Cherry Canyon, in the Virgin River Gorge just southwest of St George, offers a very different canyoneering experience than what you will find closer to St George and in Zion The canyon is limestone, steep, and spectacular Cherry Canyon is not a slot canyon, but is relatively narrow Its short length and low elevation make it a good late fall through early spring outing This is NOT the place to visit in high summer when temperatures would be overwhelmingly hot Also be aware all anchors are currently natural anchors w...

Englestead has one of the most dramatic starts of any canyon in Zion It goes from an open, shallow canyon to a slot in one spectacular 300' drop! I first did the canyon in 2003, and over the years had forgotten the details, except that first rappel When I went back and re-visited it in 2012, the first rappel was indeed as spectacular as I had remembered The rest of the canyon is good as well, and offers two choices of exits: a spectacular, but longer exit out the bottom of Orderville, or a shorter, less good exit u...

A classic canyon that is often overlooked, Water Canyon makes a great beginner technical canyoneering adventure or even just a hikers day out For beginning canyoneers, the many rappels all generally have good anchors and easy starts The canyon is outside of Zion National Park, so no permit is needed The canyon can have 10+ rappels or much fewer depending on what you choose to rappel and when you choose to leave the drainage Note: The canyon has a few short slot sections, but is mostly quite open with many areas of ...

If you are a hiker or are looking for the short version of Lisa Falls, see that trip here If you are a canyoneer with excellent route-finding skills and a hunger for bushwhacking, read on! This adventure extends the Lower Lisa Falls route by circling around to a higher section of the canyon and adds 4 rappels Though the rappels and upper canyon are quite stunning, the route-finding, loose dirt, and seemingly endless scru...

Choprock is a canyon with a history, and not one to be taken lightly In 2005 two canyoneers died due to cold water exposure This is a canyon for experienced and seasoned canyoneers only So, what makes Choprock more difficult and committing than its more casual neighbor Neon Canyon The canyon offers a fair bit of climbing, squeezing, and cold water exposure, all of which take a toll physically and mentally Expect a 12+ hour day and start early If your not on the trail ...

Hidden within the sweeping sandstone canyons of the Grand Staircase–Escalante region, Fortymile Creek and Willow Gulch are a glimpse into some of southern Utah’s most beautiful—and less crowded—narrow canyons These remote tributaries of the Escalante River have towering Navajo Sandstone walls, tranquil pools, and a striking natural arch Unlike the more famous canyons in the area, Fortymile and Willow Gulch see many fewer visitors, giving a sense of solitude and discovery Whether you’re searching for Broken Bow Arch...

Ah, Upper Telephone is one of the canyons I kept putting off doing The long-ish approach and short nature had led me to believe it wasn't going to be very good Turns out it is charming and quite beautiful This is a short canyon with a lot of rappels situated high up on the West Rim The name comes from back when the telephone line used to be run through this canyon up to the West Rim Doing just Upper Telephone is a charming day and will take most groups a pretty decent chunk of time 6-8 hours Motivated and fast grou...

This short little canyon has a bit of history with me We first gave it a go Thanksgiving Day in 2005 or 2006 The weather was a bit grim, so I decided it would be a nice, short canyon to check out Our initial rim walk showed a lot of water in the canyon I rappelled in from the side in a couple of places to check it out, and found long pools in both sections My desire for comfort won out over my desire for exploration, and we left that day hoping to get back in the spring to descend it As often happens, I didn't make...

The South Fork of Maidenwater is a great canyon to practice your natural anchor and/or down climbing skills Although highly skilled individuals can descend the canyon with 1 or 2 rappels, many groups require 8 or more to surmount the numerous short drops The canyon can hold some pools, so be cautious if doing this one in cold weather I've shivered through one or two trips in the winter when water levels were much higher than I expected!

U-Turn, perched high above Park Avenue provides a great adventure in Arches The canyon in well suited to beginners, and provides unparalleled views of the park This is a great route year around, but best done in the evenings during the hottest times of the year The approach gully goes into the shade several hours before sunset, making evening approaches pleasant in the summer