Zig Zag Canyon

A maze of sandstone fins with huge rappels and unparalleled views!

All tours are private - just your group and your guide!

Departure

6:00 AM, 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM, depending on season

We can often be flexible with our departure times. Please call or email us to inquire about alternate start times.

Duration

5 - 7 hours

Tour Highlights

• Physical Difficulty: Moderate
• Technical Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Minimum Age: We suggest a minimum age of 11 for Zig Zag Canyon trips. Exceptions are sometimes made, so please give us a call or shoot us an email to discuss your options.
• Rappels: 3 - (30ft/9m, 40ft/12m, 220ft/60m)
• Climbing: The approach to Zig Zag requires climbing up a 700ft/213m gully. There are a couple of short, easy fifth class sections of near vertical rock within the gully, sometimes requiring the use of a rope for a belay and/or handline
• Total Distance: 3mi/5km
• Total Ascent/Descent: 836ft/255m

Tour Description

Zig Zag Canyon is a winding, circuitous loop hike that has us gaining and then losing several hundred feet of elevation spread out over three miles of exploration. Like most Desert Highlights trips, this is an original route that we have developed in response to the increasing difficulty of getting away from the crowds and immersing oneself in sandstone majesty. We travel through amazing terrain that has not been seen by many, and we end the day with a spectacular 220-foot rappel that is sure to leave you feeling proud, accomplished and full of bragging rights!