Telephone Canyon

Beta for Telephone Canyon in Zion National Park

Duration

6

- 10 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.

A

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.

III

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

150 ft

Number of Rappels

12 -

16

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: Springdale

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:

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

3. Exit Time:

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Telephone Canyon

Telephone Canyon Rappels

12 - 16 rappels

Telephone Canyon Rappel 1

Rappel 1

Length: 150 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Coordinates: 37.293123,-112.968152

Rappel 1 AnchorAnchor Icon

Rappel 1 is anchored off a large pile of rocks. This cairn anchor takes about 20-25 ft of webbing.


Overview

This rappel is the biggest one of the day and drops you a fun 150 ft.

Tips

There could be some water in a shallow pool at the bottom, so consider throwing your rope a little more RDC.



Telephone Canyon Rappel 2

Rappel 2

Length: 15 ft

Type of Rappel: Optional

Rappel 2 AnchorAnchor Icon

This is a single bolted hanger with a short piece of webbing.


Overview

This immediately follows Rappel 1.

Tips

This is an optional rappel. If down-climbing or using a hand line to get down be cautious of the slick walls. They are VERY slick.


Rappel 3

Length: 35 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 3 AnchorAnchor Icon

Anchored from two bolted hangers.


Overview

You can stay on rappel for the full 35 ft. until you get to the choke stone where Rappel 4 is, or you can get off rappel after the first 25ish ft. and downclimb to the choke stone. The second half of the rappel/downclimb is at an awkward angle.


Telephone Canyon Rappel 4

Rappel 4

Length: 61 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 4 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored off of a choke stone.


Overview

This is an awkward rappel down and angled slot and is very slick towards the bottom.



Telephone Canyon Rappel 5

Rappel 5

Length: 100 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Anchor Icon

More anchor information coming soon.


Overview

This rappel is down a vertical wall for about 65 ft. and then down an angled slope for another 35 ft.

Tips

If the entry feels somewhat awkward, you can try crawling over the edge instead.



Telephone Canyon Rappel 6

Rappel 6

Length: 30 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 6 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored off of a large log.


Overview

Tips

There is a pothole at the bottom of this rappel that looks difficult to get out of but is in fact very easy to escape once you reach it.



Telephone Canyon Rappel 7

Rappel 7

Length: 40 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 7 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored from a log in the waterway.


Overview

Rappel down a short slot with a couple of small twists until you reach a small choke stone RDC that serves as the anchor for Rappel 8. This rappel can be and easily combined with Rappel 8. After Rappel 7 (if combining with Rappel 8), walk about 30 ft. and then downclimb about 8 ft. to the next rappel station.

Tips

Combine with Rappel 8 to save time.


Telephone Canyon Rappel 7

Rappel 8

Length: 12 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 8 AnchorAnchor Icon

A small choke stone RDC. Webbing is tucked in the right side of the stone.


Overview

This rappel can be and easily combined with Rappel 7. After Rappel 8 (or Rappel 7 if combining the two), walk about 30 ft. and then downclimb about 8 ft. to the next rappel station.

Tips

Combine with Rappel 7 to save time.


Telephone Canyon Rappel 9

Rappel 9

Length: 50 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-Stage

Rappel 9 AnchorAnchor Icon

Rappel 9 is anchored from a large choke stone in the waterway. You may have to reach underneath the choke stone to reach the part of the webbing with the rappel ring.


Overview

Rappel 9 drops 30 ft. over the first stage and then about another 20 over the second stage. You will rappel beneath a large overhanging part of the rock during the first 30 feet. You will notice rope grooves in the rock LDC when you drop the final 20 ft.

Tips

The webbing is extended at least a solid foot from the choke stone, so you will not be weighted in your harness until the webbing is fully extended. Use the webbing as a hand-line until you can extend it fully and get weighted in your harness.


Telephone Canyon Rappel 10

Rappel 10

Length: 25 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 10 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored from a medium-sized boulder.


Overview

Tips

There is a downclimb down a slippery angled slope that drops about 10-12 ft. at the bottom of Rappel 10. A crack runs down the middle of the angled slope that you can use to wedge your feet, arms, and hands into. There is an anchor that can be used around a pile of small boulders at the top of the downclimb if preferred.



Telephone Canyon Rappel 11

Rappel 11

Length: 24 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 11 AnchorAnchor Icon

The rappel is anchored from a bolder.


Overview

Tips

There might be some water at the bottom of this rappel depending on what time of year you go.



Telephone Canyon Rappel 12

Rappel 12

Length: 60 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Coordinates: 37.290476,-112.966399

Rappel 12 AnchorAnchor Icon

Anchored from two bolted hangers RDC.


Overview

Tips

There is a small perch below the anchor that fits 2 people at most, so if you have more people in your group, have them wait above you until they are ready to get on rappel.



Telephone Canyon Trip Reports

November 19, 2020

There are a handful of both natural and bolted anchors in this canyon. A number of the rappels can be skipped by downclimbing or connecting rappels together. All bolted anchors and webbing seemed to be in good shape. Fun canyon with lots of rappels!

October 9, 2021

The approach was straightforward and the first rappel was easy to find. I do not think that this canyon gets run very often so come prepared to do some anchor building. There were quite a few rough-looking anchors in this canyon. We replaced two anchors that were in bad condition. Our group of 4 went the day after quite a bit of rain, so there was a decent amount of water in the canyon (still no swimmers). All water can be avoided with some work. There are about 3 rappels that have an awkward or swingy start. The exit does not have a very well-established trail, so we stuck to the right (RDC )up above the wash once the canyon opens up completely. We stayed on the slanted rock until we reached the West Rim Trail again.

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