Grotto Canyon

Stave Springs Trailhead / Parking

Stave Springs Trail - Approach

Deertrap Mountain Trail - Approach

Leave Trail
Here at the western end of a wide open meadow like area the trail begins to pass into taller bushes and also starts to gradually climb. To go to Grotto Canyon; walk to where the trail begins to have bushes on both sides; then veer right and leave the trail and travel northwest about 400 feet to Grotto Canyon. As you walk over to Grotto there will be some vegetation to wander through to get to where you can scramble down into the canyon. Depending on your route over to the canyon you may scramble in right at the head of the canyon or scramble down in on the RDC side as we did. Note: Just past this spot are some logs placed across the trail to serve as stairs. If you are going to Grotto Canyon; leave the trail just before getting to the first log / stair. If you are continuing to Snotto; stay on the trail which will begin to get more steep and have more closely spaced logs / stairs across the trail. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Grotto Canyon - Approach

Grotto Canyon - Descent

Downclimb of about 10 feet with lots of loose chossy rock. Or you can bypass down a slope on the LDC side. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Drop of about 20 feet that would be sketchy to downclimb. Reverse back up canyon about 40 feet to where you can scramble up on the LDC side to bypass the drop then down a dirt slope. (Data by bluugnome.com)

A steep section that would be sketchy to downclimb. Bypass on the LDC side and make your way down a very long dirt slope. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Rap 1 - Grotto Canyon. Anchored RDC from a tree and drops about 75 feet down an almost vertical rock and log filled slope. At the bottom of the rap is a slot about 3 feet wide for about 50 feet before it widens out again. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Series of about 5 easy scrambles / downclimbs spread along about 500 feet of canyon after rap 1. The downclimbs / scrambles range from 5 to 12 feet each. (Data by bluugnome.com)

At the end of a flat sandy area the watercourse turns sharp left and drops down through a sandstone slot. To get to rap 2; scramble down through the sandstone slot for about 50 feet before getting to a very large drop then exit the slot and scramble up the RDC side to a small tree for an anchor. Note: If the sandstone slot is full of water and you wish to avoid that water; it is possible to bypass the slot by going up and over on the RDC side then work your way down a steep dirt slope to the anchor for rap 2. The steep dirt hill can be difficult to downclimb and an optional rappel may be a good idea. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Rap 2 - Grotto Canyon. Anchored RDC from a small tree near the bottom of a sloped sandstone slot and drops about 205 feet to the canyon floor. There is a ledge about 80 or 90 feet up from the bottom with a huge boulder and some trees which would allow you to break this rappel up into two shorter raps. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Rap 3 - Grotto Canyon. Anchored RDC from a tree and drops about 80 feet. The 400 feet of canyon after rap 3 has multiple downclimbs ranging fro 5 to 12 feet each. As the downclimb section ends the floor becomes sandy just before getting to where a large side canyon (I call it Not Grotto Canyon) joins in high up on the LDC side. (Data by bluugnome.com)

jNotGrotto
Side canyon (I call it Not Grotto Canyon) joins in on the LDC side from higher up the canyon wall. Down canyon of Not Grotto Canyon the floor is mostly flat and sandy with a few easy downclimbs of 5 to 8 feet each. As you walk the section of canyon below here you may notice a small arch about 50 feet up from the floor but I forget which side it is on. For more scenic value look back up canyon to see the division between the Grotto Canyon and Not Grotto Canyon which looks like a huge monolith from this angle. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Rap 4 - Grotto Canyon. Anchored LDC from a small tree about 20 feet back and drops about 80 feet to more flat sandy canyon floor. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Drop in the canyon at the top of a slot. Bypass LDC then follow dirt slopes and a few ledges to scramble for a ways back down to the canyon floor. After the bypass is a mix of sandy walking and light scrambling over short drops. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Top of a steeply sloped slot that can be downclimbed in 2 stages with moderately difficulty. Just after is another downclimb of about 15 feet that is more challenging and may require a partner assist for some. Optionally this drop could be rappelled but partner assisting works well. Next is flat sandy floor to walk for a little bit. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Drop into a slot that can be bypassed up and over LDC which turns to a fin to downclimb off of back to the canyon floor. Next is more sandy wash walking with a couple sloped sections to scramble down. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Raps 5 - 6 - Grotto Canyon. Rap 5 anchored LDC from 2 bolted hangers and drops about 75 feet over log debris in a narrow slot. If there is water in the canyon the pool below could be waist to chest deep. The first person will need to get wet but can easily use the rope to pull everyone else past the water. Rap 6 is near the bottom of rap 5; is anchored LDC from 1 piton; 1 bolted hanger and 1 climbers nut and drops about 200 feet. From the top of rap 6 are great views out to the Zion Valley. At the bottom of the rap is a 20 foot long pool in a narrow slot that can be about waist deep. The pool can be stemmed and scrambled over with some effort to avoid the water. After the pool is a short sandy spot that ends abruptly at the next rappel. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Raps 7 - 8 - Grotto Canyon. Rap 7 anchored LDC from one bolted hanger and one piton. and drops 50 feet down to a ledge. Rap 8 at the bottom of rap 7 anchored from 2 bolted hangers and drops about 220 feet down into a deep slot. At the bottom of rap 8 walk a few feet over to a ledge over looking the final drop. Note: Snotto Canyon drops down from the ledge on the LDC side here then uses the same final rappel as Grotto Canyon. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Rap 9 - Grotto Canyon. Anchored from 2 bolted hangers and drops about 260 feet over an alcove / hanging garden area with the majority of the rappel being free hanging. It is possible to get off rope about 15 feet higher on the sloped side wall of the alcove to make the rap a little shorter. (Data by bluugnome.com)

Grotto Canyon - Exit

Grotto Shuttle Stop / Parking

Weeping Rock Shuttle Stop

East Rim Trail - Indefinitely Closed
Due to a massive rock fall in 2019 this portion of trail has been closed indefinitely. It may be decades--if ever--before it is open again. Consequently, it is not currently possible to use this section of trail as either approach or exit.

East Rim Trail - Alternate Approach
This section of trail is open, but because the lower portion of the West Rim Trail is closed it renders using this alternative approach not currently possible