Canyoning for Beginners

Canyoning, also called canyoneering, is descending a canyon or gorge by following the watercourse down, using a mix of walking and scrambling, abseiling (rappelling) down waterfalls, sliding down natural rock chutes, jumping into pools, and swimming through them. It combines elements of climbing, hiking and water sport in a dramatic natural setting. Trips are graded by difficulty, and it ranges from gentle, mostly-walking canyons to serious technical descents that require expert rope skills.

Not for a beginner guided trip. On a guided canyon, qualified guides handle the ropes and abseils, choose an appropriate route, and teach you what you need on the day, so you do not need prior climbing or rope skills. You should be reasonably fit and comfortable in water. Going independently is completely different: that requires proper training in rope work, canyon rescue and flash-flood awareness, and should never be attempted without those skills.

Flash flooding is the greatest danger in canyoning. Heavy rain, even far upstream and out of sight, can send a sudden surge of water through a narrow canyon with little warning, and canyons offer few escape routes, which has caused fatal accidents. This is the main reason to go with a reputable guide who monitors the weather and flood risk and will cancel or alter a trip, and never to enter a canyon without checking the forecast and having the skills to judge the conditions. Cold water and the abseils and jumps are other real hazards.

Operators provide the technical and safety gear: a wetsuit (often thick, for cold canyon water and impact protection), a helmet, a harness for the abseils, and sometimes a buoyancy aid, along with all the ropes and hardware. You bring sturdy, grippy shoes that can get wet and a swimsuit to wear underneath, and sometimes the operator hires out canyoning shoes. Because reputable operators supply the safety-critical equipment, you rarely need to buy anything to try canyoning on a guided trip.

Usually not, on beginner and intermediate guided trips. Many jumps and slides are optional, with the guide offering an alternative such as climbing down or a lower option, so you can take part at your own comfort level. The abseils are generally the way down waterfalls and are done with the guide's rope and instruction. Never feel pressured to jump or slide, and only ever do so exactly where and how the guide directs, since hidden rocks and shallow water make freelancing dangerous.