Swim Through A Slot Canyon

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Early fall is the best season for “canyoneering,” an adventure sport that is becoming extremely popular in Utah’s national parks and play areas. Canyoneers climb over rocks, rappel down cliffs and swim through water-filled potholes as they hike into wild and rugged canyons most people never see. Such adventures can range from relatively mild day hikes to extreme, technical, multi-day treks.

September is a great month for canyoneering because it’s still warm enough to enjoy sliding down waterfalls, but the oppressive heat of August has abated. And the moderating temperatures reduce the threat of afternoon thunderstorms – which create flash flood danger in narrow canyons.

October, with its cool temperatures, is the perfect month to hike dry canyons.

The Narrows in Zion National Park is perhaps the world’s most popular spot for canyoneering, and it provides a wonderful introduction to the sport. Casual hikers start at the bottom and just hike up canyon as far as they dare. In many spots the Virgin River covers the entire canyon floor, from cliff to cliff, and you have no choice but to wade. You can’t judge the water’s depth until you step in... up to your knees... your waist... and in a few spots you’ll find yourself swimming.

The Narrows extend for about 18 miles. Experienced hikers do it from the top down in one long day or as an overnighter. A permit is required if you start at the top, but not if you day-hike in from the bottom.

Some of our other great canyon hikes (that aren’t overly technical) include Zion’s Subway, Buckskin Gulch in Grand Staircase/Escalante, Halls Creek in Capitol Reef, the Black Hole of White Canyon (just southeast of Hite), and West Canyon off Lake Powell.

Dry canyons suitable for family adventures include Little Wildhorse in the San Rafael Swell (near Goblin Valley), and Spooky Gulch in Grand Staircase/Escalante. Spooky is the tightest slot canyon average-size people can get through. It becomes so narrow you have to scoot sideways, the canyon walls scrapping your chest and back. Kids love it – they can often breeze right through.

People who are large or claustrophobic should not enter Spooky Gulch. In most canyons you can just go until you start to feel uncomfortable and then retrace your steps to get out. But not Spooky. Following the normal route, you slide down a rock into the canyon’s bowels and find you are committed to finishing the hike; it’s very difficult to climb back out.

Fall is also a great time for mountain biking, off-road adventures (4X4 & ATV), horseback riding and fishing. The weather is usually dry, temperatures are mild and some of the summer crowds have gone home.

If you want to experience canyon hiking but you are nervous going it alone, we can arrange for you to go with a guide. Our Moab multi-activity trip is a good choice; participants can choose from activities including hiking, four-wheeling through canyon country, jet boating down the Colorado River into Canyonlands National Park, and riding horses along trails where Western movies were filmed.

Upcoming Major Events

Utah’s State Fair runs through Sept. 14.

Oktoberfest will continue at Snowbird Resort on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 5. It features national and local Polka bands, 35 local & national crafters, roaming entertainment and German food. Admission is free!

Friends of Strawberry Wildlife Festival will be Sept. 12-14 at Daniels Summit Lodge and the Forest Service Strawberry Visitor Center. Red kokanee salmon will be spawning in the river and will be visible from walkways near the Visitor Center. Activities include fishing clinics, special kids activities, evening entertainment, cooking demonstrations, food vendors and prizes. Friday: 12-8 pm, Saturday: 9 am – 8 pm, Sunday: 10 am – 3 pm. Contact Daniels Summit Lodge at 800-519-9969.

Rocky Mountain ATV Jamboree, Sept 15-20 on the Paiute Trail in the mountains and canyons of central Utah. Participants can choose from an extensive list of guided rides. Overnight rides are also possible. Call 800-639-0528 to get a registration packet, or register online.

The LDS Church’s General Conference will be Oct. 4-5 in the Conference Center adjacent to historic Temple Square, in downtown Salt Lake City.

24 Hours of Moab, Oct. 18-19. This is an extremely popular 24-hour bike relay race in Moab's red rock country.

Moab Fat Tire Festival, Oct. 29 - Nov 2. This is one of the world's biggest rendezvous for mountain bike enthusiasts, racers, manufacturers and journalists. Lots of food, drink and fun activities.

Fall fishing is expected to be excellent at Lake Powell, following very good action through the summer. The water level is low, meaning the big lake is only 300 feet deep in most spots. There’s still plenty of water for boats, including large houseboats, and most ramps are in good condition. (Hite is completely closed and the ramp at Bullfrog is not suitable for large boats. Halls Crossing and the main ramp at Wahweap can accommodate boats of any size.) Striped bass are fatter than they’ve been in years. They are ferocious predators – they literally herd schools of shad into coves and then decimate the baitfish. The surface appears to “boil” as shad leap from the water trying to escape. Drag a lure though a boil and you get a hookup almost every cast. Stripers hit and fight hard – they are fun to catch. Smallmouth bass also provide good fishing. Read the latest Lake Powell fishing forecast.

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