The Grotto is Nice

The Grotto is a wonderful, drippy grotto type alcove, away from the road at the Grotto shuttle stop.  The Grotto itself is a very nice place to hang out on a hot Zion afternoon.  The canyon leading to the Grotto - not so much.

Grotto Canyon descends between the Great White Throne and Red Arch Mountain, ending at The Grotto. It is not a very appealing canyon. Since it gets very little water flow, it is more a fault-following gully than a canyon. I did it, so you don't have to. And I did it again, just to be sure.

The road used to end at The Grotto, the site of the first ranger cabin and the first park campground. If you are camping in South Campground and wonder where North Campground might be, think The Grotto.

Canyon Profile

Logistics

RATINGS
3B III ★☆☆☆☆

TIME REQUIRED
7-9 Hours

PERMIT
Required

SEASON
Spring, summer, or fall

LONGEST RAPPEL
260ft (80m)

SKILLS REQUIRED
Navigation, anchor skills appropriate to a rarely-visited canyon. Anchors are mostly trees with the occasional manky bolt anchor.

Equipment

ESSENTIALS
Helmets, rappelling gear, webbing and rapid links.

COLD WATER PROTECTION
None Needed

DRINKING WATER
None. Bring Plenty.

FLASH FLOOD RISK
Moderate

ACCESS
Starts on Deertrap Mountain Trail and ends at the Grotto trailhead. Can either be done as a loop, hiking up from Weeping Rock or with a shuttle service or car spot starting at the Stave Spring trailhead off the Zion Ponderosa Ranch.

Getting there

Follow the Deertrap Mountain Trail to near the head of the canyon. You can access the trail from a number of places. If you have two cars, or a shuttle service, you can take the East Rim trail to Deertrap, without too much elevation gain. You could also hike up from Weeping Rock Trailhead to the East Rim trail and the Deertrap Mountain Trail.

The Business

Cross the mesa top, then downclimb into the canyon near its head. Downclimb about 45 minutes until forced to rappel. A handful of rappels lead to a big drop. Follow ledges out right, then rappel 260 feet (80m) to the canyon bottom. Eventually, rappel about 250 feet (77m) over the dripping overhang of The Grotto. Walk out the little stream to the bus stop. 

The Exit

Follow the small stream to the bus stop at the Grotto Trailhead.

Trip Reports

Featured

Jun 21, 2014

Zion Canyoneering: Grotto Canyon with Long Rappels!

Jun 21, 2014

What is NOT-Hidden? Why, conspicuous of course. My friend Rick Thompson had attempted Hidden Canyon from the Top last fall, and due to navigational difficulties found him and his companions in a nearby canyon, thus the name... well actually, it already had a name, Grotto Canyon, and was listed in my book with the line "I did it, so you don't have to".

Jun 21, 2014

Author’s experience.

I did this on a very hot day in summer 2002 with Scott Holley. It was also very windy- truly awful!

After I wrote up the description of Hidden Canyon from the Top, the Park Service moved the trail, leading several parties to descend Grotto (260 foot maximum rap) rather than Hidden from the Top (100 foot maximum rap) as they intended. Zion SAR became familiar with the canyon.

My friend Rick Thompson descended it over the course of 24 hours a couple years ago. He insisted the canyon was decent and that my beta was wrong! So we went and did it together (with long enough ropes) on a very hot summer day. Yes, my beta was incorrect. Yes, the canyon is still not very charming, though the last rappel is quite good.