The Best Canyoneering Routes in Moab

Many travelers arrive in Moab expecting the Colorado River to be the highlight. Rafting whitewater and camping on sandy riverbanks delivers plenty of adventure, but the desert holds an even deeper secret. The real magic is found when ropes meet sandstone and canyoneering takes center stage.

Canyoneering in Moab is unlike anywhere else. One moment you’re standing on slickrock ridges with panoramic views, the next you’re rappelling into hidden grottoes, weaving through sculpted slots, or hiking beneath towering arches. It’s part hike, part climb, part puzzle with each canyon offering its own character and challenges.

From beginner-friendly routes perfect for a first rappel to advanced descents with big drops and technical obstacles, Moab offers a canyoneering experience for every adventurer. The canyons below are among the most rewarding options, each revealing a different side of the red rock wilderness and why canyoneering has become a defining Moab experience.

Medieval Chamber (Ephedra’s Grotto to Morning Glory Arch)

Quick Facts

  • Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
  • Rappels: 2 (up to ~100 ft)
  • Time Required: 3–4 hours (half day)
  • Best Season: Spring or fall
  • Permit: Not required

If you’ve never tried canyoneering before this is a good canyon to start on. Medieval Chamber is Moab’s classic canyoneering introduction. It is dramatic but not overwhelming. The first rappel drops you into a hidden sandstone grotto that feels like a cathedral. The second takes you down beside Morning Glory Arch, one of the longest natural spans in the country.

The hike out follows a shady desert stream, giving you a little bit of everything: slickrock, water, rappels, and one jaw-dropping arch. It’s no wonder this is one of the most popular guided canyons in Moab.

U-Turn Canyon

Quick Facts

  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate
  • Rappels: 6+ (all under ~80 ft)
  • Time Required: 3 hours (half day)
  • Best Season: Year-round
  • Permit: Not required

U-Turn Canyon is the first choice for adventurers short on time but wanting a true canyoneering experience. Located just minutes from Moab, this route drops quickly into a sequence of short rappels with sweeping views over the Park Avenue section of Arches National Park.

Approachable for beginners yet engaging enough for intermediate canyoneers, U-Turn delivers excitement without demanding a full day. Its efficiency makes it easy to combine with another Moab adventure. Many vacationers pair a morning descent with an afternoon mountain bike ride on the nearby Bar M trails for a perfect sampler of the region.

Entrajo Canyon

Quick Facts

  • Difficulty: Moderate, water present most seasons
  • Rappels: Multiple (short to medium)
  • Time Required: 3–4 hours (half day)
  • Best Season: Spring and fall
  • Permit: Not required

Entrajo Canyon is a playground. You’ll squeeze through slots, scramble over potholes, and plunge into pools that range from knee-deep to full swims depending on recent rain. The rappels are not huge, but the variety keeps you grinning. This grin may be a shiver if you are planning to be there in early spring.

This canyon will teach you the desert’s “cold shock” firsthand. When you hit a pool in April, gasping, wide awake, and laughing. Entrajo is best with a guide unless you’re very comfortable with anchors and water management.

Granary Canyon

Quick Facts

  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Rappels: Multiple, up to ~200+ ft
  • Time Required: 6–8 hours (full day)
  • Best Season: Spring, fall, or cool summer days
  • Permit: Not required

Granary is where canyoneering gets big. This full-day adventure starts on the mesa, drops through massive sandstone amphitheaters, and strings together some of the tallest rappels you’ll find around Moab.

Granary Canyon delivers some of the most dramatic rappels near Moab, including a heart-pounding 200-foot drop that opens to sweeping views of the desert below. The canyon demands confidence with technical rope systems and is best suited for experienced canyoneers.

This is not a beginner-friendly route, but for those ready to take it on, Granary offers an unforgettable descent through towering sandstone walls and rugged desert terrain.

Elephant Butte (Arches National Park)

Quick Facts

  • Difficulty: Moderate to advanced
  • Rappels: Several, up to ~100 ft
  • Time Required: 6–7 hours (full day)
  • Best Season: Spring and fall
  • Permit: Required (Arches NP)

Elephant Butte isn’t a traditional canyon, it is more like a summit adventure. You’ll scramble, rappel, and route-find your way to the highest point in Arches National Park. Standing on the summit, the entire red rock world spreads before you: the La Sals, Canyonlands, and the Colorado winding through the desert.

This is a committing route and requires a park permit, but the reward is the ultimate view in Arches. It feels like a complete desert expedition in one day.

Safety Callout ⚠️

  • Flash Floods: Never enter a canyon if storms are forecast, even far away.
  • Gear: Helmets, harnesses, ropes, and knowledge of anchor systems are essential. Guided tours provide gear and instruction.
  • Heat & Water: Carry at least 2 liters per person. Entrajo often requires swims—pack a drybag.
  • Permits: Required for some canyons in Arches NP. Check with the NPS before you go.

FAQs About Canyoneering in Moab

Is canyoneering safe for beginners?
Yes, especially with a guide. Routes like Medieval Chamber and U-Turn are designed for first-timers.

Can kids go canyoneering?
Yes, many local guides take families with kids as young as 10, depending on comfort level.

Do I need a guide?
If you don’t have rope and anchor experience, absolutely. Moab guides provide safety, gear, and local knowledge.

What’s the best season for canyoneering in Moab?
Spring and fall. Summer is hot but doable if you start early. Winter can be icy.

Pairing Canyons with Other Moab Adventures

One of the greatest advantages of adventuring in Moab is the ability to mix and match experiences without traveling far. Few destinations allow a traveler to raft a river in the morning and rappel a canyon in the afternoon, or ride a world-famous bike trail one day and descend a slot canyon the next. The compact geography and variety of terrain make Moab the perfect playground for multi-sport days.

Shorter canyoneering routes, such as U-Turn Canyon, fit seamlessly into a half-day schedule. Pair a morning descent with a scenic drive along the Colorado River, or follow it with a sunset hike to Delicate Arch for an iconic end to the day. Entrajo Canyon offers another excellent option for balancing time. Spend a day mountain biking on the Slickrock Trail, then trade pedals for rope work the next morning.

For those seeking a more immersive challenge, full-day canyons like Granary or Medieval Chamber can be woven into multi-day itineraries. Imagine floating the Colorado River one day, camping under star-filled skies, and then rappelling into a sandstone chamber the next. It’s the desert’s version of surf and turf—two different landscapes, equally unforgettable, brought together in one adventure.

Consider the Moab Trifecta

Every adventure sport in Moab tells a different story. Rafting charges through the desert with speed and splash, letting the Colorado River carry you between sheer red walls and sandy beaches. Mountain biking flows across slickrock and singletrack, where freedom comes from the rhythm of wheels over stone. And canyoneering? Canyoneering reveals the desert’s hidden side: the chambers, slots, and grottoes carved deep into the rock.

Lowering into a canyon is unlike any other experience in Moab. The rope slides through your device, sandstone rises around you, and suddenly the desert shifts from an endless horizon to intimate corridors of stone and shadow. In that moment, you’re not just passing through the landscape because you are inside it. Few visitors ever see this side of Moab, but those who do carry home stories and memories that stand apart from the usual postcards and panoramas.

Together, rafting, biking, and canyoneering form the ultimate trifecta of Moab adventure. Water, wheels, and rope combine to show the desert from every angle: above, across, and within. Add even a single canyon to your itinerary, and the puzzle of Moab feels complete. It is an experience that goes beyond sightseeing and becomes a true desert journey.