This is a reservation / permit route. So be sure to plan ahead and obtain your reservation before making the long trip to Zion's Park. Some walk-in permits are available, but this is risky depending on the time of year. You can go to ReservationsAndPermits for more information.

The best and easiest way to get to Mystery Canyon is from the Weeping Rock shuttle bus stop. Hope you're ready for a long hike to the top, because it's coming. We're talking a 2100+ foot change in elevation. This is one long steep hike, so don't bring the house. Pack only what you need and get an early start in the hot summer.

We give this route a +++ for navigation. The reason is because finding the top entry to Mystery Canyon is critical and can be a bit difficult. Many teams have inadvertently gone down the wrong adjacent canyon(s) ending up in real difficulty. We're talking rescue here. This is not a mistake you want to make. Be sure of your map and / or GPS skills before heading to the top.

You will want to start out early in morning, especially during the hot summer months. This is one hot and dry hike to the top. See Maps/Charts page for trail and route details, including waypoints. By-the-way, when you get to the Observation Point side trail to the left, you may want to take the time (if you have it) and trip out to the point (1/3 mile) for an incredible view of Zion Canyon. This is about a 45 minute detour, so plan accordingly.

The view of Mystery Canyon from the top is exhilarating. This is a good place to take off the packs and enjoy a well deserved break from the long ascent. Throw down some Power Bars and fluids and get ready for fun.

To begin your descent of the canyon you will need to locate the distinct trail which is just East of the zenith of the canyon. Carefully work your way down the steep and loose dirt slope. Be sure to keep to the trails and water fall line. Take your time on this part of the descent, this area is not know as "The Death Gully" for no reason.

At the end of The Death Gully you will encounter a large boulder and your first rappel. The anchor for this rap is a bolt on the top of the boulder. You will rap through a chimney below that is not recommended for down climbing.

Once you descend the top of the canyon you encounter many short drops and loose dirt / rock areas. Most of these can be avoided by looking for alternative routes around them. For inexperienced down climbers, you may want to consider a sequencing rappel to safely get them to the bottom.

As you continue down the canyon you will eventually encounter a slot to the left. This is a narrow with numerable raps from fixed anchors. Have fun here. This is a slow area due to roping and unroping from all the rap anchors. It would be good to have a short rope for this part of the route, a 130 ft (40m) rope will do just fine for a double rap retrievable system.

The last rappel in this section is into a round pothole. From here the canyon opens up to the full sun and is very hot in the summer months. This is a good place to take a break and relax before continuing down canyon.

Time to move on. As the canyon opens up, you will see the real grandeur of this magnificent chasm. Continuing down you will encounter a few scramble areas and a large sand pile. The sand pile is a slide that blocks the canyon. Climb the slide to the left and eventually over the top and to the other side. Cautiously traverse a sandy ledge and down climb back into the canyon.

The next obstacle is a steep slab with a 50' rap. Be sure to follow the water line. The canyon will narrow and some welcome shade from the hot sun is enjoyed. There are a few water pools here that you can work around. As you move on, you will will come to a slot at the top of Mystery Springs. Traverse left a few feet and work down to a lower pothole.

On the adjacent slab you will find a single bolt near the edge. Be careful here, this is exposed and not for the inexperienced. The rap is 110 feet down a slot into a deep pool. You will want to secure your delicates in dry bags before descending. An option is setting up a zip line to ferry the gear down. When pulling your rope, be sure to avoid it falling on the boulder in the slot above and getting stuck.

Continue down the canyon where you will wade through a waist deep pool and eventually come to a boulder. Getting around the boulder can be a little tricky. You can do this via a chimney on the right or rap off a tree. However, if the pool is full (about 8 feet deep with a sandy bottom) just jump. Take caution here. No need to get hurt.

The final rappel is a little further down canyon and is a good one. It is a 120 foot drop, with slick footing, down Mystery Falls into the Narrows. You will want to show your best stuff here, as those transiting the Narrows will watch you descend in all your canyoneering glory.

Slog down the Narrows to The Veranda, enter through the gate and walk to the paved trail to the Temple of Sinawava. Catch the shuttle back to your finish.

Wasn't that fun?! Let's do it again. Game on!