Keyhole Canyon (Zion National Park)
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Difficulty:3B I (v3a2 I) Raps:3, max ↨30ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | 27 Apr 2026
"First time running keyhole and I really enjoyed it. Water was clear, clean, and deep from recent rain. First rappel was into a swimmer, multiple other |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Late Spring; Summer; Fall
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_Banner.jpg)
37.2268, -112.9029
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Easy technical canyon perfect for beginners and kids. Usually done in combination of Pine Creek, requires a separate permit.
Approach
You want to be in the sandy wash on the approach. If you take the slickrock on the west side of the wash, there will be more 4-5th class climbing and another optional rappel to get back on route.
Descent
May be done with 2 or 3 rappels.
- R1: 25' Anchored from two bolts LDC.
- R2: 25' into a pool of water. From here, you can continue 10' to the next drop and rappel an additional 30', or you can pull your rope and rerig.
- R3: (Optional) 30' from single bolt RDC
Exit
Note: parking near the take-out wash is limited as of 04/24/26 to about 1 large vehicle or two small vehicles. Parking at the wash that leads to the put-in or start has room for 3-4 vehicles.
If you park at Put-in, when you exit, walk through the tube under the highway and up the Pine Creek wash to your vehicle. This will be safer than walking on the road.
Red tape
Entry to this area may be restricted; check for information regarding permits before attempting this trip
Beta sites
BluuGnome.com : Keyhole Canyon- Chris Brennen's Adventure Hikes (Southwest) : Keyhole Canyon
- RoadTripRyan.com : Keyhole Canyon
- CanyoneeringUSA.com : Keyhole
- Climb-Utah.com : Keyhole Canyon
- CanyonChronicles.com : Keyhole Canyon
- HikeArizona.com : Keyhole Canyon - Zion
Zion Canyoneering Book by Tom Jones : Keyhole Canyon- ToddsHikingGuide.com : Keyhole Canyon
- CanyonCollective.com : Keyhole
- Super Amazing Map : Keyhole Canyon
- AmericanSouthwest.net : Keyhole Canyon
- ZionCanyoneering.com : Keyhole Canyon
Trip reports and media
- Keyhole with full potholes 1 week after fresh rain. April 2026
- Video Keyhole Canyon in Nov. with ice
- Video Mystery Canyon, Pine Creek and Keyhole Canyon
- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.448185216102.228949.669366102&type=1&l=83711ecf8d
- Candition.com : Keyhole
- 6/25/13: Speed Descent: 13mins, 27 seconds. (Car-to-car) setting/cleaning own ropes.
Wikiloc.com : keyhole Canyon - Zion National Park- http://adamhaydock.blogspot.com/2014/09/keyhole-canyon-and-pine-creek-zion.html
- https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/keyhole-canyon-zion
Background
Keyhole is the canyon with the highest single-day kill rate.
Do not enter this canyon if there is a chance of rain in its catchment basin.
On September 14, 2015, seven experienced hikers/canyoneers died in a flash flood in Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park, after 0.63 inches of rain fell in under an hour. The group, composed of friends from California and Nevada, was caught in the narrow slot canyon during a monsoon. Their bodies were recovered over several days, with some found miles downstream.
Key Details of the 2015 Incident: Victims: The hikers, all in their 50s, were identified as Mark MacKenzie, Linda Arthur, Steve Arthur, Gary Favela, Don Teichner, Muku Reynolds, and Robin Brum.
The Event: A sudden thunderstorm between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. triggered a deadly flash flood in the narrow, technical canyon.
Search and Rescue: The group was reported missing on Monday evening, but high water levels and continued rain hampered rescue efforts. All bodies were recovered by Thursday, September 17.
Context: This was one of the deadliest weather-related disasters in Zion National Park's history. The same storm system caused a separate tragedy in Hildale, Utah, where 12 people died in a flooded vehicle.
Safety Warning: While the group obtained a permit, they underestimated the flash flood danger in this 'easy' canyon.