Virgin River guide--Virgin Valley

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
Virgin Valley

Section: Virgin Valley
Length: Many possibilities, 17.5 mi from ford downstream of Driftwood Motel to Quail Creek Diversion dam.
Class: II
Gradient: 25 ft/mi
Flows: 200 cfs or more. This stretch could be hazardous at high flows due to logs and debris piles in the river, fences, diversions, and fast current.
Gage: 09405500 North Fork Virgin River nr Springdale, 09406000 Virgin River at Virgin, UT
Put-in elevation, location:3,800 ft. Various. Almost all of the river banks downstream of the Sprindale City park are private land. Please respect property owners' rights.
Take-out: See put-ins. Quail Creek Diversion dam is not a take-out. The road in to it is gated and locked. The run downsream of the Quail Creek diversion is Class VI.
Character of run: The North Fork meanders through the mouth of Zion Canyon and meets the East Fork on Tree's Ranch (private), forming the main stem of the Virgin. The Rockville diversion (portage) is upstream of the East Fork confluence. Downstream of the East Fork, the valley opens up and flattens out. The river meanders through a broad flat of valley fill (lots of sand) with easy riffles and many bends. Ranches and cattle dot the banks, which are lined with cottonwoods, Russian Olives, and the ever-present tamarisk. Utah Highway 9 shares the valley and meets the river in several places. The major hazard on this stretch seems to be fences-- many barbed wire and open-mesh, and even the occasional ELECTRIC!!! fence. There are several diversion structures on the river (one downstream of Rockville), , and at least one low bridge. About 1-2 miles downstream of the town of Virgin, the river enters a low, limestone canyon, beginning with a 12-foot wide slot in a limestone ledge. There are a few take-outs accessible from the dirt road on the left (south) bank of the river. Boaters on this stretch should scout their take-out carefully and not miss it. There is no take-out at the diversion dam.
River log, distances in miles: River Ford, 0; East Fork confluence, 1.5; Rockville bridge, 2.9; Grafton town site, 6.2; North Creek confluence, 13.5; Town of Virgin, 14.6; Sheep bridge (no take-out, several in the next mile downstream of the bridge), 16.1; Quail Creek Diversion Dam, 17.5,
Special Notes: Watch out for fences, cows, debris piles, and other river hazards.

Virgin River Virgin Valley

Virgin River
Virgin Valley