Canyon Name: Behunin Canyon
Class: 4B III
Gear: WCCM layers, 3 – 165′ ropes, 60′ webbing, 8 rappel rings, dry bags, headlamp, self-rescue gear. Permits from the Zion N.P. Visitors Center. Please note the longest rappel in bold below and the rope lengths mentioned above serve as the WCCM rule of thumb of bringing 3 times the longest rappel of rope into any canyon route.
Expected Time Commitment: For a solid team, car to car 5-9 hours
Technical Obstacles: Multi-pitch style rappel, route finding to the established anchor points, plenty of anchor building challenges, stuck ropes are common, awkward starts.
Non Technical Obstacles: Possible swims and deep wades, popular crowded route, route finding for the head of the canyon. (if you go to far you will end up in Heaps canyons which is in significantly more difficult with a 300+’ final rappel and pothole escapes. Don”t miss your start for Behunin! If in doubt, don’t drop in!
Recommended Time of Year: Year round with certain conditions such as excessive snow, heat, or threat of Flash Floods.
Finding the Trailhead: Start at the Grotto shuttle stop and follow the West Rim / Angeles Landing trail.
The Approach: Start at the Grotto shuttle stop and follow the West Rim / Angeles Landing trail. up to the top of Scout Lookout Ridge. Hang a left (North) and follow the West Rim trail past Telephone canyon crossing the giant slabs of Mount Majestic. The trail works into a steep walled North facing canyon then up to a “pass”. The West Rim trail continues to the right with several switchbacks complete with cut in steps. Behunin canyon will begin to reveal itself on the West side of the pass. This should take you 2-3 hours climbing over 2000′. total approach length is 3.8 miles. Triple check that you are entering Behunin and haven’t gone to far ending up in Heaps canyon!XX
The Canyon Descent:Drop into Behunin canyon by way of a faint user trail leading “down and canyon right” for about 120′. Cut right and carefully contour across the top of steep slabs then down into the base of a stripped wall and what will be the base of the water course. Follow the watercourse down bypassing brush patches by climbing canyon left. After 45 minutes the canyon banks left from here the narrow slot begins to form.
Rappel 1: 90′ Bolts canyon right 30′ past a tree to a large ledge. there are other options but they require scrambling on loose dirt rappelling off of trees that should be left alone.
Rappel 2: 150′ to a tree near the water course.
Rappel 3: 150′ off the tree which is the base of Rap 2. Do a test pull to ensure that the rope will be retrievable.
Rappel 4: 120′ bolted anchors to the canyon floor.
Hike 1/4 mile
Rappel 5: 90′ bolted anchor 50′ canyon right
Hike 1/4 mile
Rappel 6: Use this anchor: 60′ off log into short swim. Ignore other options by staying in the water course to avoid erosion.
Rappel 7: 80′ past short deep pool. DO NOT climb up and left to access the dirty nasty 2 stage rappel
Scramble down canyon over and under large boulders until you can climb on top a large boulder blocking the end of the canyon. Carefully down climb on the right side of the boulder to a sloping exposed ledge
Rappel 8: 130′ from Pinch point anchors (last person down may wish to pull ropes from a ledge just above the next anchor. Stuck ropes are common here. test pulls and great care will help avoid this).
Down climb into the slot below the rope pulling ledge and under a chockstone where you will find a rats nest of bolts and webbing.
Rappel 9: 165′ Bolts around the corner of the main rats nest of bolts. Add on to your pull rope and get back as far as you can to retrieve your rappel line.
Egress: Bag the gear and boulder hop your way down Middle Emerald Pool trail. Take the trail to the left back to the Grotto parking area.
