Behunin Canyon
Big, open, and sunny — nine rappels down slickrock to a 165-foot free-hanger above the Emerald Pools. The danger here isn't swims or squeezes; it's rigging the long rappels so your rope actually pulls.
Behunin is the anti-Pine-Creek: not a tight dark narrows but a large, bright technical amble of slickrock, open views, and big free-hanging rappels. It's loved or hated for exactly that. The work is a long ~2,700-foot approach climb followed by nine rappels — several of them long enough that a sloppy anchor or a rope hung up on the pull becomes the real hazard. It ends with a 165-foot drop into the Emerald Pools cirque, in full view of the day-hiking crowd.
Quick stats
- ACA rating
- 3B III
- Distance
- 6.5 mi
- Time
- 6–10 hrs
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Rappels
- 9, to 165 ft
- Rope
- ~200 ft
- Wetsuit
- Sometimes
- Permit
- Required · max 6
- Best months
- May, June, July, August, September, October
The descent
Rappels. 9 rappels (All sources agree on 9 major rappels (R1–R9).), longest ~165 ft. Mostly fixed anchors, but many chances to rig poorly and get a stuck rope. Have the last person pull-test before descending into the slot; walk back from the lip for the easiest pull. R9 (165 ft / 50 m) drops into the Emerald Pools cirque; R8 (~148 ft) drops into a slot.
Water & swims. A few pools, water often avoidable; no mandatory swims noted.
Potholes. No notorious keeper potholes reported.
Downclimbs. Slickrock downclimbing sections between rappels.
Obstacles. Big free-hanging rappels; stuck-rope risk; long approach climb.
Gear. Rope ~200 ft (Driven by the 165 ft finale; primary sources don't print a length. Community practice is a 200 ft rope, or 300 ft to rappel double-strand and retrieve on the big drops. Verify locally.). Wetsuit: sometimes. Wetsuit not required in warm/hot temps (Road Trip Ryan); advisable in cold weather (Tom Jones).
Permits & access
Permit required. National Park Service — Zion National Park. System: reservation / daily-lottery. Fee: $6 non-refundable application/reservation fee + $10 per person recreation fee. Max group size 6. Advance calendar reservations or the daily last-minute lottery (Behunin is not on the seasonal lottery). Max group size 6. Pick up in person at the Wilderness Desk. Verify current rules and the flash-flood forecast before you go.
Shuttle. No car shuttle — effectively a loop within Zion Canyon. Start at the Grotto; finish near Zion Lodge / Emerald Pools. Use the free park shuttle bus (March–October) to reach the Grotto.
Approach. A big uphill approach (~2,700 ft gain) precedes the descent — this is the crux of the day for most parties.
Trailhead. The Grotto Trailhead — Park shuttle stop; start of the approach climb.
Park shuttle required to reach the Grotto March–October.
When to go
Late spring through fall. Flash-flood risk is high — do not enter with storms in the forecast.
Safety & hazards
Stuck rope / poor anchor rigging (high). The standout hazard: long free-hanging rappels where a hung-up rope or a badly rigged anchor is a serious problem. Pull-test and walk back from the lip.
Big free-hanging rappels (high). Rappels to 165 ft with exposed, committing drops.
Flash flooding (high). Flash-flood risk is high; do not enter with storms in the forecast.
Long strenuous day (moderate). Roughly 2,700 ft of approach climbing before the technical descent even begins.
Sources & beta
Canyon conditions, permit rules, and flows change — verify against the current source and forecast before you commit.
- Behunin Canyon — Road Trip Ryan: 9 rappels, 165 ft finale, stuck-rope/rope-pull cautions, distance, flash-flood rating.
- Behunin — CanyoneeringUSA (Tom Jones): 3B III, 'not a place to teach beginners', group size 6, wetsuit guidance.
- Behunin Canyon — RopeWiki: Distance, elevation, rappel breakdown, group size 6.
- Zion canyoneering permits — NPS: Permit systems, fees, pickup.
Nearby routes
- Pine Creek — Zion National Park
- Mystery Canyon — Zion National Park