fast, fun, and narrow.
A brief, wonderful and definitely chilly canyon involving a few rappels and a long swim, Keyhole is a good introduction to technical canyoneering and a delightful way to spend an hour or two on a hot summer day. It is often combined with Pine Creek - no need to strip off the wetsuit and harness in-between.
This canyon was originally known as Starfish Canyon, as on the topo map, it has legs running in several directions. The first descent was by Ken Gronseth and Dennis Turville on August 10th, 1979. In the late 1990's its name morphed into Keyhole Canyon, and it became popular as an easy, fun outing. An arch can be seen far above the canyon from the parking spot. Is this the Keyhole?
Bring minimal gear. It's not unusual to put on wetsuits and harnesses at the car and dash up the approach as fast as possible, dropping into the cool of the canyon before succumbing to heatstroke.
Canyon Profile
Logistics
RATINGS
3B I ★★★★☆
TIME REQUIRED
1-2 Hours
PERMIT
REQUIRED: Group size limit is 12
SEASON
Spring, summer or fall - Keyhole is almost always fun, but of course changes season to season.
LONGEST RAPPEL
30 feet (10 m)
ACCESS
One vehicle required
Equipment
ESSENTIALS
Helmets, rappelling gear, webbing and rapid links
COLD WATER PROTECTION
Wetsuits recommended, even in summer.
DRINKING WATER
None.
Difficulties
SKILLS REQUIRED
Awkward 1st rappel, cold water
FLASH FLOOD RISK
Low. The collection zone is small, and the canyon short. But it does flash big at times, so don't get caught in there!
Getting there
Driving
Keyhole is a small canyon north of Highway 9, just west of Pt 5538 on the Springdale East quadrangle. It is 2.1 miles west of the East Entrance, or 1.9 miles east of the small tunnel. Park where the drainage crosses the road.
Approach
The narrow nature of the canyon makes carrying a pack difficult, so bring a minimum of gear. Walk east on the road 1/4 mile and around the corner, then cut left and climb slabs in a beautiful slickrock bowl to a pass at the top. The pass is distinctive, as it has a nice Hoodoo right in the center. Cut left of the Hoodoo and descend a steep gully on the other side to the canyon bottom. Total approach about 15 minutes.
Please be certain you are on the correct approach trail. The Park has been concerned about erosion in this area. Canyoneers and the Park have identified the best approach, hardened the preferred route and restored the eroded areas next to the route. Please do your part and STAY ON THE TRAIL.
The Business
Descend the canyon. The first section requires a little downclimbing and some wading up to waist deep, before coming out into the open. This section is called "Middle Keyhole".
A little further, the fun resumes. The broad, sandy watercourse feeds into a narrow slot on the left, and drops 15 feet to the edge of a pool. This is "Lower Keyhole". Rappel from the bolt anchor into the darkness. Clever rappellers can swing around to a shelf to land on, out of the water, but you still have to swim the pool.
A short distance downcanyon, the second drop can be rappelled by throwing a rope over an overhead log, or by downclimbing with care. The third drop is rappelled from a bolt. The fourth drop can be rappelled from a single, suspect bolt on the right, or downclimbed to a ledge, then down a crack in a slab to the edge of a pool. Put away the ropes and get ready to swim.
The canyon continues with deep, dark, twisty and very cool narrows. Downclimbs are interspersed with walking sections until the dreaded "slanted corridor" is reached. A slot is downclimbed (very dark, headlamp helpful) to the start of the long, slanted corridor. Swim the corridor, then wade and swim the following pools to attain the delightful heat of the full sun at the end. Traipse downcanyon to the road.
The Exit
Short and sweet. Your car should be about 50 yards ahead of the end of the canyon. To minimize impact, walk through the tunnel under the road and ascend the slickrock slab on the other side.
Trip Reports
Maps
Click for higher resolution
Mr. Deanpaul Russell aka Deeps came down to enjoy our incredible non-winter weather in Zion... except, the day before and the night he drove down, it snowed about 6" in Zion. Winter again! As the weather report predicted clearing in the afternoon, we delayed our start, meeting Jenny down at Deep Creek at 10 am. We geared up and picked up a permit, then headed up to do Pine Creek Canyon. The storm had cleared and the sun was out, melting snow on the slickrock. The flow in Pine Creek was a little more than we were up for, so we drove up the highway a bit, and ventured into Keyhole Canyon.