Big Air Indeed! The End of Hidden Canyon is a pretty cool canyon that ends with a 450 foot rappel. Yikes! With a short approach, it makes for an easy day for folks with good rappelling skills. The canyon faces north and drops steeply, so it is fun to do even when it is stinkin' hot out.
- Profile
- Approach
- The Business
- Exit
- Maps & Info
- Trip Reports
LOGISTICS |
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| Rating | 4A II   |
| Season | Summer or fall |
| Time Commitment |
4 to 6 hours |
| Longest Rappel |
Approximately 450 feet (140 m) - We used a 600 foot rope. |
| Access |
Starts and ends at the Weeping Rock Shuttle stop. |
| Seasonal Adjustments |
This is kind of a stunt, so I cannot see doing it in other than prime conditions. |
| Permit Required? |
YES |
| Emergency |
Zion Wilderness Desk: 435-772-0170 Zion EMERGENCY: 435-772-3322 |
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EQUIPMENT
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| Essentials | Helmets, rappelling gear, webbing, rapid links, a very long rope, a small pulley. |
| Cold Water Protection |
None |
| Drinking Water | None, bring plenty. |
DIFFICULTIES
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| Flash Flood Risk |
Low/Moderate - The canyon has a smallish watershed, but would be a poor choice with threatening skies. |
| Skills Required |
Long rappel skills. |
| Anchors | Mostly natural anchors. The final rappel was anchored off a jammed stump in 2007. You may wish to bring a bolt kit in case the stump has washed out and no natural alternative presents itself. |
From the Weeping Rock picnic area, ascend the East Rim Trail, then right on the Hidden Canyon Trail to the "mouth" of Hidden Canyon. This adventure descends from the "mouth" where the trail crosses Hidden to the ground.
It may be a good idea to leave a "spotter" at the Weeping Rock parking lot, so he can tell people "No, that was not a body" when you huck the big rope off (and to make sure the rope reaches the ground without tangles).
Select a tree, and rap in. There are several short rappels (up to 100 feet or so) to get to the final perch. The raps are into potholes which might have water, but they tend to be no more than knee deep. Have someone in your party remove the webbing for the first anchor, or enroll one of the many hikers loitering about to clean up this piece of litter.
The final anchor is a stump in a crack. Rig your rappel carefully. Drop the rope. The rappel is about 250 feet down an almost-vertical wall, then about 200 feet free to the ground.
We tend to move the rope about 10 feet between rappellers, to change the rub spots. On a long rappel like this, it helps to block against a small pulley like the Petzl Oscillante, to make the pull somewhat easier.
About half-way down the big rappel, just before it goes free to the ground, there is a tiny ledge with a single bolt, sign that Royce Trappier had come this way before.
Pull the rope and pack up. Boulder-hop down the delightful watercourse until close to the East Rim Trail. Follow game tracks over to the paved trail, leaving as little sign of your passage as possible.
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PDF Canyon GuideA printable canyon description |
Zion: CanyoneeringHave all Zion's classic canyons This adventure is not in the book. |
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Detailed Route MapsClick on any map to browse a larger view, |
Author's Experience
I first descended End of Hidden in 2006 with Roger and Steven Arhart, and others. We placed one bolt for the second-to-last rappel. It was so much fun, I returned on June 10, 2007 to do it again, but have not done it since.
Exterior Links
Trip Reports
End of Hidden Canyon, 6/20/07 - Dan Ransom helps Tom wrap up Bakefest 2007.