Early Flash Food Warnings For Utah's Slot Canyons

Southern Utah's “monsoon season” is early this year. It is usually August when scattered afternoon thundershowers become frequent over our desert canyon country. This year we have already seen warnings and flood events in the Zion Park area and other spots in SE Utah.

Watch weather reports and talk to rangers in the parks before heading into the backcountry. Pay attention if you are driving or hiking in or across washes. Washes that are normally dry can become raging torrents very quickly if there is rainfall anywhere in the drainage.

Canyoneers, in particular, need to take care before entering narrow canyons. Take a last look at the sky before dropping into the slot and then monitor as best you can as you descend the canyon. Start your trek early in the morning and try to be through the narrowest portions of the canyon by mid-afternoon, when the storms begin to kick up.

The video at right shows a flood that came down Pine Creek, in Zion, on July 6th, 2014.


Hidden Canyon and Portions of East Rim Trails To Close In Zion National Park

The Deseret News has this article about planned trail closures in Zion Park. Below is an excerpt.

Beginning Monday and running through the end of September, the Hidden Canyon Trail and portions of the East Rim and Observation Point trails will be closed for several days each week to allow newly poured concrete to dry. Concrete pouring will occur on Monday or Tuesday of each week, which should allow the trail to be open most weekends.

Trail work is also planned for the Canyon Overlook Trail during the months of September and October, which will lead to Monday-Thursday trail closures.