Virgin River guide-- Bloomington Gorge

This guide is intended only to provide information to river runners and is not intended to be a complete description of any section of river. Hazards can change in minutes. Some hazards may not be listed. Boaters should always scout their runs and check with local sources for the latest information.

Virgin River
Bloomington Gorge

Late in the day below the barrier dam

Section: Man-O-War bridge to I-15 bridge in Virgin River gorge.
Length: 13.2 mi
Class: II
Gradient: 8 ft/mi.
Flows: Minimum, about 200 cfs.
Gage: 09413200 Virgin River nr Bloomington, 09413500 Virgin River nr St. George (at the Barrier Dam).
Put-in elevation, location:2,400 ft. Man-O-War bridge in Bloomington. (Take the Bloomington I-15 exit, follow the west frontage road about 1/2 mi, turn right on Man-O-War Road, follow to the river), river left just upstream of the bridge.
Take-out: The end of this run is the I-15 bridge. There is a way out of the canyon at this point, but there is no legal take-out at the bridge. Continue down to the Cedar Pockets rest area for a legal take-out. (You will run several Class III rapids to do this). If you must take-out here, take-out river left, 100 ft upstream of the bridge, and carry everything up to, then under, the bridge. Go along the right-of-way fence until it turns up the hill. Toss your stuff over the fence and hike up to the top of the hill. Driving, you will go to the Cedar Pockets rest area, then turn around and head north. After you cross the Virgin River bridge, go to the end of the low hill on the right. A dirt track at the very east end of the hill leads back to the hilltop and the closest approach to the river.
Character of run: This is an easy run, good for new boaters neding to learn the ways of current. The river meanders through 9 miles of valley flat downstream of Bloomington. This is mostly uninhabited land, although development is creeping in. River wildlife will almost always be seen here. There can be fences spanning the river, although they seem to be fewer than a few years ago. After 9.3 miles of meandering, the limestones of theVirgin River Gorge rise abruptly from the tamarisk-covered plain. One mile later, a 50 kV power line crosses the gorge, now many hundreds of feet deep. At 10.7 miles, a fish barrier dam (built to keep red shiners from migrating upstream and moving into woundfin minnow habitat) spans the river. This is a mandatory portage at all but extremely high levels when it is a 150-ft wide glassy surf wave. The best portage is river right, just hop out and pick your boat over thedam--it is about 4 feet high. Downstream of the Barrier Dam , the canyon gets deeper and more like a Grand Canyon-style slot. The top of the walls is Kaibab limestone and most of the upper Grand Canyon sequence (with a few differences) is exposed here. The limestone ledges at the Barrier dam and downstream have some nice fossil exposures. At about 12 miles, a huge amphitheatre appears on river right. A good-sized canyon, (known as Plum Canyon for the plum trees growing in it) enters the river here, and debris from this canyon has formed the only rapid on this stretch of river. Plum rapid is Class II or III at high water, is very short, but has caused novices and canoeasts some grief. One riffle on a right-hand bend just above the highway bridge marks the end of this beautiful, but little-known run.
Special Notes: Many rattlers inhabit the tamarisk thickets and rocky slopes in this canyon. Fences may be present. Portage at the fish barrier dam. This run wil take longer than you might think. At 400 cfs, it is a good 7 hours to the I-15 bridge.

Virgin River Bloomington Gorge

Virgin River
Bloomington Gorge