Technical Canyoneering Skills

Utah is world-renowned for its amazing technical canyons. Acquiring technical canyoneering skills will allow you to safely descend many of these beautiful canyons. This course is for those with little or no climbing or canyoneering experience.

During this course, you will learn how to use canyoneering gear properly and efficiently, and the basic movements for scrambling in canyons. Our guide(s) will review knots, belaying and lowering, and go over the gear and techniques required to establish and equalize bombproof anchors. You’ll practice and dial in your technical canyoneering skills in the Wasatch for epic canyoneering adventures in San Rafael Swell, Robbers Roost, Zion, Escalante, North Wash and Cedar Mesa!

UMA’s Technical Canyoneering Skills Course Outcomes

• Safely use a helmet and harness
• Understand the required canyoneering gear and how it works
• Safely rappel with a Critr3, ATC and figure 8 devices
• Ascend a rope using friction knots and other devices
• Learn how to use and assess the safety of a rappel anchor
• Learn how the canyoneering grading system works
• Practice basic movements required for safe travel in canyons

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

• This is a beginner-friendly course.
• No canyoneering experience is required.

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 require a parking fee.

How To Register

• Register Online
• Call us at (801) 550-3986
• Email us at uma@utahmountainadventures.com

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.