Moab, Utah has long been one of climbing and canyoneering’s most sought-after destinations, but there is plenty of beginner-friendly rock on which to learn the ropes. Our seasoned guides will help harness your skills (and your courage) to take a step into the vertical world!
We've crafted two guided canyoneering adventures to explore the hidden side of Moab's Landscape:
An incredible canyoneering introduction, with two rappels: 100' into a hidden chasm, and 110' off a giant rock arch! Follow a winding canyon stream out to the Colorado River.
Experience adventure hiking at its finest, including hidden petroglyph panels, longbow arch, spectacular desert vistas, and multiple rappelling descents deeper into the canyon country.
That's right, Utah's slot canyons are the birthplace of the modern sport of canyoneering. What is canyoneering? See if this helps: Mountaineers climb up, Canyoneers climb down, and Pioneers trek Westward...to Utah where they can descend ropes into the myriad slot canyons that drain Utah's world famous Colorado Plateau. The pioneers of the sport all claim first descents in Utah, sooo... yeah, it's pretty much legit. You know, the word "canyon" comes from the Spanish Conquistadors, trying to describe what they saw in the desert as "narrow valleys between cliffs". There was no word for these unique features of the southwest, so they used the Spanish word for "pipe", or "long tube".
Rappelling is a part of canyoneering. Canyoneering is a hike that navigates down through a canyon, often requiring rappels (roped descents) over cliffs or waterfalls that are otherwise not navigable without a rope.
There are many places to rappel over a cliff in Moab, but not all of them are legal, and not all of them lead down through a canyon. The two best places for canyoneering in Moab
Canyoneering is a very family activity with teambuilding built right into the experience. Cheer family members on as they drop below, or cheer them on from below after you've done your own rappel. The guides keep things orderly and lined up so you can focus on yourself and your fellow family in the experience.
The Morning Glory Arch Rappel has two descents, both of which are side-by-side rappels into the Medieval Chamber, and near Morning Glory Arch.
All four Bow and Arrow Canyon rappels are one-at-a-time rappels.
The tallest rappels in Moab, Utah are roughly 100 feet high. Both the Morning Glory Arch adventure and the Bow and Arrow canyoneering include 100-foot rappels.
Utah, in general, is spoiled for choices when it comes to canyoneering. Arguments can ensue about which is the better location Moab, Utah or Zion National Park area for slot canyon exploration. In Moab, Utah there are perhaps fewer slot canyons to choose from, but perhaps more arches to be found along the way - this all depends on which specific canyon you are hiking of course, but generally true. Once you are in the canyons themselves the experience is not easily comparable, which is to say they are very similar to each other.
Free Insiders Guide to Moab, UTWhat to take, where to eat, where to stay, what to do, and a few little secrets on the side. Our Moab Insiders Guide will provide you with all the essentials for a perfect Moab experience.
Expedition GuideWhat to take, where to eat, where to stay, what to do, and a few little secrets on the side. Not unlike your own personal Jiminy Cricket, (minus the worries of the little guy getting smooshed) the Moab Insiders Guide will provide you with all the essentials for a perfect Moab experience.
