Guided Canyoneering Tours
Moab, UtahIf you want the thrill of Moab’s sandstone slots and rappels without the stress of figuring it all out on your own, guided canyoneering tours are the move. A great guide does more than lead the way. They help you choose the right canyon for the day, manage risk, keep the pace fun, and teach you the skills that make the whole experience click.
Moab Canyon Tours With Professional Guides
Moab is one of the best places in the country to try canyoneering. You get sculpted sandstone, dramatic slots, airy rappels, and that quiet desert feeling that makes the whole day feel bigger than the miles on your feet.
This page is your hub for guided canyoneering tours in Moab, Utah. Use it to compare tour styles, choose the right difficulty, and jump straight to the best match for your group and the day’s conditions.
Start Here: Choose Your Style and Skill Level
Choose one and you will be in the right neighborhood immediately.
I am new and want an easy intro → Short Canyoneering Routes
I want a big experience but not an all day mission → Half Day Canyoneering Tours
I want the full Moab canyon day → Full Day Canyoneering Tours
I came for big drops and rope time → Big Rappel Canyoneering Tours
I want classic slot canyon scenery and shade → Slot Canyon Canyoneering Routes
I want a guide focused only on my group → Private Canyoneering Tours
Canyoneering Tour Match in 30 seconds
If you are not sure what to book, use this quick match.
Pick your experience level
-
First time on a rope → Start with Short Routes or an easier Half Day
-
Done a rappel or two → Half Day or Slot Routes
-
Comfortable rappelling → Full Day or Big Rappel
Pick your comfort with heights
-
Low → Short Routes or a mellow Half Day
-
Medium → Half Day, many Slot Routes
-
High → Full Day, Big Rappel
Pick your time
-
I want to be done by early afternoon → Half Day or Short Routes
-
I want the full story → Full Day or Big Rappel
Want a custom plan and private pacing?
-
Yes → Private Canyoneering Tours
Half Day Canyoneering Tours
Half day tours are the best option for most first time visitors. You get a real canyon experience, usually with rappelling, without committing your whole day.
Best for first timers, families, busy itineraries, people who want a big hit of Moab
Typical feel fun, scenic, confidence building, efficient pacing
Good to know half day tours are easier to fit around Arches, rafting, and dinners in town
Half Day Tour Options
Best for: first timers who want a safe, exciting first rappel
Intensity: beginner to moderate
Rappels: a few shorter drops
Water: usually dry or seasonal
Perks of a Guided Tour in Moab
Guided is the Best Choice For a Confident First Day
Reserve a guided canyoneering tour if you are new to rappelling outdoors, are unsure about anchors, or just want the smoothest version of this experience possible. A good canyoneering guide does more than keep you safe. They control the pace, manage transitions, teach you what matters, and pick a route that fits the day’s conditions.
Self Guided is a Good Choice if you Have Strong Canyoneering Skills
If you are self guiding, the expectation is not just that you can rappel. You should also be comfortable with anchor evaluation, rope management, partner checks, route finding, and decision making when something does not go as planned.
Remember, you are responsible for you and your group. Help is far away and could take some time before they arrive.
Full Day Canyoneering Tours
Full day tours unlock the most variety. More time means better route choice, more features, and a true Moab canyon immersion.
Best for adventurous couples, friend groups, confident beginners, anyone who wants a bigger objective
Typical feel longer approach, more terrain variety, bigger payoff
Good to know full day tours give your guide more flexibility to choose the best canyon for the conditions
Full Day Classic Moab Canyon
Best for: your first “big day” canyoneering goal
Intensity: moderate
Rappels: multiple, mixed length
Water: seasonal
Big Rappel Canyoneering Tours
This category is built around longer drops and more rope time. If you want that clean, committed rappel feeling, this is your lane.
Best for height friendly adventurers, people who love rope work, “go big” vacation days
Typical feel bigger exposure, more coaching, more adrenaline
Good to know big rappel routes are not always the best fit for first time rappellers, but many motivated beginners can do them with the right route choice.
Big Rappel Canyoneering Tour
Best for: strong beginners and adventurous travelers
Intensity: moderate
Rappels: longer drops
Water: usually dry or seasonal
Short Canyoneering Routes
Short routes are maximum fun per hour. Great for first timers, families, and anyone who wants an intro that still feels like a real adventure.
Best for beginners, families, tight schedules, confidence building
Typical feel quick access, clear coaching, fast payoff
Good to know short does not mean boring. It means efficient.
Short Route Tour Options
Best for: first timers, families, cautious adventurers
Intensity: beginner
Rappels: a short intro drop
Water: usually dry
Link: [View details]
Slot Canyon Canyoneering Routes
Slot canyons are the iconic Moab vibe. Narrow walls, sculpted sandstone, cool shade, and that feeling of moving through a hidden corridor.
Best for people who want dramatic scenery, hot weather days, curious explorers
Typical feel tighter movement, more problem solving, more shade
Good to know slots are more weather sensitive. If there is any real flash flood risk, your guide should choose a different plan.
Slot Canyon Tour Options
Best for: first time slot canyon experience with a guide
Intensity: beginner to moderate
Rappels: short to medium
Water: sometimes
Private Canyoneering Tours
Private tours are the most flexible, most personal way to canyoneer in Moab. Your guide can tailor the route, pacing, coaching, and start time around your group.
Best for families, couples, mixed ability groups, people who want a calm pace, photographers
Typical feel custom, unrushed, higher touch coaching
Good to know private tours are also a great choice if someone in your group is nervous. The day can be paced intentionally.
Private Tour Options
Private Half Day Canyoneering Tour
Best for: custom pacing with a shorter time commitment
Private Full Day Canyoneering Tour
Best for: your biggest day with total flexibility
Conditions and Safety in Moab Canyons
Moab canyons are not theme parks. They are real desert terrain, and conditions matter.
-
Flash floods are the biggest risk in narrow canyons
-
Wind and shade can make a warm day feel surprisingly cold
-
Storms change routes, exits, and wash crossings fast
The win with a guide is simple. If today is not a safe slot day, you still get an amazing canyon day, just in a better location for the conditions.
What to Bring
Keep it simple and show up ready to move.
-
Water and a snack
-
Sun protection you will actually use
-
Athletic clothing you can move in
-
Closed toe shoes with real grip
-
A light warm layer in cooler months, or for shaded slots
If your tour may include water, ask about footwear and layers. Cold water changes comfort fast.
FAQs Guided Canyoneering Tours in Moab
Do I need experience?
No. Many tours are built for first timers. The key is choosing the right category.
Are these tours good for families?
Often yes. Short routes and many half day tours are great for active families with the right expectations.
What is the difference between full day and big rappel?
Full day is about overall route depth and variety. Big rappel is about longer drops and more rope time.
Will we do a slot canyon?
If you choose a slot category and conditions are safe, yes. If conditions are off, a good guide will pivot to a safer plan that still feels like Moab.
What if someone is nervous about heights?
Tell your guide up front. There are routes that build confidence without forcing a scary experience.
Book Your Guided Canyoneering Tour in Moab, Utah
Choose the category that fits your group.
Half Day Canyoneering Tours → View half day options
Full Day Canyoneering Tours → View full day options
Big Rappel Canyoneering Tours → View big rappel options
Short Canyoneering Routes →Browse short routes
Slot Canyon Canyoneering Routes → Browse slot canyon routes
Private Canyoneering Tours → Explore private tours