Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Zion National Park → ⊗ Spry Canyon

  ⊗ Technical Route ⊗
 Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Upper East Canyon, Zion National Park, Utah

Distance: 3 miles total, various technical sections

Elevation Ascent/Descent: 800 foot ascent/1900 foot descent

Time Required: 6-8 hours

Rappels: 8 – 13, lengths up to 190 feet

Red Tape/Notes: Permit required – visit the Zion Permits website; Shuttle (or short hitchhike) is required for this route (route is from Upper Pine Creek to the Lower Pine Creek Bridge). For more info on this route (and others in Zion and around Utah), visit the Canyoneering USA website.

What’s Nearby?: Canyon Overlook Trail, Keyhole Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon

Spry Canyon is a nice outing – the hike takes you through some lovely slick rock backcountry terrain, with the usual great Zion views, and leads past some petroglyphs that are always fun to look for. This isn’t a very popular area, and it’s really cool when you see something like mountain lion tracks – a great reminder that you’re in the real outdoors. The first rappel is the long one, and it’s not nearly as intimidating as the length seems, since it’s down a low angle slab. You feel like you’re doing more of a supported run than a long rappel. The other rappels sometimes have awkward starts, but are often very pretty and have a nice variety of scenery. The final 100 foot rappel is free-hanging for the last half and makes for a very fun swing – kick off the wall (or have someone drag you over if you missed your chance and are already free-hanging). Super fun! If there’s been a lot of rain there may even be a trickle of a “waterfall” on this rappel – last time we were here the water would make extreme directional changes depending on the wind. This was particularly amusing when it made a nearly 45 degree angle bend to dump water on Sean’s head. Navigate/down climb the rest of the way to Lower Pine Creek and then follow the creek back to your waiting vehicle. You can also make a brief detour slightly upstream to a pleasant little waterfall (assuming there’s enough water) that’s a nice spot to cool down in if you’re warm.

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Zion National Park → ⊗ Spry Canyon