Conditions:Keyhole Canyon (Zion National Park)-20250528172335

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Latest:

25 May 2025 (7 days ago)

Reported by: BWylie (24 reports)
Quality:

Good
Waterflow:
Very Low
Bar1.png
Wetsuit:
Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time: Time2.png 3 hours Bar2.png

Team: 4 people with experience level Brand new to Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: We spent some amount of time stemming up canyon before starting Keyhole - fun practice! Actual time in Keyhole to car was 1.5hrs. There are some webbing handlines/anchors set far up and the water is just gross enough to motivate climbing moves. At the entrance to Keyhole, there is one relatively brave lizard that ate a lot of bugs 5 feet from us getting ready. Keyhole itself is low water - one swimming disconnect, mostly thigh-high. One spot smells kind of bad near the end of the narrows. The canyon is beautiful. I was happy in a 5/3, a member of the group who runs much warmer was "only a bit colder than preferable" in shorts and a tank top.



All condition reports


Date Quality Waterflow Wetsuit Difficulty Time Team Reported by


Good

Very Low
Bar1.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png

Time2.png 3 hours
Bar2.png
4 people
Brand new to Advanced
BWylie (24 reports)
Comment: We spent some amount of time stemming up canyon before starting Keyhole - fun practice! Actual time in Keyhole to car was 1.5hrs. There are some webbing handlines/anchors set far up and the water is just gross enough to motivate climbing moves. At the entrance to Keyhole, there is one relatively brave lizard that ate a lot of bugs 5 feet from us getting ready. Keyhole itself is low water - one swimming disconnect, mostly thigh-high. One spot smells kind of bad near the end of the narrows. The canyon is beautiful. I was happy in a 5/3, a member of the group who runs much warmer was "only a bit colder than preferable" in shorts and a tank top.




Great

Dry
Bar0.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png

Easy
Bar1.png
Time1.png 2 hours
Bar1.png
2 people
Advanced to Brand new
Treyshoe (33 reports)
Comment: Water was low with the only swimmer being at the bottom of rap 1. Fun day!




Great

Deep pools
Bar1.png

Full wetsuit
Bar3.png

Normal
Bar2.png
Time1.png 1 hour
Bar1.png
6 people
Intermediate to Advanced
Sqshemet (77 reports),Kirbside (98 reports),Epeairs (72 reports)
Comment: Great day in Keyhole! We did an evening Keyhole + Pine Creek as a warm up and gear test for Heaps the next day. Keyhole is always amazing and a good degree of fun movement even for advanced individuals. Time excludes time spent exploring up canyon after dropping down to the wash.




Great

Very Low
Bar1.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png

Normal
Bar2.png
Time2.png 3 hours
Bar2.png
2 people
Beginner to Intermediate
BryceM777 (14 reports)
Comment: The water has definitely gotten smellier this time of year wading through all the cesspools. Nonetheless still a fun, short, and easy canyon. Be cognizant of other canyoneers in the down climb section just before going into the first slot. One of the boys of a family of 6 pushed a really big rock down that almost hit my partner who was finishing her down climb. Fortunately she dodged it. Definitely put on your helmet before starting the down climb. It was a good reminder for me that sometimes the most dangerous part of a canyon isn’t always the technical rappelling section nor is it always your specific groups fault. Be safe and alert out there even in the canyons you think are the most straightforward.




Amazing

Very Low
Bar1.png

None
Bar0.png

Easy
Bar1.png
Time1.png 1 hour
Bar1.png
7 people
Brand new to Expert
Ingalls (28 reports)
Comment: Fun run with a group on a hot day. A little lower than we hoped but had some new canyoneers in tow who had an absolute blast.




Great

Deep pools
Bar1.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png

Special challenges
Bar3.png
Time2.png 4 hours
Bar2.png
4 people
Brand new to Intermediate
BryceM777 (14 reports)
Comment: Keyhole was a very short enjoyable canyon after baking in the 100 deg weather for the hike up. The water was pretty chilly but the 3 out of 4 members that wore 3/2 wetsuits were very comfortable. The deepest the water got was about chest deep in some areas. We took a little longer than most groups running through this due to the experience level and because one of the members thought they lost their wallet after changing out of the wetsuits at the end of the slot. Additionally, one member of our team did not have a wetsuit and definitely shivered during the technical slot section of keyhole. A 3/2 summer suit with no neoprene on the arms and legs also works fine in these current conditions.




Amazing

Deep pools
Bar1.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png

Easy
Bar1.png
Time1.png 2 hours
Bar1.png
2 people
Brand new to Intermediate
Grapefruit (33 reports)
Comment: There were a few swimmers and chest deep wades. We were comfortable in 4/3 wetsuits but that water is cold. No flow.




Amazing

Deep pools
Bar1.png

Full wetsuit
Bar3.png

Easy
Bar1.png
Time1.png 2 hours
Bar1.png
4 people
Advanced to Expert
Bricepollock (39 reports)
Comment: Great run through keyhole. Only real swim was a short launch across gap after first rappel and then the remaining water at the end which is easily bypassed. Lots of fun stemming if you want it.




Great

Deep pools
Bar1.png

Thick wetsuit
Bar4.png

Normal
Bar2.png
Time1.png 1 hour
Bar1.png
6 people
Advanced to Beginner
MRickerd (37 reports)
Comment: BIL procured permits through Zion NP. Did Keyhole and Pine Creek in single day.

First section of canyon we all bypassed getting wet. Second part of canyon the water was very cold, but air temp was pleasant. First time wife and I used our 7mm full wetsuits, but two members of party went without wetsuits. Large pool just before second rap was ice cold. Rigged R2 and R3 simultaneously to keep others out of water for longer than necessary.

It was fun finishing the canyon due to the angle of the slot. Bypassed final long swim to stay warm for Pine Creek. Very fun, short canyon.




Amazing

Deep pools
Bar1.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png

Normal
Bar2.png
Time1.png 1 hour
Bar1.png
2 people
Intermediate to Advanced
Thegazelle (53 reports)
Comment: A good chuck of swimmers. Fun dark slots. A lot more fun than expected. Don’t judge a canyon by its size.




Good

Very Low
Bar1.png

Thin wetsuit
Bar2.png


5 people
Brand new to Intermediate
Itschoice (1 reports)
Comment: Easy canyon with little water. A bit stagnant and stinky. Deer parts added to the experience but would not stop anyone from our group. They can be avoided. Four of the five of us had 3mm wetsuits. The person with no wetsuits said if we had been in the water much longer the cold would have started to bother him.
  • FILE-20230717235553.jpg


  • Great

    Deep pools
    Bar1.png



    3 people
    Intermediate to Advanced
    Sgarnold (5 reports)
    Comment: Great day through the canyon. Few swimming parts for 6 ft tall ppl.

    Currently a pretty fresh dead deer in the first few pools (we think less than a week old). It's easily passed but just a FYI if you have squeamish member(s).




    Good

    Deep pools
    Bar1.png

    None
    Bar0.png

    Easy
    Bar1.png
    Time2.png 3 hours
    Bar2.png
    4 people
    Brand new to Advanced
    Coalemus (160 reports)
    Comment: Woof, waited for several days for the groups in front of us to clear through. They were very slow and loud. Good thing we brought a bottle of Jack and some instruments to kill the time. Had flashed the afternoon before so everything was very full, pretty warm and muddy with tons of debris. Good clean forest duff stew never hurt anybody. With warm air temps and monsoon water, we were fine nekkid. Didn't chill at all. Our noobie got a toe boo-boo trying to emulate our stemming moves. Should survive with treatment.




    Great

    Very Low
    Bar1.png

    None
    Bar0.png

    Easy
    Bar1.png
    Time2.png 3 hours
    Bar2.png
    6 people
    Brand new to Advanced
    Brdn.gonzales (44 reports)
    Comment: Brought three newbies into Keyhole for their first canyon and had a wonderful time. Water level got up to waist high for our shortest member and all the webbing/links looked great.




    Great

    Deep pools
    Bar1.png

    Thin wetsuit
    Bar2.png

    Normal
    Bar2.png
    Time1.png 1 hour
    Bar1.png
    3 people
    Brand new to Advanced
    Kirbside (98 reports)
    Comment: Another great run down Keyhole. Passed a family of 10 who let us use their rope but insisted on harmonizing random Frozen songs while we tried to communicate on rappel. Thankfully we soon distanced ourselves from the would be von Trapps and were able to enjoy this Zion classic.


    ...additional reports