Keyhole Canyon - Zion National Park

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Keyhole Canyon

Zion National Park
Technical Canyoneering

Keyhole Canyon has everything that makes technical canyoneering a challenging and fun experience. The canyon has a very narrow and deep slot, plenty of wading; several short down downclimbing problems, multiple short rappels and it is completed by swimming down a long dark narrow corridor.

Keyhole Canyon is easy to access and is often used as an introduction to technical canyoneering.

General Information:
Keyhole Canyon is a technical canyoneering adventure that will require 2 hours to complete. You will require complete technical gear. You will also need a 50-meter rope (100' rope is adequate) and drybags for anything you don't want wet. I recommend bringing several slings. Leave your bolt kit at home. There are plenty of natural anchors at every rappel. Bring 20 feet of extra webbing and a couple of rappel rings and you can eliminate the extra weight of a bolt kit.

The canyon is narrow and short so bring as little gear as possible. Keyhole has some of the coldest water in Zion National Park. There are several cold swims and protection from hypothermia is required, I use a wet suit. I suggest a group size of four or less.

Springdale East is the USGS 7.5 minute topographical map that shows Keyhole Canyon. All waypoints and maps for this route use the WGS84 datum. Navigation for this route is easy.

Keyhole canyon is rated 3B I using the Canyon Rating System. You will need a Zion Backcountry Permit to complete the technical section of Keyhole Canyon. Check the weather report at the Visitor Center when you pick up your permit.

Trailhead Information:
After picking up your permit from the Zion Visitor Center drive east on Highway 9. Drive through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and continue east to the second tunnel. From the exit of the second tunnel, it is 1.8 miles to where a shallow wash crosses under Highway 9. This is the trailhead, It is easy to recognize by a small turnout on the south (right) side of the road. The turnout will accommodate two or three cars.

Route Information:
From the trailhead (N37° 13' 29", W112° 54' 08"), walk east on Highway 9 for 1/4 mile. As you round the corner, you will notice an unmaintained footpath heading north up a sandy wash; this is your route. Within 100 yards of the road, you will begin climbing a slickrock bowl. You are aiming for the saddle with a large hoodoo on the right. From the saddle (N37° 13' 36", W112° 54' 03"), descend the steep dirt trail on the north side to the canyon bottom. Enter the narrow slot immediately to the west of the steep dirt hill and head down stream. It is nearly impossible to get lost from this point on. The first 1/4-mile of canyon is a nice little slot canyon, which requires wading and scrambling, but nothing technical.

The canyon opens up shortly and provides a nice place to relax before the real fun begins. This is the location where most canyoneers gear, put on the wetsuit and dig the rope out of the pack. Rappel 30-feet into the dark and narrow slot from the large ponderosa pine in the main wash. The tree has slings magically appear and disappear depending on the canyon ethics of the party who proceeded you. Skilled climbers can downclimb the large log wedged in the canyon.

          Your next obstacle is a downclimb into a deep pool followed by a 20-foot rappel. The anchor for this rappel is a large glue-in bolt on the north canyon wall. (Note: If you brought a 50 meter rope you can chain the next two rappels together). The 20-foot rappel is followed immediately by another pool to swim and a 25-foot sloping rappel into yet anther pool of water.

          The anchor for the 25-foot sloping rappel is a single bolt on the north wall. This rappel can also be easily downclimbed by canyoneers with sticky shoes.

          A couple more downclimbs will bring you to a long, 3-foot wide, water filled corridor. This obstacle is often referred to as the "flooded hallway".

          You must swim down the hallway using your arms and feet against the walls to propel yourself. At the end of the hallway you will walk down the narrow slot, wading and swimming as required.

          The slot ends with a very short walk back to the trailhead.

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