We rate our canyoneering trips based on physical difficulty. The Mail Slot is a loop hike and requires some uphill hiking, and the two rappels in the slot are a step up in difficulty from the first two of the day. There are places where we’ll use our hands and feet for progress and your guide will coach you through a few obstacles. This canyon also offers the opportunity to use different techniques such as downclimbing, using a handline and “chimneying” (your feet on one wall, your back on the other). The hiking here is doable for anyone that is reasonably fit, but it is more adventurous than your run of the mill hiking trail.

The term “canyoneering” basically refers to exploring canyons, though it is most commonly used to describe canyon hikes in which ropes and basic climbing skills are occasionally required to completely get through the canyon. These canyons are called “technical canyons” due to the special skills and equipment required. Moab Canyoneering features big rappels and wide open canyons, while going further afield to Hanksville, we encounter true slot canyons. Typically, canyoneers will hike down, or “descend” a canyon since it’s often easier to rappel down the canyon’s steep drops than to climb up them. Once we’ve negotiated the canyon’s technical challenges, an easier side canyon – sometimes with its own unique set of obstacles – is then hiked up in order to get back to the start. Rappelling is necessary in every canyon that Desert Highlights visits.

The beauty of all this is that canyoneering skills allow people to venture into places out of reach from regularly equipped hikers. As a result, canyoneers frequently find themselves in the lesser visited – and oftentimes more beautiful – parts of a canyon.

During a Moab canyoneering trip, we travel over terrain throughout the duration of the trip. We are hiking, scrambling (easy climbing) and using techniques like down-climbing and rappelling to navigate through an area that is otherwise inaccessible. Moab rock climbing tours are more focused on simply climbing. We visit one area (called a “crag”) where your guide will set up a rope high on the cliff (called a “top-rope) that will be used to protect you from a fall (called “belay”) while you’re climbing up to the anchor. Once you’ve arrived at the top, you will be lowered back down to the ground and repeat on another route at the same cliff.

Mail Slot feels wilder and more remote than most routes. You’ll experience bigger rappels, fewer people, and one of the narrowest true slot sections in the area. It’s the kind of place where the scenery shifts dramatically throughout the day, from wide-open desert views to tight sandstone corridors where the walls tower above you.

This is one of the more physically and mentally engaging canyons. The rappels are bigger, the day is longer, and the exit hike is steeper than many other routes. It’s a great fit for adventurous beginners with strong fitness or anyone looking to step things up from an entry-level canyoneering experience.

Yes—if you’re up for a challenge. Your guide will teach you everything you need to know and manage all technical systems for safety. You’ll have backup support on every rappel, but this trip does require a willingness to push outside your comfort zone.

The first two rappels are big and dramatic, with sections where you’ll be fully on rope and off the wall. It’s an incredible feeling—more exhilarating than scary for most—but definitely more committing than smaller canyon descents.

This is where the canyon really shines. The walls close in tightly, and you’ll move through narrow passages using techniques like chimneying and stemming. It’s playful, physical, and feels like exploring a hidden world that very few people ever see.

Probably not. One of the best parts of Mail Slot is how quiet it is. It’s common to spend the entire day in the canyon without seeing another group.

For most people, it’s the combination of the longer duration and the hike out. After a full day of rappelling and navigating the canyon, you’ll finish with a steady climb out that requires some energy, but the views and sense of accomplishment make it worth it.

Usually no, or only minimally. Unlike some other canyons in the area, Mail Slot is typically dry, though conditions can vary slightly depending on recent weather.

It can be, for the right person. If you’re active, comfortable with heights, and excited by a bigger challenge, this is an incredible introduction. If you’re unsure, starting with a slightly easier canyon first can help build confidence.