Canyoneering in Blue John Canyon

This trip can be done many different ways, but the best and most popular way is the "marathon". This can be done in one day – a full day hike is highly recommended in order to see as much of this beautiful scenery as possible. The "marathon" includes the entire stretch of the 11 mile Blue John Canyon, in addition to a 5 mile hike out of Horseshoe Canyon.

Start about a half mile south of Burr Pass and head east for 1.5 miles – you should be able to orient yourself easily with your map and GPS device. You then head into 11 miles of on-and-off canyoneering, and finish with a five mile hike out of Horseshoe Canyon. The oldest petroglyphs in the United States can be seen on the canyon walls when exiting Horseshoe Canyon. You will want to have a pick-up vehicle located at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead, since that is where your day will end.

Note: If you are claustrophobic, canyoneering may not be for you, as parts of this canyon get extremely tight. It is also important that you are fit and in shape in order to fit through these narrow sections.