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CAC Installs Backcountry Trail Register at Broken Bow Arch Canyon
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CAC Installs Backcountry Trail Register at Broken Bow Arch Canyon

Conservation, General News, Safety

CAC Installs Backcountry Trail Register at Broken Bow Arch Canyon

In December 2025, CAC continued its partnership with the Bureau of Land Management with the installation of a backcountry trail register in Broken Bow Arch Canyon. This joint project to install trail registers with Leave No Trace information and an opportunity for visitors to record their visits without resorting to graffiti in these sensitive backcountry locations is another way the CAC is advocating for continued access by partnering with […]

Ryan Mallon2026-05-30T13:41:21-07:00May 24th, 2026|Categories: Conservation, General News, Safety|

A Message to the Canyoneering Community Regarding COVID-19

Dear CAC members and friends,

The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and impacts us all — in our daily lives, through our family and friends, or by the announcements and news reports coming from around the world. This is the time of year when many of us look forward to trips we have been planning for months, and the feelings of awe and gratitude we experience in our National Parks and public […]

Rick Demarest2020-03-28T07:52:06-07:00March 28th, 2020|Categories: Access, General News, Newsletter, Safety|Tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, SAR|

Capitol Reef Pilot Canyoneering Permit System

Capitol Reef National Park will begin a pilot mandatory Canyoneering Permit System starting January 1, 2020. Permits will be free of charge and require self-registration located at the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center or online on the park website. These permits will be required for all canyoneering and climbing activities within the park.

Capitol Reef National Park staff have observed a […]

Rick Demarest2019-12-16T14:17:59-08:00December 16th, 2019|Categories: Access, Education, Safety|Tags: capitolreef, permits|

Seven Teacups Canyon Signage

The CAC has been working with the Forest Service to develop signage for Seven Teacups Canyon near Kernville in Southern California.

Seven Teacups is a popular route for local canyoneers offering beautiful jumps, rappels, and slides. However, canyon information is sometimes posted on popular news sites (e.g., “Swimming Holes of California”), leading to an influx of inexperienced visitors. In high water during the spring, Teacups can be dangerous and crossing the […]

Rick Demarest2019-12-01T20:29:48-08:00November 7th, 2019|Categories: Education, General News, Newsletter, Safety|Tags: california, safety, seventeacups, signage|

ICAD Canyon Accident Behunin Zion 08-25-13

Date of Event: 8/25/2013
Canyon involved: Behunin
Region: Utah Zion National Park
Country: USA
Informant: Dave Nally

Source of Information: “Deaths & Rescues in Zion National Park” by Dave Nally

Injuries incurred: Hypothermia, Psychological

Possible causes: Swiftwater, Flash Flood Weather

Description of Event: On August 25, 2013, a group of four canyoneers, barely made it down the final rappel in Behunin, just as the steady rain began to pour down like mad. After the […]

Rick Demarest2019-01-13T17:20:45-08:00January 13th, 2019|Tags: accidents, behunin, canyoneering, utah, zion|

International Canyon Accident Database

International Canyon Accident Database (ICAD)

The Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) is pleased to announce the creation of the
International Canyon Accident Database (ICAD).

Canyoning has been a growing sport for many years worldwide. It is quite popular for tourists who utilize a one-time only guide service. It is also avidly followed by recreational canyoneers who spend most of their free time exploring canyons. It comes as no […]

Rick Demarest2019-01-14T14:51:30-08:00January 10th, 2019|Tags: accidents, canyoneering|

Cassidy Arch Canyon – New Anchor

Capitol Reef National Park

The Coalition of American Canyoneers was asked by Capitol Reef National Park to consult on anchors in Cassidy Arch Canyon. This canyon has seen a tremendous increase in canyoneering activity over the past couple of years. The traditional first anchor was off of a tree above the arch on canyon left. The tree is showing signs of […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-16T13:35:09-08:00July 18th, 2016|Categories: Access, Conservation, Education, Safety|Tags: anchors, capitolreef, cassidyarch|

Capitol Reef

Introduction:

Capitol Reef National Park encompasses nearly a quarter million acres of slickrock and mixed desert terrain over a 100 mile long expanse called the Waterpocket Fold. The monocline layers through which many of the parks canyons travel provide the canyoneer with a unique opportunity to encounter geology in reverse. Elsewhere, canyons in Capitol Reef are a showcase of majestic, soaring red Wingate walls, with their characteristic cracked and pocketed erosional […]

Rick Demarest2023-01-11T17:02:30-08:00June 6th, 2015|

Search and Rescue Poster

As technical canyoneering has become more popular, rescues have unfortunately been increasing. Last August, the Coconino County Sheriff’s and Sedona Fire Department SAR teams pulled off one of the most difficult rescues ever in Insomnia Canyon.

Insomnia Canyon Rescue Keeps Arizona Responders Up All Night by Tom Vines

In an effort to inform the public about canyoneering safety the Coconino County Sheriff’s […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-15T10:45:05-08:00May 23rd, 2013|Categories: Education, Safety|

New NPS Policy Authorizes Fixed Anchors in Wilderness

bolts for canyoneering

Director’s Order #41: Wilderness Stewardship

7.2 Climbing: For the purpose of this Order, climbing is defined to include rock climbing, snow and ice climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, and caving, where climbing equipment, such as ropes and fixed or removable anchors, is generally used to support an ascent or descent. […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-15T12:14:33-08:00May 16th, 2013|Categories: Access, Conservation, Education, Newsletter, Safety|

Board of Directors Retreat • March 22-23, 2013

The meeting was opened by a message from Board President, Wolf Schuster welcoming everyone to the meeting and thanking all of the participants for scheduling time to attend.

The first question raised was: “Why join American Canyoneers?”

• One of the main benefits discussed was the fact that an organized group is better able to access/have conversation with public and private land […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-15T12:32:34-08:00April 17th, 2013|Categories: Access, Administration, Conservation, Education, General News, Newsletter, Safety|

NCRC 2013

NCRC Rescue Training

National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC)

There is quite a bit of overlap between caving and canyoneering. The environment can be almost identical when dealing with slot canyons in Utah. Even though it technically is a canyon, there is no going “up” […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-25T05:14:09-08:00December 23rd, 2012|Categories: Education, General News, Safety|

Grand Canyon NP Technical Canyoneering

Grand Canyon National Park is replete with small tributaries and deep, narrow slot canyons that funnel into the main gorge. Canyoneering into these canyons is a challenging adventure through some of the most rugged and remote terrain Grand Canyon has to offer. Rescues are difficult and sometimes even impossible. While dazzling surprises abound for those with advanced technical skills and a […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-17T09:26:33-08:00December 10th, 2012|Categories: Access, Education, Safety|Tags: anchors, canyoneering, deercreek, grandcanyon|

Canyoneering in Grand Canyon National Park

Introduction:

John Wesley Powell coined the term “canyoneer” on his explorations of the Colorado Plateau in 1869. Today, many Grand Canyon hikers, boaters, and technical Canyoneers use the term “canyoneer” to refer to their activities. Unlike most other canyoneering locations, technical canyoneering in Grand Canyon often requires an expedition mentality. The scale of the place is vast. Access to slot canyons […]

Rick Demarest2018-12-16T12:29:22-08:00December 9th, 2012|Categories: Access, Education, General News, Newsletter, Safety|Tags: canyoneering, grandcanyon|