Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park

Downclimbing. Photo: John Gums

LOGISTICS
Rating	3B I
Season	Spring, summer or fall - Keyhole is almost always fun, but of course changes season to season.
Time Commitment	1 to 2 hours
Longest Rappel	30 feet (10 m)
Access	One vehicle required
Permit	REQUIRED. Group size limit 12.
Emergency	Zion Wilderness Desk: 435-772-0170 Zion EMERGENCY: 435-772-3322
EQUIPMENT
Essentials	Helmets, rappelling gear, webbing and rapid links
Cold Water   Protection	Wetsuits recommended, even in summer.
Drinking Water	None
DIFFICULTIES
Flash Flood Risk	Low. The collection zone is small, and the canyon short. But it does flash big at times, so don't get caught in there!
Skills Required	Awkward 1st rappel, cold water
Anchors	Bolted anchors

 

SEASONAL ADJUSTMENTS

Spring - Sometimes means melting snow and flowing water through the canyon. Rappels may be flowing and some downclimbs become a little to a lot harder. And of course, the water is very COLD!

Summer and Fall - Usually a good time for Keyhole. Be careful of late summer thunderstorms and expect stagnant, smelly water with frogs and varying degrees of decaying plants if it has not rained in a while.

Winter - Can be really fun in Keyhole. Be very prepared for ice, ice, and more ice! Icy canyon floor and sides makes for a harder descent, as well as VERY cold temperatures.

At Night - For competent parties, Keyhole is a great, fun night-canyon. Be sure to get your permit before the Backcountry Desk closes, and plan on taking 2-3 hours. Extra light sources advised. Turning ALL the lights out can be fun too, used selectively.

Driving

Keyhole is a small canyon north of Highway 9, just west of Pt 5538 on the Springdale East quadrangle. It is 2.1 miles west of the East Entrance, or 1.9 miles east of the small tunnel. Park where the drainage crosses the road.

Approach

The narrow nature of the canyon makes carrying a pack difficult, so bring a minimum of gear. Walk east on the road 1/4 mile and around the corner, then cut left and climb slabs in a beautiful slickrock bowl to a pass at the top. The pass is distinctive, as it has a nice Hoodoo right in the center. Cut left of the Hoodoo and descend a steep gully on the other side to the canyon bottom. Total approach about 15 minutes.

Please be certain you are on the correct approach trail. The Park has been concerned about erosion in this area. Canyoneers and the Park have identified the best approach, hardened the preferred route and restored the eroded areas next to the route. Please do your part and STAY ON THE TRAIL.

Descend the canyon. The first section requires a little downclimbing and some wading up to waist deep, before coming out into the open. This section is called "Middle Keyhole".

A little further, the fun resumes. The broad, sandy watercourse feeds into a narrow slot on the left, and drops 15 feet to the edge of a pool. This is "Lower Keyhole". Rappel from the bolt anchor into the darkness. Clever rappellers can swing around to a shelf to land on, out of the water, but you still have to swim the pool.

A short distance downcanyon, the second drop can be rappelled by throwing a rope over an overhead log, or by downclimbing with care. The third drop is rappelled from a bolt. The fourth drop can be rappelled from a single, suspect bolt on the right, or downclimbed to a ledge, then down a crack in a slab to the edge of a pool. Put away the ropes and get ready to swim.

The canyon continues with deep, dark, twisty and very cool narrows. Downclimbs are interspersed with walking sections until the dreaded "slanted corridor" is reached. A slot is downclimbed (very dark, headlamp helpful) to the start of the long, slanted corridor. Swim the corridor, then wade and swim the following pools to attain the delightful heat of the full sun at the end. Traipse downcanyon to the road.

Short and sweet. Your car should be about 50 yards ahead of the end of the canyon. To minimize impact, walk through the tunnel under the road and ascend the slickrock slab on the other side.

PDF Canyon Guide A printable canyon description and map you can take with you.

Zion: Canyoneering Have all Zion's classic canyons in one convenient book.

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Keyhole Canyon

Detailed Route Maps Click on any map to browse a larger view, then right-click to save and print.

Author's Experience

I first did Keyhole about 2000, and have done it about ten times since, including at night - which is way cool!

 

Exterior Links

Trip Reports

Keyhole Canyon, 6/23/07 - Felicia and the girls enjoy a romp through Keyhole Canyon on a hot summer day. They ditched the wetsuits, but they should have kept the helmets.
Keyhole Canyon, 7/21/08 - Doug French and friends warm-up in Keyhole Canyon as they prepare for a full week of canyoneering in Zion National Park.
Keyhole Canyon, 10/21/08 - Kevin Swanson solos Keyhole and finds quite a surprise left by Mother Nature - Yuck!
Keyhole Canyon, January 2011 - Sarah Stratton and her friends from Nashville complete a January descent of an icy Keyhole Canyon.

Stories

Descents by Dennis Turville - Canyon Tales

Alternative Descriptions

Todd Martin, Keyhole Canyon
Chris Brennen, Keyhole Canyon

• Keyhole approach Keyhole approach
• Hike the slickrock Hike the slickrock
• Wonderful views Wonderful views
• Middle Keyhole Middle Keyhole
• Variable conditions Variable conditions
• Reflection Reflection
• Wading in Middle Wading in Middle
• First rap First rap
• First rap 2nd First rap 2nd
• First rap 3rd First rap 3rd
• Big logs! Big logs!
• Handline downclimb Handline downclimb
• A final rap A final rap
• In the depths In the depths
• One last swim One last swim
• A final cold swim A final cold swim
• Exit from Keyhole Exit from Keyhole
• Warm sun! Warm sun!
• Locals Locals
•