Snake Alley and Sidewinder
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| | Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 I) Raps:3-5?
Red Tape: Shuttle:None | |||
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| Condition Reports: | 7 Dec 2025
"There are lots of rappel options along this canyon. Its more so a choose-your-own adventure sort of experience. You can start from either sides of |
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37.3078, -113.1101
37.3108, -113.1090
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Introduction
Good spot to just explore the area and the multitude of mini slot canyons, acting as a "Choose your own Descent" adventure.
Approach
In the parking lot, there is a BLM map showing the paths to the climbing routes. The canyons are not labelled, but were easy to find. Plenty of other rappel routes that maybe aren't canyons, but are plenty of fun and good practice!
After less than 10 minutes of walking, you'll come up to different slots, which will end up as your exits for whichever route you choose. Continue right and up, passing some climbing routes until you reach an anchor (possibly more starting anchors elsewhere, go explore!).
Descent
- R1: 70ft off bolts
- R2: 60ft off chains ldc
This is where we found multiple paths (we took variation A down after exploring variation B), where the canyon comes to a junction, with the drainage going mainly left (variation A), but a side trail following straight ahead and slightly up (variation B).
Variation A
- R3a: 30 ft off bolt rdc, where the canyon walls makes a 90 degree turn is where the rappel ends. You can continue squeezing down until the slot opens up.
- R4a: 30 ft ldc, scramble up a bit to get to the anchor. From here, you can see chains on the right side below an overhang (possible variation, not explored).
Variation B
- R3b: We went up to the anchor but chose to try a different route down, possible 80-100ft rappel or maybe a short rappel to a 4th anchor that is longer. This ends at the same spot as the bottom of R4a.
Before R4b you can see some bolts going up a crack and a canyoneering anchor above the bolts and to the left (looking towards the right wall). The crack was 5.7ish climbing, and you can traverse across to the upper anchor for a new variation, but this was not explored by our group.
Exit
Whether you chose variation A or B, continue through the short squeeze slot to the exit, and hike back to the parking lot.
Red tape
Beta sites
Super Amazing Map : Snake alley and Sidewinder- ZionCanyoneering.com : Snake Alley and Sidewinder