ZION. This is the place.

Deep, spectacular canyons with lots of water* make Zion the ONLY (Utah) place for canyoneering at the height of summer. A few dramatic technical routes challenge the veteran canyoneer, but most routes in Zion offer more beauty than challenge, with well-established anchors making them a good place for folks starting their canyoneering careers. While many people consider Zion crowded and over-civilized - with permit and access issues getting in the way of a wilderness experience - away from the ten most-popular canyons, wilderness and adventure can be found in abundance. Easily worth a week - or a month! - or (in my case) 20 years of exploration!

*non-flowing water. Conditions vary widely. Past conditions are not indicative of the current conditions. Water not guaranteed. Caution advised.

Technical Canyons of Zion National Park

Behunin Canyon rappel - Zion National Park

Main CanyoN

Canyon Name Rating Quality Highest Rappel (ft/m) Time
BEHUNIN 3A III ★★★☆☆ 165 / 50.3 7-10 hrs
ECHO 3B II ★★★☆☆ 30 / 10 3-6 hrs
GROTTO 3B III ★☆☆☆☆ 260 / 79.3 4-6 hrs
HIDDEN 3B III ★★★☆☆ 100 / 30.5 6-9 hrs
HOOK 3A II ★★☆☆☆ 150 / 45.72 Full day
IMLAY: SNEAK 4B IV R ★★★★★ 120 / 36.58 9-14 hrs
ISAAC 4B V ★★★★☆ 280 / 85.35 12-16 hrs
JACOB 4A IV R ★★★★☆ 240 / 73 10-14 hrs
LOWER REFRIGERATOR 3A II ★★☆☆☆ 190 / 57.92 4 hrs
MYSTERY 3B III ★★★★☆ 120 / 36.58 5-8 hrs
NOT IMLAY 4A III ★★★☆☆ 300 / 91 7-9 hrs
OBSERVATION POINT 4A III ★★★★☆ 300 / 91 7-9 hrs
SPEARHEAD 4B V ★★★★☆ 300 / 91 1.5 days
TELEPHONE 3A III ★★★☆☆ 155 / 47.25 6-10 hrs
Imlay Canyon Narrows, Zion National Park.

Kolob Terrace Road Canyons

Canyon Name Rating Quality Highest Rappel (ft/m) Time
BOUNDARY 3C III ★★★★☆ 100 / 30 6-10 hrs
CORRAL HOLLOW 3A IV ★★☆☆☆ 200 / 61 8-12 hrs
DAS BOOT 3B III ★★★★☆ 60 / 20 7-12 hrs
HEAPS

via Phantom Valley

 4B VI ★★★★★ 280 / 85.35 12-20 hrs

via Phantom, exit watercourse

 4B VI ★★★★★ 360 / 109.73 12-20 hrs

via Gunsight

 4B VI ★★★★☆ 12-20 hrs
KOLOB 3C IV or V ★★★★★ 165 / 50.3 8-12 hrs
IMLAY: FULL 4B IV R ★★★★☆ 165 / 50.3 10-14 hrs
PIPE SPRING 3A III ★★★☆☆ 170 / 52 6-8 hrs
RIGHT FORK OF NORTH CREEK

Hammerhead

 3B IV ★★★★☆ 165 / 50.3 2-3 days

Standard

 3B IV ★★★☆☆ 60 / 20 2-3 days

Direct

 3B IV ★★★★☆ 80 / 24.4 2-3 days
SUBWAY 3B III ★★★★☆ 30 / 10 6-12 hrs

EL METRO

 3B III ★★★★☆ 30 / 10 6-12 hrs
Moving through the water in Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park.

East Side Canyons

Canyon Name Rating Quality Highest Rappel (ft/m) Time
BIRCH HOLLOW 3A III ★★★★☆ 120 / 40 4-12 hrs
CHECKERBOARD 3B IV ★★★★☆ 205 / 63 12-15 hrs
DEADEYE DICK 3A III ★★★☆☆ 100 / 30.5 8 hrs
EASTERN SUN 3B III ★★★☆☆ 155 / 48 8 hrs
ECHO 3B II ★★★☆☆ 30 / 10 3-6 hrs
ENGLESTEAD 4A IV ★★★★☆ 300 / 91 6-10 hrs
FAMILY CAMP 4B III ★★★☆☆ 60 / 18 7-10 hrs
FAT MAN'S MISERY 3B III ★★★★☆ 40 / 15 8-12 hrs
FIDDLE ME THIS 4A/B III ★★★☆☆ 200 / 61 7-9 hrs
JOLLEY GULCH 3A II
or 3C II		 ★★★☆☆
or ★★★★☆		 165 / 50 3-5 hrs
KEYHOLE 3B I ★★★★☆ 30 / 10 1-2 hrs
LODGE 4A R III ★★★☆☆ 200 / 61 5-7 hrs
MYSTERY 3B III ★★★★☆ 120 / 40 5-8 hrs
OBSERVATION POINT 4A III ★★★★☆ 300 / 91 7-9 hrs
ORDERVILLE 3B III ★★★☆☆ 15 / 5 6-10 hrs
PINE CREEK 3B II ★★★★★ 100 / 30.5 2-6 hrs
ROCK 3A III ★★☆☆☆ 110 / 33.53 3-6 hrs
SPRY 3B III ★★★☆☆ 165 / 50.3 4-7 hrs
WALKER GULCH 3A III ★★★☆☆ 100 / 30 8 hrs
WEDGE/NOTCH 2 3A/4A IV 5.5 (R/X) ★★★☆☆ Refer to Guide 8-12 hrs
Icebox Canyon, Zion National Park.

Kolob Fingers Canyons

Canyon Name Rating Quality Highest Rappel (ft/m) Time
ICEBOX

North Pass Entrance

 3B IV ★★★☆☆ 165 / 50.3 8-12 hrs

Slickrock Entrance

 4B IV ★★★☆☆ 165 / 50.3 8-12 hrs