Pool Arch Canyon

Beta for Pool Arch Canyon in Moab, UT

Duration

3.5

- 5 hrs.

Rating

3

Technical Class Indicates the technicality of the terrain and the tyoe of rope work require.

1 - 

Canyon Hiking Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.

2 - 

Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.

3 - 

Intermediate Canyoneering Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope is required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.

4 - 

Advanced Canyoneering Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrollean traverse, or guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors. Rappels longer than 200 feet will usually earn a canyon a Class 4 rating.

B

Water Rating indicates complications due to flowing or still water, under normal conditions.

A - 

Normally dry or with very little water. Wading to waist deep at most.

B - 

Water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls are normally dry or running at a trickle. Swimming expected.

C - 

Water with strong current. Waterfalls. Wet canyon rope techniques required.

II

Time or Grade indicates the length of the adventure.

I - 

Short. A couple of hours.

II - 

Requires about a half day.

III - 

Normally requires most of a day.

IV - 

Expected to take a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp. Possible bivy.

V - 

More than one day. Normally done in two days.

VI - 

Two full days or more.

Additional Risk Rating indicates the presence of more risk factors than might be expected.

No Rating - 

Normal risk factors are present on this adventure.

R - 

One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgment required. Not appropriate for beginners, even with competent leadership.

X - 

Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgment will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should be attempted by expert canyoneers only. This is the least-well-established part of the rating system, and the most subjective. Use by beta-providers varies widely, to the point that this part of the rating means very little.

Longest Rappel

130 ft

Number of Rappels

2 -

3

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: Moab

Approaches:

Approach Icon

First Rappel:

First Rappel Icon

Last Rappel:

Last Rappel Icon

Exits:

Exit Icon

Calculate time for your adventure

Select your approach, exit, and any shuttles in order to calcualte an estimated time

1. Approaches:

2. Canyon Time:

1 hour(s), 30 minute(s).

3. Exit Time:

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Essential Canyoneering Gear

Wet Canyon Gear

Because this is a wet canyon, we strongly recommend having these supplies

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Pool Arch Canyon

Pool Arch Canyon Rappels

2 - 3 rappels

Top view of rappel 1 in Pool Arch Canyon

Rappel 1

Length: 130 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Coordinates: 38.53595,-109.57256

Rappel 1 AnchorAnchor Icon

There is webbing around a strong juniper bush about 5 feet back from the edge that is easy to spot as you approach the drop.


Overview

Rappel down 130 ft. with the impressive Pool Arch as your backdrop. This rappel is optional, but most people will want to do it.

Tips

If you choose to bypass this rappel, walk down the gully to the South of the fin that leads to Pool Arch from the top of the approach ascent.



Top of the 2nd rappel in Pool Arch Canyon

Rappel 2

Length: 42 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 2 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is nicely anchored from two bolts and chain up on the wall above a ledge to the right of the watercourse as you look down the canyon.


Overview

From a ledge to the right of the watercourse looking down-canyon, rappel down about 40 ft. to the canyon floor. From the bottom of this rappel continue walking down-canyon and the canyon will open up, marking its final section.



Looking out beyond the 3rd rappel in Pool Arch Canyon

Rappel 3

Length: 100 ft

Type of Rappel: Free-hanging

Coordinates: 38.532844,-109.579087

Optional Rappel/Belay AnchorAnchor Icon

This anchor is directly in the watercourse fastened around small boulders. This anchor is typically used to belay people down to the chain anchors near the ledge of the dryfall. You can rappel all the way down off this anchor, but isn't advised since it makes the pull from the bottom pretty difficult and causes some deep grooving.

Chain AnchorsAnchor Icon

This anchor is located down on the ledge of the dryfall in the watercourse. It is exposed to you might want to be hooked up on a belay while you are down there. Tethering into the anchor while hooking up on rappel is recommended too. This anchor is a set of chains and bolted hangers.


Overview

With a somewhat exposed but easy start, this rappel is fantastic as it drops you down in front of seepage coming from the underneath side of the free-hanging part of this rappel.

Tips

As you approach this final rappel you will notice webbing around a small boulder in the watercourse. This is not the best anchor for the last rappel. Instead, use the webbing around the small boulder to belay people down to the bolted anchors that are on the ledge directly below. The bolted anchor is on the right-hand wall of the watercourse and is a bit exposed. You can choose to have everyone but the last person, rappel all the way from the small boulder, but this would mean that the last person would not have a belay to get to the set of bolts on the ledge below where it is fairly exposed to rig the rope for a better pull.



Pool Arch Canyon Trip Reports

May 8, 2021

It was a blue-sky day with white clouds when our group of 6 ran this canyon. It took us just under four hours total, but we had to wait for a guided group at the top of the first rappel for a bit. This was an easy canyon to navigate and all the anchors were in good shape. The trickiest part of the canyon was a couple of downclimbs after the Pool Arch rappel. For experienced canyoneers, the downclimbs will not be a problem though. Beginners may have some struggle in the small, short slot section where there is an awkward downclimb over a wedged log. However, with a spotter, it can be easily done as a beginner. The last rappel seemed to be just as picturesque as the first and gave a little rush of adrenaline as the start is a bit exposed to that rappel. Overall, this was a great, short canyon and a solid adventure for a half-day outing.