Off Rope in Birch Canyon
Canyoneering in Utah with Zion Mountain School
We felt small suspended between towering canyon walls from a 200-foot rope locked into caribeners. Only a sliver of sunlight passing through the narrow geologic gap was visible.
As we descended, fluid curves etched along the soft sandstone walls revealed evidence of ancient sand dunes. The swirling patterns represent the shifting winds that reshaped the dunes now frozen in time. The cross-bedded slot canyon is the evolving art of fast-flowing water–flash floods. Dangling in mid air, we descended further.
To explore Birch Canyon, just outside Zion National Park in Utah, ropes are necessary to descend the short and tall drops.
Climber Steffan Gregory, who is a guide for Zion Mountain School, said that work never feels like work, as we repelled downward, deeper into the canyon. With each twist and turn, we discovered more beauty in the variation of color and dynamic rock sculpture. Here are some photos from our adventure.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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