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Zion National Park Canyoneering

In Zion National Park, canyoneering and mountain climbing are the ultimate sports. If you're thinking of joining the world of canyoneering, be ready to lug a wetsuit up steep mountains, swim in dirty-ice cold water, climb up and down boulders and other obstacles, scale slick rocks and learn the technical skill and rope work required for rappelling and getting yourself through a canyon. This sport is not for the timid and faint of heart and can be thought of as hiking with a rope. Be sure that you never enter a canyon without the knowledge and skills needed to safely explore and return. Finding a canyon can require GPS and excellent map reading skills.

Canyoneering Photos

Backcountry permits are required for technical and semi-technical slot canyons located in Zion, but those canyons starting on the edge of the park can be explored without permits, as long as the exit is outside the park boundary. Obtain current technical slot canyon details and the weather report from the Zion backcountry desk before attempting any technical slot canyon.

Sources for Canyoneering
Do your research from many sources and study detailed information about the slot canyon you plan to explore. Canyoneering is a dangerous sport. I don't suggest you hire a guide or otherwise as personal mistakes are deadly. Only enter a canyon if you feel you are well equipped, technical able and all. You are always responsible for your own safety.

Canyoneering Gear:
Sturdy canyoneering shoes are required for canyoneering in Zion National Park or anywhere. Quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury.

Zion's Canyoneering Limits: 80 permits are allowed daily for the
Subway and Keyhole. 50 people may travel through Pine Creek and Orderville daily. Only 12 people daily are allowed in the following zones: Icebox Canyon, Lodge Canyon, Kolob Creek, Imlay Canyon, Heaps Canyon, Englestead Canyon, Echo Canyon, Behunin Canyon, Spry Canyon, Mystery Canyon.

Semi-technical Slot Canyons: Subway, Red Cave, Orderville Canyon and when conditions permit, the non-technical section of Echo Canyon. These four impressive slot canyons might require some rappelling to explore and a rope is often needed to navigate obstacles. Those attempting the routes should be fit, able to navigate obstacles and swim.

Zion's Technical Slot Canyons
Keyhole is the technical canyon that normally is considered appropriate for beginners who have good rope and rappelling skills. If your skills are not up to par for technical canyoneering, try the Zion Narrows or the semi-technical canyons in Zion: Orderville Canyon and The Subway. Although many canyoneers consider Pine Creek to be an "easy canyon", the rappels are not easy and for some they are terrifying. The hike to and out of the canyon is easy compared to other canyons. Obtain proper instruction before ever attempting any canyoneering. Your needs to visit to Zion National Park depend on which trails or routes you plan to do. Comfortable, well-fitting shoes and neoprene socks are a must. If hiking the Zion Narrows is on your vacation itinerary you might want to invest in a good pair of aquatic shoes.

Important Notice - Canyon tree frogs mate to leave debris of its process upon rocks in the canyoneering system where areas are not associated with sunlight daily to cause slippery action that is dangerous to all that explore the deep darkest canyons of Zion National Park. Zion Narrows, The Subway and Keyhole Canyon are all lit enough to allow the park to encourage canyoneers to visit them throughout the day every single day of the year if knowledgeable and equipped well enough. Canyoneering otherwise is dangerous and to be avoided by almost all. Visit easier slot canyon on the East side of the park: Red Cave, Peek a boo and other to keep yourself safe but those do require excellent four-wheel drive ability to get to the trailhead instead of a long hike.

History of Canyoneering - Beck has always been an avid outdoor man and living near Zion he spent a lot of time exploring the parts of the park that few others even knew about. Bo was always willing to share beta but now the park is too busy. The first time the term canyoneering was probably used was to refer to the modern form of exploring canyons by Steve Allen in a book called Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell - published in 1992. The people that have been the most vocal about the sport and who have wrote and shared the most beta would probably be Beck, Allen, Kelsey, Brennan, Carlson, Jones, Burrows, Martin. Through the early years of canyoneering trips were shared in black book once kept at Zion's backcountry desk.

What is a Slot Canyon?

Slot Canyons in Zion