East Zion Adventures
The broadest canyoneering menu in the area, spanning six canyons from a two hour taster to an eight hour advanced day, all on land outside the park boundary.
- Canyons offered
- Six, from intro to advanced
- Price range
- $89 to $219
- Trip length
- 2 to 8 hours
- Location
- Outside the park boundary
Who this outfit actually suits
If canyoneering is what you came for, this is the deepest menu near Zion. Six canyons spanning genuine beginner terrain up to an eight hour advanced day, which means a family and a fit pair of experienced descenders can both be served by the same company.
They are also refreshingly direct about location. Their own material states that there is no canyoneering in Zion National Park and that they take you to neighbouring slot canyons instead. That phrasing is loose, because there is a great deal of canyoneering inside Zion, but what there is none of is guided canyoneering. The substance is right and they say it before you pay, which most marketplace listings do not.
The practical consequence is the drive. Trips run from the east side, roughly forty minutes from Springdale over the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway. That is a spectacular drive and a genuinely early start from a Springdale hotel.
Trips, gear and prices
From the operator’s own published material at the time of writing. Rates change with season and group size, so confirm when you book.
| Canyon | From | Time out | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Creek Canyon | $89 | 4 hr | Beginner Marked best for groups |
| Rock Drop Canyon | $149 | 4 hr | Mild |
| Coral Sands Canyon | $149 | 5 hr | Intermediate |
| Elkheart Canyon | $169 | 4 hr | Beginner Marked best seller |
| Powell’s Way | $219 | 7 hr | Intermediate to rugged |
| Stone Hollow Canyon | $219 | 7 hr | Advanced |
All prices are “from” rates and vary with group size. Note that the cheapest trip on the list is not the shortest, so compare on hours rather than headline price.
What they are permitted to do
Listed on the park’s published authorization roster for commercially guided hiking inside Zion.
Their canyoneering, however, runs outside the park boundary, and it has to. Technical canyoneering is not an authorized commercial category inside Zion at all, so no company anywhere holds a permit to guide The Subway, Pine Creek, Mystery or Keyhole. Those are open only to self guided parties holding a park permit.
That is not a limitation of this company. It applies to every operator equally, and the rock on the east side is the same Navajo sandstone. Full explanation on the canyoneering page.
Worth asking about
Minimum ages, per canyon
Age limits vary by canyon rather than being a single company policy. Confirm for the specific trip rather than assuming from a general statement, especially for the shorter beginner canyons.
Meeting point and the drive
Trips run on the east side, about forty minutes from Springdale over the tunnel and the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway. Confirm the meeting point and build the drive into your start time.
If this is not the right fit
Set on The Subway or Mystery Canyon? No guide can take you. The route is a skills course followed by a permit application. Zion Adventure Company teaches courses in Springdale.
Want to stay on the Springdale side? Several Springdale companies run canyoneering west of the park instead. See the canyoneering comparison.
Want water rather than rock? The Narrows is the other signature Zion experience and needs no permit self guided.
Common questions about East Zion Adventures
Does East Zion Adventures guide canyoneering inside Zion National Park?
No, and neither does anyone else. Technical canyoneering is not an authorized commercial category inside the park. Their trips run on land outside the boundary, on the same Navajo sandstone.
How much are their canyoneering trips?
From $89 for a four hour beginner canyon up to $219 for a seven hour advanced day. All are starting rates that vary with group size.
Which canyon should a first timer pick?
Their beginner options include Hidden Creek at four hours and Elkheart, which they mark as their best seller. Hidden Creek is marked as best for groups.
How far is it from Springdale?
Roughly forty minutes on the east side, over the Zion to Mount Carmel Highway and through the tunnel. Build that into an early start.
Is there a minimum age?
Age limits vary by canyon rather than being one company wide policy. Confirm for the specific trip you want.
Book direct with East Zion Adventures
We do not sell trips and we take no commission. This link goes straight to the operator.
Compare across companies on guided trips, or read how this site works.
Six canyons from $89. All outside the park boundary, like every guided canyoneering trip near Zion.
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