Top 5 Reasons to go Canyoneering during your Zion National Park Vacation
Why go Canyoneering?
Experience the most intimate part of Zion’s geology - inside of it, between towering wavy walls.
There are appropriate levels of canyoneering for all ages and abilities
Sandstone slot canyons are unique to the southwest and the Zion area is the epicenter of canyoneering in North America
It’s a great activity to avoid the crowded trails of Zion and explore off-the-beaten-path
It’s incredibly fun!
When I moved to Zion national park in 1996, I was a climber and hiker, but never knew what canyoneering was. I was climbing in the Redrock National Conservation Area near Las Vegas when I heard an adjacent climber talk about her epic trip into Pine Creek in Zion National park, that the word caught my attention and has continued to captivate me since.
Canyoneering varies from rock climbing in that it requires almost opposite body movements from climbing to ease going down steep narrow corridors (at times), following the path of ancient water flows that have carved canals, potholes, silos, and sinuous paths that intrigue and enthrall. Canyoneering can require hiking, swimming, climbing up or down, stemming, bridging, rappelling, problem-solving, teamwork, and for many, this turns into a lot of fun.
There is a canyon for everyone - and canyons can be classified into a sort of Dewey Decimal system from 1 to 4 to help decipher which may be the best for you during your visit. The Zion Narrows ( a Class 1 canyon) is considered the Grandfather of all slot canyons, but it is non-technical and only requires walking skills and the right protective gear. More technical canyons like the “Subway” (a Class 3 canyon) require some rope work and navigation skills, while others take multiple days and 30 + rappels, long cold swims, and tricky anchor setting (a class 4 canyon).
One of my favorite roles at Zion Guru is helping visitors decide which level of canyon and what kind of adventure they really want; then help them get ready with the right skills, right equipment and the right attitude to disembark on either a guided trip with us or on their own as self-guided.
Let’s get to our Top 5 Reasons:
5. Everyone has a different interpretation of what is fun, but year after year, client after client, we see canyoneering trips come back into the store with wide smiles and rave reviews. Whether the joy is sparked from the exploration through remote terrain, deep contact with nature, the exhilaration of being on rope, accomplishing a canyon with family — you decide.
4. Zion National park has dozens of canyons carved through it’s plateau and due to the increased visitation to Zion over the last decade, a permit system has been instituted setting use limits to preserve the wilderness experience for canyoneers. Though planning is essential to get the permit for the right canyon on the right day, you will not experience crowds in the canyons of Zion. Just outside of Zion, we have 26 different canyons we explore on our guided Canyon Quests that also keep us away from crowds and allow our expert tour leaders to deliver amazing canyon trips each day.
3. You can’t go canyoneering everywhere. Nope, no canyons in Dallas, NYC, San Fran, or Boston, but there are over 3000 canyons that have been documented in the southwest USA, with the highest density in the Colorado Plateau and Zion National Park. Zion’s canyons are some of the deepest in the world due to our unique geologic history which has shaped this land. If you are in Zion for 2-3 days, there is time to fit in a canyoneering tour, half- or full-day, in some of the best terrain on Earth.
2. Whether you are excited to unleash the adventurer within or more interested in just getting your feet wet in the world of canyoneering, Zion National Park and the surrounding public lands offer every level of canyon ease or difficulty. Self-guided or on a Zion Guru Canyon Quest, our staff can help you find the right place to visit so you can experience truly unique places nature has created.
As ancient raging water moved across the plateau, variable limestone and basalt plating forced the water into ever deepening narrow channels carrying away hundreds to thousands of feet of Navajo Sandstone - the vibrant orange, red, brown, and white layer that makes up the bulk of Zion’s rock. Over millions of years, this process has left incredible vertical relief in Zion, where the entire plateau has been bifurcated into islands in the sky with vast gorges and canyons in between. To get inside these canyons, and feel so small, and see the intimated beauty left behind is as much a gift as it is a choice; hanging gardens, hueco walls, elaborate differential cross bedding, and sculpted water and dry falls. The beauty is endless.
Conclusion:
We hope you can adjust your trip plans to make room for a few hours or a day in the canyons with us, getting inside Zion and outside your comfort zone!