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Advanced Canyoneering Skills

$239 plus tax

Do you have some basic technical canyoneering skills but are ready to take things to the next level? This is the course for you! UMA’s full-day Advanced Canyoneering Skills course dives deep to help you develop the tools and confidence to tackle challenging slot canyons with advanced rope work, anchor building, pothole escapes, “ghosting” and vertical problem-solving. You’ll push your skills on more complex terrain, with a focus on autonomy, efficiency and safety in technical canyon environments.

Course Dates

  • Apr 25, 2026 (Saturday)
  • Sep 5, 2026 (Saturday)

What Our Guests and Students Say

  • Today, we did a canyoneering skills class with Mike-our guide. He was amazing! He was patient and shared a wealth of knowledge. I cried on each of my descents, but I never felt unsafe at the same time. We learned canyoneering skills up at Dogwood Park in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Thanks, Mike for making our first experience memorable and safe.

    Watts Family

    July 2025 Google

  • If you’re looking for a guide service in the Wasatch, you should look no further than UMA. Our backpacking trip with Tyson was flawlessly executed and Tyson was a delight to work with. Great experience with a thoroughly knowledgeable guide. I’ve booked with some of the most highly regarded guide services in the country and UMA is right up there with best of them.

    Geoff G.

    July 2023 Google

  • Everything from start to finish with Utah Mountain Adventures went smoothly, thanks to our guide, Ben Farrar, who put together and executed our excellent adventure. Ben asked all the right questions to understand what we wanted from our backcountry trip, and made a plan that met our needs and was adaptive to the conditions. He kept us moving at a pace to achieve our objectives and had backup plans to do more if there was time and desire, or make changes if the conditions or terrain were not favorable. He provided just the right amount of support and tips along the way. And it was just such a pleasure to hang out with Ben! We were grateful that somehow he managed to take photos and videos along the way and shared them with us at the end of the day. 10 out of 10! (and that is saying something in a very low snow year)

    Beth P.

    February 2026 Google

Some of the most beautiful and least-crowded canyons are only safely accessible to those with some advanced canyoneering skills. In this class, you’ll learn the skills you need to explore Utah’s iconic canyons and other bucket-list canyons around the world.

Designed for canyoneers who’ve mastered basic ropework, UMA’s Advanced Canyoneering Skills course pushes you into advanced terrain in Utah’s Wasatch Range. You’ll learn to rig and retrieve long and redirected rappels (including into water), build and improvise anchors, ascend ropes efficiently, escape keeper potholes and practice “ghosting” techniques for ethical, leave‑no‑trace descents. You can expect practical training in one of Salt Lake City’s Cottonwood Canyons, taught by UMA professional guides.

UMA’s Advanced Canyoneering Skills Course Outcomes
  • Advanced rappelling techniques
  • Escaping potholes
  • Non-standard and improvised anchors
  • Rope retrieval systems
  • Efficient rope ascension systems
  • Introduction to “ghosting” ethics
Max Student : Instructor Ratio

5 : 1

Course dates don’t fit your schedule?

Any of our pre-scheduled courses can be run as custom outings. If you’re interested in a course but the dates don’t fit your schedule, please check out our private guiding options.

Course Prerequisites
  • Some canyoneering experience is required.
  • You must have done at least 1 canyon involving multiple rappels.
  • Completing our Technical Canyoneering Skills Course is highly recommended.
Required Fitness Level
  • You must be able to easily hike 1 mile on variable, uneven terrain (at 7,000′-10,000′ elevation) from the trailhead to access rock climbing crags.

This full-day course takes place in one of Salt Lake City’s local canyons (expect to be in the field for 8 hours). Guests are expected to bring their own snacks, lunch and water (1-2 liters). UMA does not provide transportation. We encourage carpooling to help mitigate traffic in the canyons and crowded parking areas.

SCHEDULE & MEETING LOCATION

The usual meeting time and place are generally 8 am at the Big Cottonwood Park & Ride lot, but these are subject to change. Exact meeting times and locations will be provided to registered guests before the course date. Ending time is between 3 pm and 4 pm.

GUIDE/INSTRUCTOR

You will receive a reminder with the contact information for your guide/instructor. They will contact you directly by email to confirm meeting time and location, as well as weather considerations and equipment needs.

TRANSPORTATION & PARKING

Transportation will not be provided. Most trailheads now require a parking fee.

How To Register

UMA reserves the right to cancel or shorten the clinic if fewer than 2 participants register.

CANYONEERING SKILLS COURSE EQUIPMENT LIST
  • Comfortable and flexible pants and top
  • Light puffy overcoat and or other insulation layer (fleece, synthetic or down)
  • Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket
  • Climbing/rappelling gloves (leather type)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • 2 liters of water
  • Lunch and quick energy snacks
  • Day pack (25-45 liters)
  • Approach shoes or hiking boots
  • Belay/rappel device (ATC Guide/Reverso), Figure 8 or Critr3 (preferred)
  • Harness
  • Helmet
  • Double-length runner (120cm) or other PAS (personal anchoring system) – not a daisy chain
  • 3 locking carabiners
  • 2 Prusik loops OR 15 feet of 6mm Nylon Accessory Static Cord to make Prusik loops

Please see our Canyoneering Gear List & Rentals page for information on the items UMA provides and local shops where you can rent or purchase gear.

Please see our main FAQ page for general questions or for anything not covered below. 

Where do I meet my guide?

Before the start of the course, your guide/instructor will confirm by email the meeting time and location.

Most commonly, this location is the Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride lot or at a trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon or Little Cottonwood Canyon. Please see our Lodging & Trailheads page for recommended accommodations in the canyons. 

HOW OLD DO I NEED TO BE TO Join a Canyoneering Course?

Students must be at least 14 years of age to join a group course. For private guiding and instruction, there is no age restriction.

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