Moab Canyoneering Routes
Twenty canyons, one comparison table. Rappel counts, longest drops, distance, water, permits and difficulty side by side — so you can rule routes out fast, then read the full guide for the one that actually fits your day.
Two things up front. Some booking links here are affiliate links — if you book a guided trip through them we may earn a commission at no cost to you. And the beta on this site is a planning aid, not a substitute for current conditions. Anchors, potholes and water levels change. Verify before you commit.
How to use this page
Most Moab route lists are written by outfitters, so they only name the four or five canyons that company happens to guide. This page covers every route we have a guide for, whether it is commercially guided or not, and puts the numbers that actually decide your day in one table: how many rappels, how long the biggest one is, how far you walk, whether you get wet, and whether you need a permit.
Rule routes out first. Then open one or two full guides before you commit — the route pages carry approach detail, anchor notes and the things that turn a good day into a long one.
Every route, one table
Moab canyoneering routes compared
Sorted roughly easiest to hardest. A dash means we have not verified that figure from a primary source — we would rather leave it blank than guess. The route guide has the detail.
| Route | Rappels | Longest | Distance | Time | Water | Permit | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ephedra's Grotto | 1–2 | Short | — | 2–4 hrs | Dry | None | Beginner |
| Morning Glory ArchMedieval Chamber, Grandstaff | 2 | 110–124 ft* | ~4 mi | 4 hrs | Stream | Sand Flats fee | Beginner |
| Bow & ArrowLongbow Arch | 4 | 124 ft | 3–5 mi | 2.5–5 hrs | Dry | None | Beginner |
| U-Turn CanyonArches NP | 3–4 | ~120 ft | Short | 2–4 hrs | Dry | Arches | Beginner |
| Park AvenueArches NP | — | — | Short | 2–3 hrs | Dry | Arches | Beginner |
| Fiery FurnaceArches NP · non-technical | None | — | ~2 mi maze | 2–3 hrs | Dry | Ticket | Beginner |
| Entrajo CanyonChamisa Canyon · guide coming soon | 2 | 90 ft | — | 1–4 hrs | Wade / swim | None | Beginner |
| Fins & Things | 3 | 18 ft | — | 3–5 hrs | Potholes | None | Intermediate |
| Elephant ButteArches NP | 2 | 120 ft | — | 3–5 hrs | Dry | Arches | Intermediate |
| Pleiades Canyon | 6 | 70 ft | — | 2.5–8 hrs | Seasonal flow | None | Intermediate |
| Cable Arch Canyon | 3 | — | — | 3/4 day | Dry | None | Intermediate |
| Moonflower Canyon | 2 | ~200 ft | Short, 1,000 ft gain | 4–6 hrs | Pothole | None | Intermediate |
| Hypatia Canyon | — | — | — | 3/4 day | Wade / swim | None | Intermediate |
| Zero Gravity Canyon | — | — | — | — | Dry | None | Intermediate |
| Upper Granary | — | — | — | 3/4 day | Potholes | None | Intermediate |
| Lost Spring CanyonArches NP | — | — | — | Full day | Dry | Arches | Intermediate |
| Rock of AgesPool Arch, Land Before Time | 3 | 160 ft | 6 mi | ~6 hrs | Chest-deep | None | Advanced |
| Lower Granary | Series | ~200 ft | — | 10 hrs + shuttle | Potholes | None | Advanced |
| Granary CanyonFull route | Up to 6 | ~200 ft | — | 8–10 hrs | Potholes | None | Advanced |
| Great Wall, Bighorn | — | — | — | Full day | Dry | None | Advanced |
Swipe sideways on mobile. *Morning Glory: guided trips rappel beside the bridge at roughly 110–124 ft. Self-guided parties rigging from the upper bolts can rappel through the centre of the arch, which is closer to 200 ft — bring enough rope.
You will see it stated online that no Moab canyoneering route requires a permit because none are inside a national park. That is not correct. U-Turn, Elephant Butte, Park Avenue and Lost Spring Canyon are all inside Arches National Park and require a free backcountry permit picked up in person. The Fiery Furnace requires a separate ticketed permit and sells out. Everything else on this list is BLM or state land where no permit is needed, though Sand Flats Recreation Area charges a vehicle fee. Current permit rules →
Browse
Find your canyon
Filter by what matters to you. Combine filters to narrow further — the count updates as you go.
Ephedra's Grotto
A lush hanging garden at the bottom of a short rappel. The gentlest real canyon near Moab and the best place to find out whether you like being on a rope.
- Rappels1–2, short
- Time2–4 hrs
- PermitNone
Morning Glory Arch
Medieval Chamber · Grandstaff Canyon
Moab's most photographed canyon day. Drop into the Medieval Chamber, then rappel beside — or through — one of the largest natural bridges in the country.
- Rappels2 · 110–124 ft
- Distance~4 mi
- PermitSand Flats fee
Bow & Arrow Canyon
Longbow Arch
Four rappels stepping up from 15 ft to a free-hanging finish, plus petroglyphs, fossilised dinosaur tracks and an arch most Moab visitors never see.
- Rappels4 · up to 124 ft
- Time2.5–5 hrs
- PermitNone (BLM)
U-Turn Canyon
Arches National Park
Two low-angle slab rappels to warm up, then a 120 ft free-hang straight down into Wall Street. About two hours, and it pairs with another Arches canyon from the same lot.
- Rappels3–4 · ~120 ft
- Time2–4 hrs
- PermitFree, in person
Entrajo Canyon
Chamisa Canyon · Cluster Canyon
The best beginner slot in the area and the smartest choice on a hot day. A short 12 ft rappel first, then an optional bigger one, with wading and the occasional swim.
- Rappels2 · up to 90 ft
- Time1–4 hrs
- PermitNone
Park Avenue
Arches National Park
Short, accessible and startlingly scenic — towering fins on both sides of a wide sandstone corridor. A good half-morning objective if you are already spending the day in the park.
- Time2–3 hrs
- WaterDry
- PermitFree, in person
Fiery Furnace
Arches National Park · non-technical
Not technical canyoneering — no ropes — but the closest thing to canyon movement you can do without gear. A genuine maze of fins where route finding is the whole challenge. Permits sell out.
- RappelsNone
- Time2–3 hrs
- PermitTicketed, book early
Fins & Things
The rappels here are almost incidental — the longest is 18 ft. What you come for is the movement: stemming, bridging and problem solving through a sandstone jungle gym.
- Rappels3 · longest 18 ft
- Time3–5 hrs
- PermitNone
Elephant Butte
Arches National Park
The highest point in Arches, reached by scrambling rather than rope, then descended with a 120 ft rappel. Exposed slickrock and a summit view you will not get from any road.
- Rappels2 · up to 120 ft
- Time3–5 hrs
- PermitFree, in person
Pleiades Canyon
Six rappels, none of them enormous, some of them through running water. When the flow is up this becomes a Class C canyon, which changes the planning entirely — treat it accordingly.
- Rappels6 · longest 70 ft
- Time2.5–8 hrs
- PermitNone
Cable Arch Canyon
An arch rappel with serious air underneath it. Three descents across a three-quarter day, with enough exposure that it is a poor choice for a first outing but a memorable second one.
- Rappels3, tall
- Time3/4 day
- PermitNone
Moonflower Canyon
Short on paper, brutal in practice — roughly 1,000 ft of gain to reach the top. The payoff is a ~200 ft free-hanging rappel off what feels like the edge of the earth, then a second nearly as long. No shuttle needed.
- Rappels2 · ~200 ft
- Gain~1,000 ft
- PermitNone
Hypatia Canyon
Intermittent slot sections with standing water in the potholes, off-trail approach and enough low-angle climbing that it rewards a group that moves efficiently together.
- Time3/4 day
- WaterWading, occasional swim
- PermitNone
Zero Gravity Canyon
A quieter option that stays off most itineraries, which is precisely its appeal. Check the route guide for current anchor and approach notes before committing.
- WaterDry
- PermitNone
- CrowdsLow
Upper Granary Canyon
The shorter half of the Granary system and the sensible way to sample it. Panoramic views over Long Canyon toward the La Sals without committing to the ten-hour full route.
- Time3/4 day
- AccessLong Canyon Road
- PermitNone
Lost Spring Canyon
Arches National Park
The far corner of Arches, reached from I-70 rather than the park road. Real solitude, which also means real commitment — nobody is coming past to check on you.
- TimeFull day
- WaterDry
- PermitFree, in person
Rock of Ages
Pool Arch Canyon · Land Before Time
Six miles, three rappels at 160, 100 and 50 ft, a tight slot, potholes deep enough to swim, and hidden arches almost nobody photographs. The most complete canyon day in the Moab area.
- Rappels3 · 160 ft max
- Distance6 mi · ~6 hrs
- PermitNone
Lower Granary Canyon
Plan ten hours car to car including the shuttle. Long Canyon Road needs clearance, the route is a chain of rappels and route finding, and the last one drops ~200 ft near Jug Handle Arch.
- RappelsSeries · ~200 ft last
- Time10 hrs + shuttle
- AccessHigh clearance
Granary Canyon
Full route
Few Moab canyons hold as many natural arches. Eight to ten hours of wilderness feel, tricky route finding and sustained rope work. The full route is a genuine objective, not a scenic outing.
- RappelsUp to 6
- Time8–10 hrs
- PermitNone
Great Wall, Bighorn
A committing full day for parties that already move well together. Not a route to learn on, and not one to attempt with an unresolved question about anyone's rope skills.
- TimeFull day
- WaterDry
- PermitNone
No routes match that combination. Try removing a filter.
Applies to every route
Five things that decide how your canyon day goes
Route choice matters less than these do. Most Moab epics are caused by one of the five below, not by anything technical.
1. Weather is the first filter
Flash flooding is the real hazard here, not the rappels. If storms are anywhere in the forecast, drop the slot and pick an open canyon. The good one will still be there.
2. Water shows up uninvited
Routes listed as dry still hold cold potholes after storms and in permanent shade. Pack as though you will be wet to the waist at least once, even on a cloudless forecast.
3. Anchors are not fixtures
Webbing degrades, bolts get replaced, and last season's trip report is not this season's anchor. Evaluate everything as if you had never seen it, and back it up when the situation warrants.
4. Start earlier than feels necessary
Nearly every long-day story begins with a late start. In summer an early alpine-style departure is not enthusiasm, it is heat management.
5. Know whose land you are on
Four routes here sit inside Arches and need a free permit collected in person. Sand Flats charges per vehicle. Getting this wrong turns a canyon day into a drive.
Bonus: the exit is the crux
On Rock of Ages, Granary and Moonflower the hardest part comes after the last rappel. Budget energy for the walk out, not just the descent.
Before you pick a route
Guided or self-guided?
We publish beta because people use it responsibly. We also think most visitors should hire a guide for their first Moab canyon, and we do not see a contradiction there.
This is your first outdoor rappel
- You have never rappelled outside, or only in a gym
- You cannot confidently judge whether an anchor is sound
- You do not own ropes, harnesses and helmets for the whole party
- You are bringing kids or a mixed-ability group
- You want someone else making the weather call at 5am
Guides also solve the problem this page cannot: they know which canyon is in condition today. That is worth more than any table.
Your whole party has the full skill set
- Anchor evaluation and construction, with backups
- Rope management, releasable systems, contingency plans
- Partner checks you actually run every single time
- Route finding with no service and no fresh trip report
- A worked-out plan for an injury hours from the road
Rappelling is the entry fee, not the qualification. Help in these canyons is far away and slow. You are responsible for your group.
Answers
Moab canyoneering route FAQs
What is the best beginner canyoneering route in Moab?
Ephedra's Grotto and the Medieval Chamber route beneath Morning Glory Arch are the two easiest real canyons near Moab. Both involve short approaches, straightforward anchors and rappels you can complete on your first day. Entrajo Canyon is the best beginner option if you want water and shade, and Bow & Arrow works well for first-timers who want four rappels that build in size rather than one big one.
What is the longest rappel in the Moab area?
Among the routes on this page, Moonflower Canyon has the biggest at roughly 200 feet free-hanging, with a second rappel almost as long. Lower Granary finishes with a rappel of about 200 feet near Jug Handle Arch. Self-guided parties on the Medieval Chamber route can rig through the centre of Morning Glory Arch for a descent close to 200 feet, though guided trips normally rappel beside the bridge at 110 to 124 feet. The longest commercially guided rappel in the area is roughly 220 feet in Zig Zag Canyon.
Do I need a permit to canyoneer in Moab?
For most routes, no. The canyons on BLM and state land — Bow & Arrow, Entrajo, Pleiades, Rock of Ages, Granary, Hypatia, Moonflower, Fins & Things, Cable Arch — require no permit. However, U-Turn Canyon, Elephant Butte, Park Avenue and Lost Spring Canyon are inside Arches National Park and require a free backcountry permit obtained in person. The Fiery Furnace needs a separate ticketed permit that regularly sells out. Sand Flats Recreation Area, the access for Morning Glory, charges a per-vehicle fee.
Which Moab canyons have water?
Most Moab canyons are dry or nearly so, which is the main difference from Zion. The exceptions worth planning around: Entrajo and Hypatia involve wading and occasionally a short swim; Rock of Ages holds potholes that can be chest-deep; Pleiades runs actual flowing water and becomes a Class C canyon when the flow is up; Fins & Things, Granary and Upper Granary hold potholes. Morning Glory involves stream crossings in Grandstaff Canyon rather than swimming. Even canyons rated dry can hold cold water after storms.
Is Rock of Ages the same canyon as Pool Arch?
Yes. Rock of Ages, Pool Arch Canyon and Land Before Time all refer to the same route. Rock of Ages is the older name and Pool Arch has become more common in recent years, which is why you will see the same six-mile route listed under different names by different outfitters and guidebooks. It is the longest canyoneering route in the Moab area at roughly six miles and six hours.
What is the difference between Upper, Lower and full Granary Canyon?
Granary is a system rather than a single canyon. Upper Granary is the shorter three-quarter-day section and the sensible way to sample it. Lower Granary is a longer commitment at around ten hours including the vehicle shuttle, finishing with a large rappel near Jug Handle Arch. The full Granary route links them into an eight to ten hour day with up to six rappels and the largest concentration of natural arches of any Moab canyon. All three are accessed via Long Canyon Road, which needs ground clearance.
Which canyon should I choose in summer?
Pick shade and water. Entrajo, Hypatia and Pleiades all hold water and stay meaningfully cooler than the open slickrock routes. Avoid Moonflower, Elephant Butte and anything with a long exposed approach in July and August, and start at first light regardless of route. Summer is also monsoon season, so the same water that makes slots comfortable makes them the highest flash flood risk of the year.
Can I do more than one canyon in a day?
Yes, and it is a common strategy in Arches. U-Turn Canyon takes about two hours and shares a parking area with other short routes, so linking two shorter canyons in one day is realistic for an efficient party. Outside the park, Ephedra's Grotto and a second short route can be combined. Do not attempt to link anything with Rock of Ages, Granary or Moonflower — those fill a day on their own.
Do I need a shuttle vehicle?
Depends on the route. Moonflower requires no shuttle — you walk back to the car. Lower Granary effectively does, and the shuttle is a meaningful chunk of the ten-hour day. Rock of Ages, Bow & Arrow and the Arches routes are generally manageable without one. Check the individual route guide, because the shuttle logistics are often the difference between a seven-hour day and a ten-hour one.
How accurate is the beta on this site?
We publish figures we can source and mark the rest with a dash rather than guessing. Rappel counts and lengths are compiled from published operator route descriptions and established beta sources, but conditions change — anchors get replaced, potholes fill and empty, and access roads wash out. Treat every number here as a planning aid rather than a guarantee, and confirm current conditions before you commit to a route.
Still deciding?
Jump into a style hub if you know the kind of day you want, or let a guide pick the canyon that is actually in condition this week.
Keep planning
Before you drive to the trailhead
A good trip alternates muscle groups. Add a hike, a float or a scenic drive on your rest day: Hiking Moab · Rafting Moab · Off Roading Moab · Eating Moab
Affiliate disclosure: Canyoneering Moab is reader-supported. Some booking links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We are not a tour operator and we do not accept payment for placement. Route data is compiled from published operator descriptions and established beta sources; conditions change and figures should be verified before you commit to a route.