Virgin River

Utah

Through the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11), Congress designated approximately 165.5 miles of the Virgin River and its tributaries across federal land within Zion National Park (28 segments) and adjacent Bureau of Land Management Wilderness (11 segments), as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Over the course of 13 million years, the Virgin River has carved through the red sandstones of Zion National Park to create some of the most unforgettable scenery in the National Park System. In fact, this very act of natural erosion is responsible for "The Narrows," which is one of the premiere hiking adventures in the United States, possibly the world.

Despite the obvious evidence of the erosive force of the river, the river itself winds peacefully through the canyon. Natural river processes proceed unimpeded, allowing for seasonal flooding and meander migration, vegetative recruitment, and plant succession.

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Designated Reach

March 30, 2009. The Virgin River and tributaries, including:

Taylor Creek from the junction of the North, Middle and South Forks of Taylor Creek west to the Zion National Park boundary.
The North Fork of Taylor Creek from the head of the North Fork to its junction with Taylor Creek.
The Middle Fork of Taylor Creek from the head of the Middle Fork on Bureau of Land Management land to its junction with Taylor Creek.
The South Fork of Taylor Creek from the head of the South Fork to its junction with Taylor Creek.
Timber Creek and its tributaries from the head of Timber Creek and the tributaries of Timber Creek to its junction with LaVerkin Creek.
LaVerkin Creek beginning in Section 21, Township 38 South, Range 11 West, on Bureau of Land Management land southwest through Zion National Park to the south end of Section 7, Township 40 South, Range 12 West.
Willis Creek from Bureau of Land Management land in Section 27, Township 38 South, Range 11 West, to its junction with LaVerkin Creek in Zion National Park.
Beartrap Canyon beginning on Bureau of Land Management land in Section 3, Township 39 South, Range 11 West, to its junction with LaVerkin Creek and the segment from the headwaters north of Long Point to its junction with LaVerkin Creek.
Hop Valley Creek beginning at the southern boundary of Section 20, Township 39 South, Range 11 West, to its junction with LaVerkin Creek.
Current Creek from the head of Current Creek to its junction with LaVerkin Creek.
Cane Creek from the head of Cane Creek to its junction with LaVerkin Creek.
Smith Creek from the head of Smith Creek to its junction with LaVerkin Creek.
North Creek (Left and Right Forks): The Left Fork from its junction with Wildcat Canyon to its junction with the Right Fork; the head of the Right Fork to its junction with the Left Fork; and North Creek from the junction of the Left and Right Forks southwest to the Zion National Park boundary.
Wildcat Canyon (Blue Creek) from the Zion National Park boundary to its junction with the Right Fork of North Creek.
Little Creek beginning at the head of Little Creek to its junction with the Left Fork of North Creek.
Russell Gulch from the head of Russell Gulch to its junction with the Left Fork of North Creek.
Grapevine Wash from the Lower Kolob Plateau to its junction with the Left Fork of North Creek.
Pine Spring Wash from the head of Pine Spring Wash to its junction with the Left Fork of North Creek.
Wolf Springs Wash from the head of Wolf Springs Wash to its junction with Pine Spring Wash.
Kolob Creek beginning in Section 30, Township 39 South, Range 10 West, through Bureau of Land Management land and Zion National Park land to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Oak Creek beginning in Section 19, Township 39 South, Range 10 West, to its junction with Kolob Creek.
Goose Creek from the head of Goose Creek to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Deep Creek beginning on Bureau of Land Management land at the northern boundary of Section 23, Township 39 South, Range 10 West, to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
The North Fork of the Virgin River beginning on Bureau of Land Management land at the eastern border of Section 35, Township 39 South, Range 10 West, to the Zion National Park boundary.
Imlay Canyon from the head of Imlay Creek to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Orderville Canyon from the eastern boundary of Zion National Park to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Mystery Canyon from the head of Mystery Canyon to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Echo Canyon from the eastern boundary of Zion National Park to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Behunin Canyon from the head of Behunin Canyon to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Heaps Canyon from the head of Heaps Canyon to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Birch Creek from the head of Birch Creek to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Oak Creek from the head of Oak Creek to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Clear Creek from the eastern boundary of Zion National Park to its junction with Pine Creek.
Pine Creek from the head of Pine Creek to its junction with the North Fork of the Virgin River.
The East Fork of the Virgin River from the eastern boundary of Zion National Park through Parunuweap Canyon to the western boundary of Zion National Park.
Shunes Creek from the dry waterfall on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management through Zion National Park to the western boundary of Zion National Park.

Outstandingly Remarkable Values

Fish

The Virgin River and its tributaries provide a unique and intact habitat for four native species, including the Virgin spinedace, flannelmouth sucker, desert sucker, and speckled dace. The Virgin spinedace is nationally significant and only exists in the Virgin River system. Both the Virgin River spinedace and the flannelmouth sucker are managed under conservation agreements. The Virgin River and several of its tributaries support regionally significant levels of natural and sustainable reproduction for all four native fish species. The geologic setting, high flows, large sediment loads, unique water quality, and frequent disturbance are effective deterrents to exotic species. Additionally, the Zion stonefly (Isogenoides zionensis), an important component of the food web, is found along the Virgin River and its tributaries.

Ecology

Ecological processes that support vegetation is an outstandingly remarkable value in some of the Virgin River designated segments due to the presence of exemplary riparian corridors and rare plant communities. The cottonwood gallery forests along Shunes Creek provide rare examples of relatively intact, properly functioning riparian corridors. Natural river processes proceed unimpeded, allowing for seasonal flooding and meander migration, vegetative recruitment, and plant succession. Riparian vegetation is abundant and diverse. Thick grasses and sedges along the banks form stable undercuts for fish habitat, and woody species provide habitat for numerous species of wildlife.

Steep-walled canyons, carved over time by the rivers, create cool, moist microclimates that support hanging gardens that are rare and exemplary in the region. These gardens, occurring on seeps vertical sandstone walls, support a complex biotic community including several plant and animal species found only in the Virgin River system. The gardens are home to seven species of plants that grow nowhere else in the world. The moist microclimate provided by the river adds to the diversity of plant species in these gardens, which in some cases includes up to 26 species.

Geology

The Virgin River and its tributaries are uniquely situated along the western margin of the Colorado Plateau, where the recent history of tectonic activity and erosional downcutting has resulted in a labyrinth of deep sandstone canyons, volcanic phenomena, and widespread exposures of brilliantly colored sedimentary deposits.

Unique geologic features include Navajo sandstone exposures, a remnant of the world's largest sand dune desert, river-carved canyons forming the world's tallest sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, hanging waterfalls, springs and seeps, and accelerated erosion processes. This dynamic geologic system creates a diverse landscape of channels, canyons, and springs that support a variety of ecological communities that, in turn, support hanging gardens, desert fish, and other aquatic species. The geology of the Virgin River and its tributaries offers world-class opportunities for canyoneering, rock climbing, hiking, and wilderness experiences.

Recreation

Exceptional recreational opportunities exist along the Virgin River and its tributaries, providing visitors from around the world with a chance to develop personal and lasting connections with the river within some of the most unique, water-carved desert canyons in the region. The dramatic setting, dominated by scenic grandeur, contribute to a spectrum of river-related experiences, from the self-reliant adventure of canyoneering or hiking and backpacking through narrow river and creek channels to enjoying photography and other artistic pursuits, viewing scenery, or camping along the river.

Scenery

The Virgin River and its tributaries create diverse opportunities for views of the river's unparalleled scenery, which can be both dramatic and subtle. The river creates a landscape of cross-bedded sandstone cliffs, towering thousands of feet above the canyon floor.

River and tributary canyons offer a pleasing contrast in soil, rock, vegetation and water. Views are greatly enhanced by the still or cascading water dominating the landscape. Light changes in the canyon depending on the time of day and the season. Rocks can appear fiery red, golden, bright white, grey, or black. Even the absence of water in some "phantom channels" creates drama and visual interest.

Wildlife

The extensive cover, availability of water and a contiguous landscape of wildlands creates habitat for a wide variety of animals. The corridor includes populations of desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, Mexican spotted owl, and the endemic Zion snail and exemplary riparian corridors and rare plant communities. Hawks, falcons, and eagles soar above the canyons, while ring-tailed cats, bobcats, mountain lions, and black bears hunt in the uplands and along the canyon bottoms. As the heat of the day yields to the cool of the desert night, look for the many animals drawn to the river to emerge to get on with their lives.