The Great Gallery is often referred to as the pictograph panel that all others are compared to, and the best preserved Barrier Canyon Style panel in existence today If you are interested in Native American art, this is an absolute must see The Great Gallery is a single panel about 200 feet long with about 20 images, but the hike itself visits several other panels along the way as well, making for a full day with lots to see The panels are believed to be between 1500 to 4000 years old, and were created during the la...

Tucked in a canyon high on the slopes of the Eastern San Rafael Reef, Hurst Bridge is a gem The bridge itself is quite interesting and scenic, but the views of Ernie Canyon, the La Sals, the San Rafael Desert and surrounding areas make this a hike not to be missed It offers big views Many had warned me finding the arch was exceedingly difficult I would rate it as moderate navigation Getting to the general area is not particularly difficult, though may take some persistence to find the actual arch once in the area I...

Seldom visited, Sams Mesa Box Canyon makes a great outing for beginners or those looking for a less technical outing in Robbers Roost The canyon is not very technical with two rappels, though most will downclimb the first, and the two slot sections are both short That said, the canyon is beautiful and well worth visiting Two options are presented The short version visits all of the good stuff, and only takes 3-5 hours There is also a slightly longer version that continues down, seeing more of the canyon, and return...

This is a short canyon with a bit of spice Each of the Shinob forks Timpie, Na-Gah, and Nighthawk have their own very distinct personality With this one, Nighthawk, the personality is potholes The meat of the canyon is a short section of many potholes leading to a final dramatic rappel into Timpie This is a good team work canyon, offering plenty of opportunities for problem solving and partner assists A Note On Time: This canyon will vary greatly depending on the experience of the team Many of the pothole entrances...

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...

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 ...

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...

I had low expectations for Golf Canyon On the map, it appears to be short and drops quickly Not the type of canyon I generally enjoy The canyon is a charmer, however A 3-ish mile approach up a sandy wash and steep ridge get the heart pounding a bit before the short, but quite scenic technical section The approach distance seems to make this a bit less popular than Cherry Canyon and some of the other Virgin River Gorge Canyons Some estimate the canyon at 7-10 hours Golf Canyon is a canyon that has quite variable tim...

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...

Short narrows, a pictograph panel, big views, arches, and even an optional rappel or two, what more could a canyon offer Farnsworth is a charmer, and a canyon I have visited many times over the years Visiting the lower section of the canyon, through the narrows or up to the pictograph panel, offers an easy to access outing suitable for most and a good kid friendly hike For those with a bit more energy, a jaunt up to the top of the reef offers big views and three hidden arches/bridges Still not satisfied Have some t...