Behunin Canyon

Beta for Behunin Canyon in Zion National Park

Duration

6.5

- 10 hrs.

Rating

3

Technical Class Indicates the technicality of the terrain and the tyoe of rope work require.

1 - 

Canyon Hiking Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.

2 - 

Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.

3 - 

Intermediate Canyoneering Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope is required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.

4 - 

Advanced Canyoneering Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrollean traverse, or guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors. Rappels longer than 200 feet will usually earn a canyon a Class 4 rating.

B

Water Rating indicates complications due to flowing or still water, under normal conditions.

A - 

Normally dry or with very little water. Wading to waist deep at most.

B - 

Water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls are normally dry or running at a trickle. Swimming expected.

C - 

Water with strong current. Waterfalls. Wet canyon rope techniques required.

III

Time or Grade indicates the length of the adventure.

I - 

Short. A couple of hours.

II - 

Requires about a half day.

III - 

Normally requires most of a day.

IV - 

Expected to take a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp. Possible bivy.

V - 

More than one day. Normally done in two days.

VI - 

Two full days or more.

Additional Risk Rating indicates the presence of more risk factors than might be expected.

No Rating - 

Normal risk factors are present on this adventure.

R - 

One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgment required. Not appropriate for beginners, even with competent leadership.

X - 

Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgment will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should be attempted by expert canyoneers only. This is the least-well-established part of the rating system, and the most subjective. Use by beta-providers varies widely, to the point that this part of the rating means very little.

Longest Rappel

170 ft

Number of Rappels

9

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: Springdale

Approaches:

Approach Icon

First Rappel:

First Rappel Icon

Last Rappel:

Last Rappel Icon

Exits:

Exit Icon

Calculate time for your adventure

Select your approach, exit, and any shuttles in order to calcualte an estimated time

1. Approaches:

2. Canyon Time:

5 hour(s).

3. Exit Time:

4. Shuttle Times / Other:

Zion Shuttle (Visitor's Center to Grotto)

20 mins

After parking at the visitor’s center, you must hop on the Zion Shuttle to reach the Grotto shuttle stop.

Zion Shuttle Return (Zion Lodge to Visitor's Center)

15 mins

Take the Zion Shuttle from the Zion Lodge shuttle stop back to the visitor’s center to return to your car.

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Behunin Canyon

Behunin Canyon Rappels

- 9 rappels

Top of Rappel 1, Behunin Canyon

Rappel 1

Length: 100 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Coordinates: 37.272004,-112.968590

Rappel 1 AnchorAnchor Icon

There are bolted chains along a skinny ledge on the sloped rock. The picture here shows the skinny ledge (just above the small bush in the middle part of the pic) on the sloped rock you need to walk out on to reach the anchor. The chains are just around the curve on the sloped rock.


Overview

This rappel is down a slabby section. From the bottom, traverse straight over to the large pine tree where the anchor station for the second rapper is located.



Top of rappel 2 in Behunin

Rappel 2

Length: 100 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 2 AnchorAnchor Icon

This slabby rappel is anchored from a large pine tree.


Overview

This is another slopey rappel If you rappel all the way down to the large pine tree where the third rappel is anchored, the length will be 150 ft. If you choose to rappel the shorter 100 ft. distance, you will have to walk down RDC where it is less steep, and then traverse over to the pine tree.



Bottom of Rappel 4, Behunin Canyon

Rappel 3

Length: 160 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 3 AnchorAnchor Icon

Rappel 3 is anchored off of a large pine tree with webbing at the edge of the rappel.


Overview

About 1 mile down Behunin Canyon, the canyon will take a hard left and open up quite a bit. Following the watercourse will lead you to a couple of potholes. The first rappel is above and to the left of these potholes out of the watercourse on the sloped slabs.



Bottom of Rappel 4, Behunin Canyon

Rappel 4

Length: 100 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 4 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored from bolted chains RDC.


Overview

This rappel is right at the bottom of Rappel 3 and drops you to the canyon floor. At the bottom, follow the sandy wash, passing a neat alcove RDC before getting to the next rap.

Tips

A single 200 ft. rope is barely enough to reach the bottom.



Bottom of Rappel 5 Behunin Canyon

Rappel 5

Length: 75 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 5 AnchorAnchor Icon

RDC there are bolted chains on the sloped section of rock.


Overview

This fun rappel drops you down to a sandy corridor that is a stunning example of Zion's beauty.



View of Behunin during rappel 6

Rappel 6

Length: 55 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 6 AnchorAnchor Icon

Just up to the right of the watercourse, scramble up to where there is webbing slung around a sturdy tree that provides the anchor for this rappel.


Overview

This rappel will drop you into a pool that can be a swimmer depending on the time of year and recent weather conditions. Expect to get wet at least up to your ankles even during the summer months.



Looking down rappel 7 in Behunin

Rappel 7

Length: 95 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-stage

Rappel 7 AnchorAnchor Icon

There is a set of bolted hangars RDC with webbing. These anchors are a couple of minutes' walk from the previous rappel.


Overview

The first stage drops you down the watercourse to a small, but fairly deep pothole. Go around the pothole and continue down the second stage of the rappel. There will be water at the bottom of this rappel in a small pool. After Rappel 7, there is a small shelf around the corner that you will have to shuffle across to avoid getting wet.



Top of Rappel 8, Behunin Canyon

Rappel 8

Length: 115 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Rappel 8 AnchorAnchor Icon

There are two bolted hangers with webbing RDC in the watercourse after a short downclimb.


Overview

On this rappel, you will go down a series of steep drops. The bottom of the rappel is the larger landing at the bottom.

Tips

Perform the rope pull from the big landing. The last person down should make sure to place the rope as best as they can for the smoothest pull.



Top of Rappel 9, Behunin Canyon

Rappel 9

Length: 170 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Coordinates: 37.259847,-112.962164

Rappel 9 AnchorAnchor Icon

There are two anchors. There is a set of chains with 4 bolted hangers that you can hook up your personal anchor to, in order to reach around the corner where the actual rappel anchor is located. The actual rappel anchor is from 2 bolted hangers with webbing.


Overview

From Rappel 8 stay LDC and drop down into the small, narrow slot. This slot will bring you to the anchors for Rappel 9. This rappel is the longest (170 ft.) of the day and is very scenic as you can look out to the Zion main canyon. The rappel is down the main watercourse and is partially free-hanging.