Canyoneering Zion National Park, Utah

Canyoning in Zion National Park is a majestic experience! You can discover some of the most famous routes in Utah in the park. If you are looking to get away from the popular canyons and find more solitude, you can also explore many less-descended canyon routes in the park. Zion NP offers a wide range of routes for varying skill levels from beginner-friendly to expert only, and from short day to multi-day adventures. For those wanting a slot canyon experience in Zion but not up for the thrill of descending one via ropes and gear, there are non-technical routes to be explored as well.

Zion boasts some of the biggest canyons that the Southwest region has to offer. You can find routes with huge rappels and long corridors with red sandstone walls that reach way up into the sky. Other routes like Imlay and Heaps display beautifully fluted and corkscrewed slots deep within the walls of the canyon. So, if you are looking for a break from short rappels, look no further. While amazing, descending the park’s canyons has its risks, so be sure to be well-prepared and competent to descend any of the slots.

A permit is REQUIRED for any routes within the national park boundaries even if the canyon is not on the Zion Wilderness Reservations permit list online. If you wish to descend a route in the park that is not on the online list, then you must request a permit from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk. The most current information on attaining wilderness permits in Zion can be found on the park’s Permits web page.

These adventures don’t come without potential risks, so it is a good idea to check the weather, be cautious of flash floods, and get recent beta before taking to the slots. You will find that some adventures require a full day while others need only a half day. It is important to always take the right gear with you. Good rappel devices, technical skills, adequate ropes, and a good amount of water are necessary to have a positive canyoneering adventure. Route finding is another must-have skill when exploring the backcountry of the Zion wilderness. With the right preparation, you can be ready to enjoy your canyoneering trips in the park.