Dothraki
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:17, max ↨150ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:High Clearance Rock type:Navajo Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 10 May 2025
"Fun time through Dothraki. First time in the canyon for the whole group. Left shuttle vehicle at Squirrel Canyon Trailhead then used Water Canyon appr |
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| Best season: | Apr-Oct
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37.0367, -112.9743
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Introduction[edit]
Unique cross-joint in the Navajo sandstone layer featuring a plethora of rappels, a handful of challenging downclimbs, and a brief, very tight narrows section. This route is a good option for the experienced group if you are looking for a dry canyon that does not require a permit in the Zion area.
Do not underestimate Dothraki! Dothraki is FIERCE. This is a challenging canyon for someone not used to stemming, narrow slots and tough downclimbs. It is not straightforward like many Zion canyons.
Approach[edit]
Two options here, both seem to take the same amount of time; around 3hrs to 1st anchor.
The Dragon's Back Approach (no shuttle)
This is the original approach that starts from Squirrel Canyon trailhead and does not require a car shuttle. Despite being the original approach route, this is not recommended due to it being quite miserable - and unsustainable. This approach has 600 feet of elevation gain up a steep, sandy road and use trails to the cliff band. It then heads up a ravine through the cliff band gaining an additional 450 feet with a few sections of very steep sand and loose rock. Take your time while navigating this section. Once at the top of the ravine you will be on the "Dragon's Back". Scramble and walk to the head of the canyon with great views over the area. The route up the ravine to the Dragon's Back has some challenging route finding.
Water Canyon Approach (Shuttle: 10 minute drive, 20 minute walk)
Despite being longer, this approach is easier than the Dragon's Back. Park a recovery vehicle at Squirrel Canyon trailhead--which will be the exit trailhead--and shuttle to Water Canyon trailhead (bathroom). Follow the Water Canyon trail up to Top Rock. Follow smaller trails up towards the local highpoint, and then disappearing trails through varied terrain to the head of the canyon. GPS or very good map skills helpful... or required.
Gear up on the slickrock overlooking the start of the canyon, then move to the top and drop into the slot. The slot ends at a huge Ponderosa, the anchor for the first rappel. (A tree on the rim will likely have a sling around it, but in the slot is better.)
Descent[edit]
- R1: 85' from a tree.
Downclimb slippery slanted ledge LDC or spicy drop off on RDC. Meat anchor/partner assist can be helpful here. Downclimb steep slope shortly after, LDC
- R2: 15' Anchored from a small oak LDC. Can be bypassed as a spicy downclimb.
- R3: 150' Anchored from bolts LDC.
- R4: 30' Anchored from bolts RDC. Enter long very tight narrows section requiring stemming.
- R5: 55' Anchored from a bolts RDC. Begin long walk to next anchor with another stemming downclimb 1/4 of the way.
- R6: 70' Anchored from bolts LDC, exposed.
- R7: 20' Anchored from bolts.
- R8: 60' Anchored from bolts LDC.
- R9: 30' Anchored from a tree RDC up high (very loose soil/rock). Downclimb 10' drop using crack in LDC wall shortly after R8
- R10: 40' Anchored from a tree, head high.
- R11: 35' Anchored from bolts LDC.
- R12: 12' Anchored from bolts LDC.
- R13: 25' Anchored from bolts LDC.
- R14: 25' Anchored from a bush LDC, up high.
- R15: 20' Anchored from a rock pinch.
- R16: 15' Anchored from a bush RDC, (rappel over large wedged boulders).
- R17: 130' Anchored from bolts LDC, down to canyon floor (or 30' down to bolts LDC and 100' down to canyon floor). (NOTE: more recently, a short rappel (30'?) leads to a pinnacle on the left with sling around it. Check the slings of course. Access to the slings is a bit awkward - send the A Team. From the slings, rappel 100' to the bottom. This gives a cleaner pull than doing the whole 'R17' in one shot.)
Exit[edit]
Boulder hop and follow drainage, downclimbing a few short drops for several hundred feet to where the canyon flattens out. Follow the watercourse through twists and turns to where it intersects the road. Climb up onto the road and turn right. Walk 100 yards to the Squirrel Canyon trailhead. (A use-trail climbing the steep slope to the right early on might be tempting, but following the watercourse is faster and easier.)
Red tape[edit]
Beta Sites[edit]
- https://www.bluugnome.com/cyn_route/zion/zion_dothraki/zion_dothraki.aspx
- https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/dothraki-canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
I have now done this canyon twice. We went with 8 people on the water canyon approach and the time in was spot on(I did the chute the last time and it is really no fun but the dragons back is super cool)
There are many spicy down climbs that you may or may not be comfortable with. If you go have plenty of webbing and know how to set up an anchor. Some of the webbing was questionable and had to be replaced. But overall a very fun day. Getting rescued out of this canyon would be extremely difficult.
Our group was too big and not every person had the same level of experience so it took us 10 hours to do the technical portion of the canyon. Plan accordingly!
Background[edit]
Many new bolt stations have been installed by SAR on 10/21/2018, following a 15 hour rescue mission