Water Canyon Scottsdale: Rappel & Waterfall Jumps

You rappel into a deep pool at the end, not the beginning.

Water Canyon Adventure is a six-hour guided activity in Payson, Arizona, where you hike, swim, rock hop and rappel through a high country canyon. Starting at 7am from Payson, you navigate a pine forest, wade through canyon streams, jump into pools, slide down natural waterslides, and finish with a technical rappel over a 40-foot waterfall into the pool below. A professional guide, all technical gear, pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day canyon adventure tour

• Meet guide at Payson, AZ at 7AM
• Drive along Mogollon Rim with wildlife viewing
• Buckle helmet and start cross-country hike
• Navigate pine forest to canyon bottom
• Swim and rock hop through canyon
• Slide, jump, down climb, and rappel obstacles
• Rappel down 40ft waterfall into pool
• Continue full body exercise cross-country
• Return by shuttle to Payson

The experience

What makes this different from a typical canyon hike is the climbing and rappelling: you're not just walking through water, you're solving the canyon itself. The route starts easy (a drive along the Mogollon Rim with views of high country mountains and wildlife), but once you leave the van and head cross-country through a pine forest, the terrain becomes your puzzle. You'll wade, rock hop, swim under waterfalls, leap into deep pools, and slide down natural waterslides as the canyon dictates your path forward.

The six-hour day builds toward the rappel. As your group reaches the edge of a waterfall with nowhere to go but down, you gear up with a helmet and harness for the technical descent into the deep pool below. The guide manages the rope work and safety. You manage the commitment. After the rappel, the adventure continues cross-country until you leave the water behind entirely and hike back to the shuttle for the drive back to Payson.

You'll need real physical fitness for this one. The canyon demands it: constant climbing, swimming, and scrambling over wet rock. The group stays small, capped at ten people, so the guide can watch everyone and adjust the route if needed. Pickup happens at 7am in Payson. The whole day, including the drive back, takes six hours.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from the meeting point in Payson.
• professional guide for the full six hours.
• all technical gear including helmet and harness.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 10 Apr 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Physically demanding

Operated by Adventure On Purpose

Is this one for you?Groups of up to ten work best here because the guide can keep everyone in sight on the canyon route and adjust the day if someone needs a different pace. This is a full-body workout disguised as an adventure. If you're comfortable being wet, cold and physically exhausted by the end, you'll love it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What's the water like in Water Canyon during the tour?

You're swimming and wading through canyon streams the entire time, jumping into pools and sliding down natural waterslides. The water is cold and moving, which is why the route includes rock hopping and careful footing. The rocks are slippery. The rappel at the end drops you into a deep pool below a waterfall.

Do I need climbing or rappelling experience to do this?

No prior experience is required. The guide handles the technical setup and manages the rope for the 40-foot rappel. What you need is a high level of physical fitness and comfort being in the water and on wet rock for six hours straight.

What wildlife might we see on the drive to the canyon?

The Mogollon Rim drive offers chances to spot antelope, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, turkey, black bear, and Mexican gray wolves. Keep your eyes open during the drive. Sightings depend on the day and the season.

What happens if the group is too small to run the tour?

The operator requires a minimum number of passengers to confirm. If that minimum is not met after you book, you'll be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.