Private Canyoneering in Moab: Rappel & Swim

Rappel and swim through a water-carved canyon most people never reach

A private half-day canyoneering tour in Moab where you rappel, scramble and wade through a technical desert canyon that Desert Highlights' founder pioneered in the late 1990s. Your guide provides all gear, transportation from town and instruction—the tour runs 4 to 6 hours and includes a 15-foot rappel, an optional 90-foot rappel, and a swim through chilly water in the finale. Closed-toe shoes and moderate fitness required; bring water and food for the duration.

The Experience

The guide meets you at Desert Highlights in Moab and outfits you with harness, helmet, gloves and all technical gear before driving your group to the canyon entrance. From there, you hike, climb, scramble and shimmy through red rock carved by water over millennia—terrain that stays inaccessible without ropes and instruction. The canyon includes a 15-foot rappel early on and an optional 90-foot drop later, so you control how far you push. Your guide literally shows you the ropes, ensuring safe technique and teaching you to descend on your own.

The finale involves wading or swimming through chilly water as the canyon narrows—refreshing in summer heat, though it means this route only runs in the hottest months. The whole descent takes 4 to 6 hours depending on your group's pace and how much time you spend learning each rappel. You'll learn about the geology, flora and fauna of the area as you move through it, not as a lecture but as the landscape itself explains why it formed this way.

A private tour means your guide tailors the pace and attention to your group alone. Beginners and experienced canyoneers both book this route—the guide adjusts instruction and challenge to match what you bring. Transportation is included, so you don't need a car or directions; the guide handles the logistics and you show up ready to descend.

What’s included

• Transportation to and from the canyon start.
• professional guide in English.
• all canyoneering gear including harness, helmet and gloves.
• personalized instruction on rappelling and canyon movement.
• private tour with your group alone.

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Desert Highlights

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Moab without a car or don't know where the technical canyons are—the guide handles the drive and knows the route his founder created, so you skip the research and logistics and show up ready to descend.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the 15-foot and 90-foot rappels?

The 15-foot rappel is the technical introduction early in the canyon—you learn the setup and technique here with your guide coaching every step. The 90-foot rappel comes later and is optional, so you can choose to skip it if you want to keep the day shorter or if the height feels like too much once you're on the rock.

Do I need canyoneering experience to book this tour?

No. The tour suits both beginners and experienced canyoneers. Your guide teaches you everything you need to know to descend safely, starting with the fundamentals on the 15-foot drop and building from there.

How cold is the water at the end, and do I have to swim?

The water is chilly enough that the canyon only runs comfortably in the hottest months of the year. You will wade through it and the finale includes a swim, so bring a change of clothes or plan to dry out afterward. Closed-toe shoes stay on the whole time.

What should I bring besides the gear the guide provides?

Bring 1 to 2 liters of water per person and enough food to stay fueled for 4 to 6 hours of active climbing and rappelling. Closed-toe shoes are required for the entire tour. A change of clothes helps after the water section.

How does the guide get me from Moab to the canyon?

The guide picks you up at Desert Highlights in Moab and drives your group to the canyon entrance, so you don't need a car or navigation. After the tour, the guide drives you back to town.

What fitness level do I need?

Moderate physical fitness is required. You'll be climbing, scrambling, rappelling and moving through the canyon for 4 to 6 hours, so stamina and basic strength matter—but the guide adjusts the pace to your group and teaches you the technical skills as you go.