the trail to the east-north-east, finding the easiest path toward the bottom
of Russell Gulch. Not far down steer more northerly toward the head of
Russell Gulch to avoid dropping down and then having to climb back out of Russell
Gulch. By staying High and contouring to the north you will be able to cross
over on to the east side of the gulch with minimal elevation loss. Once on the
east side of Russell Gulch traverse south-easterly gaining elevation
to gain a slickrock ledge system - ridge and travel approximately .5 mile to
the south-south-east staying at a fairly level elevation (Not up, and not down).
Soon you will see Wildcat Canyon peeking from the corner to the east and hiking
now toward Wildcat Canyon to the east you will soon encounter a prominent drainage
that runs southerly into the Left Fork drainage to your right and and below.
This is the ticket into Das Boot. Carefully working down this drainage
for about .5 miles will put you into the Left Fork and the start of Das Boot.
From this point have your wetsuit on and zipped up, anything
you want kept dry stored in dry bags and your sense of adventure primed and ready.
Double bag cameras in a wet canyon like Das Boot.
Das Boot - Rappelling skills, the ability to downclimb difficult obstacles and get off
rappel while in keep in water are required to navigate through this slot canyon.
Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a short time due to flash floods
and water levels in this canyon change. These directions are only a general reference.
Be prepared for variations in the canyon.
There will be several downclimbs into cold pools that must be swam, and you
should have 60' of rope to negotiate rappels that you may not
feel comfortable downclimbing. Although this additional .75 mile stretch of Left
Fork of North Creek may seem short, it will provide long lasting memories of
a spectacular, narrow slot canyon that tempts the adventure in all of us.
Beware: Das Boot presents difficult problems that need to be solved and only
should be attempted if you have downclimbing skills and chimneying experience.
To attempt this canyon without the proper equipment i.e. wetsuit and rope, could
lead to serious consequences.
For more information see Shane Burrows excellent
Climb-Utah.com website: The Subway A trip through Das Boot can be added to this adventure.
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