Canyoneering

What is Canyoneering?

Canyoneering is a recreational activity where people explore canyons by hiking, climbing, rappelling, swimming, and scrambling. Some canyons are very technical and require specialized skills, and others are easy but spectacular day hikes.

To learn more, visit the American Canyoneering Association's website.

My Favorite Canyons

Neon Canyon, Utah

Neon Canyon is one of the many tributaries of the Escalante River. It's best known for its Golden Cathedral, a huge domed sandstone overhang with two "windows" carved into it by water. This is the last technical obstacle for Neon canyoneers; day hikers can reach this awe inspiring spot by hiking down to the Escalante and then up the creek of the tributary (9.1 miles roundtrip), but technical canyoneers drop into the canyon from the bench above and hike, climb, and rappel their way to this amazing finale.

I descended the lower part of Neon during spring break in 2009 and feel like it's time to go back!

Bluejohn Canyon, Canyonlands NP, Utah

Made famous--or infamous--from the movie 127 Hours which tells the story of Aron Ralston's accident in the canyon that ended with a self-amputation of his arm, Bluejohn Canyon is a fun, stunning slot canyon with soaring vertical walls and a handful of rappels. It can be done as a day hike of about 16 miles without a car shuttle (map). If done with a car shuttle, canyoneers hike out through Horseshoe Canyon and past The Great Gallery, a huge pictograph panel of intricate, life-sized figures.

When my friend and I descended Bluejohn in 2012, our hike out after sunset was on a moonless night, but the sky was so clear and the starlight was so bright that we didn't need headlamps. It was the single best day outdoors I've had in my life!

Click here to see a map of how to descend Bluejohn Canyon in a day without a car shuttle.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Perhaps the most famous slot canyon in the world, Antelope Canyon is located in a Navajo Tribal Park near Page, Arizona. The flowing appearance of the sandstone and warm light from above make this one of the most photogenic places on earth. Frequently included on lists of "places to see before you die," Antelope Canyon has become extremely popular for tourists. All visitors must be accompanied into the canyon by an official Navajo guide.

When I first visited in 2004, the canyon was not at all crowded. When I went again in 2009, it was such a slow day that we were able to simply buy tickets and enter without a guide. But when I went back in 2016, the place had completely changed; there was a visitor center, long lines, and dozens of other people in the canyon ahead of and behind us. Luckily, the guides do a good job of making sure that everyone can get at least one photo with no other tourists in the shot, and my guide seemed genuinely excited to show us through.

Bottom line: It's crowded and expensive... but it's completely worth it.

Pics from other fun canyons

In no particular order... Peekaboo Gulch (UT), Spooky Gulch (UT), Tenaya Canyon (Yosemite NP, CA), The Subway (Zion NP, UT), Flip Flop Canyon (South Fork of the Tuolumne River, CA), Badger Canyon (UT), Sundance Canyon (AZ), Water Holes Canyon (AZ), and Seven Teacups (Dry Meadow Creek/Kern River, CA).

Above left: In a pool in Flip Flop Canyon in 2012 after descending what my group now calls "the sluice of doom" because of its difficulty, especially with a high flow rate in 2018. Above right: We went back to Flip Flop in 2018 and were surprised by the high water level. This is the last waterfall; after this pool, canyoneers hike out in and along the river back to camp.

Badger Creek Canyon (2009). It was about 100 degrees!

Badger Canyon ends at the Colorado River/Grand Canyon. To exit, hike upstream until there's an accessible exit up the west side of the canyon and onto the mesa.