Canyoning

Participants must be able to safely execute a basic rappel without supervision. They should also be familiar with belaying, rope management, and wilderness navigation. Strong swimming skills are essential., Participants must be able to swim in flowing water, handle being splashed in the face, and tolerate full submersion. Comfort navigating slippery rocks and the mobility to climb over and crawl under obstacles are also necessary. One way to gain the required experience is by taking the Mazamas BCEP class.

Prior to class, students must complete V7 Academy Free Canyoning Level 1 course (online).

No previous canyoning experience is required. 

Students are expected to have the following gear: ​

• Full body wetsuit (4/3 or 5/4 thickness if you run cold. No Farmer John wetsuits and shorties)
• Climb-rated helmet
• Quick links x 2 (climb-rated, size 6-8mm)
• 2 locking carabiners
• 15 feet of 1" black climb-spec webbing
• 40+ liter backpack Dry-packs not recommended.
• Dry bags
• Quick-dry synthetic clothing
• Rain shell
• Light hiking boots with decent tread
• Neoprene socks (recommended) and/or wool socks
• Rappel gloves (gardening gloves work well)
• Signal whistle (ex: Fox 40) attached to helmet
   

Canyoning class will loan each student: ​

• Canyoneering harness (range of sizes)
• Canyon-specific rappel device (Imlay Critr3 + locking carabiner)
• Personal protection with 2 lanyards + locking carabiners
• Mechanical ascenders (1 Petzl Kroll + 1 Petzl Basic)
• Figure 8 device + locking carabiner
• Canyon Draw (120cm sling + 2 locking carabiners)
• Footloop (120cm sling)

2026 Tuition

• Member Tuition: $760
• Non-member Tuition: $875

Tuition Assistance and payment plans are available. The application for financial assistance is built into the course application process.

Tuition includes 5 class sessions, a minimum of 2 outtings and a copy of "Canyoning in the Pacific Northwest: A Technical Resource" by Kevin Clark.

Tuition assistance, including payment plans and tuition assistance, is available. Requests for financial assistance are made via the course application and are reviewed by Mazama staff; they will not impact your application review or be seen by program leaders. Though funds are limited, we will do our best to accommodate a wide range of needs.

• Aquatic rappel technique and situational awareness
• Rigging for Rescue
• Single rope technique (SRT)
• Why double strand technique (DRT) can be dangerous in aquatic canyons
• Ascending
• Why ATCs are not recommended in aquatic canyons
• Signals and communication
• Rope blocks
• Retrievable systems
• Canyon hazards
• Appropriate gear and thermal protection
• Introduction to canyon rescue
• Introduction to swiftwater
• Planning a canyon outing
• Leave No Trace (LNT) and canyon ethics

• Teamwork
• Rappelling in flow
• Rappelling in confined spaces and awkward starts
• Releasable rope systems
• Rope management
• Deep water disconnects
• Swimming and dealing with swift water features 
• Cold temperatures (many creeks are cold all year round)
• Bushwhacking 
• Tremendous fun!

Today, canyoning is practiced all over the world, although it is most well established in Europe and the United States. In North America, it's most commonly associated with the famous slot canyons of the Colorado Plateau, although it’s also practiced in the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, Arizona, British Columbia, Mexico, Hawaii, and here in the Cascade Range. With one of the greatest concentrations of waterfalls in the world, canyoning is a natural fit for the Pacific Northwest.

Like climbs, canyons can vary widely in level of difficulty:  ranging from the easy hike-through variety to the extremely technical. Dry canyons are significantly easier in terms of rigging and preparation compared to those with flowing water.  The more water that’s present, the more difficult the canyon becomes.

While there are many similarities between canyoning and climbing, the two are unique sports with unique techniques and hazards.  Experienced climbers may find their skills do not translate entirely to the canyon world; there’s a lot more to learn.