Canyoneer Rock Canyon, The Barracks, Labyrinth Falls Zion National Park, UT

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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

This really fun route combines the technical Rock Canyon, Parunuweap Canyon's narrow section known as "The Barracks", Labyrinth Falls, and ascends French Canyon. We (Josh, Shawn, Priscilla, David, and I) did this as a backpack, but I've written this trip report as if it were a day hike. I should note that I don't know that my Subaru could have gotten us to the trailhead – Josh has a truck that was able to navigate the sandy roads.

Another note is that although Rock Canyon is a technical descent, you could instead make this route nontechnical. To do so, park at the head of French Canyon and descend the Class 3 route (which we used as our exit) if you don't want to haul canoyneering gear through Rock Canyon. I've marked this on the attached map.

From the trailhead, a social trail led down a short way to the head of Rock Canyon. It's overall an uneventful canyon and in my opinion wouldn't be worth the drive to do on its own. One rappel can be down-climbed and one is short enough just to be an inconvenience. The big 110 foot rappel is really nice, taking us under a grotto and into a wide cathedral-like hallway of sand and canyon walls. Once out of Rock Canyon, we emerged into Parunuweap Canyon and followed it downstream. It's a really nice river walk, with hanging sandstone and lush greenery on the banks. We located French Canyon on the left to prepare for our escape from Parunuweap Canton later, and stashed our packs so we could continue down to Labyrinth Falls unencumbered. Parunuweap Canyon becomes progressively more narrow until it becomes "The Barracks". The river walk is really nice, widening and narrowing many times. There was one small cascade that had a rope, but just requires a Class 3 move to get up/down without the rope. Don't count on the rope being there. Otherwise, we just enjoyed the many cliff jumps, carved rock, and general personality of the place. We passed the outlet of Fat Man's Misery on the right, and then the escape for that canyon farther down. We kept going.

Eventually, we entered the last section, the deepest darkest narrows of the trip. The rocks became really colorful and there were some Class 2/3 obstacles on big boulders. A narrow stream of water carved through the canyon and led to Labyrinth Falls, a truly incredible spot. This was our turn-around point.

Back at French Canyon's mouth, we grabbed our gear and headed through the lush and colorful French Canyon, avoiding poison ivy. We stayed in the sandy wash until a dryfall, where we located a social trail that led first to the right to avoid the cliff, and then crossed on top of the dryfall and up a sandy slope, heading east. A couple of easy Class 3 moves led to the rim, where a social trail brought us up a sandy ridge and small section of slickrock to an old road. There were great views of Zion National Park's east side in the distance. The old road led us to the true forest road we came in on, which we took for a mile or so to get back to the car.

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After a short walk on a social trail through the desert, we got to this slickrock bowl.

Start of Rock Canyon, at the bottom of the slickrock bowl.

First rappel.

Second rappel, Class 3 down climb.

Shot of the down climb or optional rappel.

Looking back at the down climb.

Short section of narrows before the major rappel.

Notable rappel within Rock Canyon, the longest.

Starting down the rappel, gorgeous sheer walls surrounding me.

Halfway down the rappel, looking down-canyon.

Looking back toward the big rappel.

A long slog through sand to exit Rock Canyon.

Final, short rappel.

Rock Canyon ends with a lush section before meeting up with Parunuweap Canyon.

Starting down Parunuweap Canyon.

Lots of pretty canyon walls and lush scenery.

A section of narrows.

We headed down to the junction with French Canyon to leave our things (French Canyon not pictured here).

Continuing onward down Parunuweap Canyon. I recommend bringing webbing for one small waterfall that we weren't expecting.

Incredible cliff.

Shawn on the bottom left for scale.

Looking back at the beautiful cliff.

The fun stuff begins! Cool rock formations and deep pools to play in.

We passed this unexpected small waterfall. Class 3 without the rope in place. There was a little grotto behind the falls that we hung out in for a bit.

Lots more narrows and beautiful scenery.

Passing by Fat Man's Misery Canyon (technical slot) on the right. This is the colorful water at the mouth of the canyon.

I'd say the best of the Barracks starts around Fat Man's Misery.

Parunuweap Canyon enters Zion National Park and the walls become narrow and incredible.

Some fun scrambling on the way to Labyrinth Falls.

More gorgeous narrows.

Colorful rock and cool water-sculpted formations.

Close-up of a cool formation.

Approaching a tight waterway leading to Labyrinth Falls.

Labyrinth Falls.

LAbyrinth Falls, looking back up the canyon.

Labyrinth Falls, the end point of Parunuweap Canyon. Based on terrain maps, it appears Parunuweap Canyon opens up shortly after this anyway.

Close-up of the pretty waterway leading to Labyrinth Falls.

After Labyrinth Falls, we made our way back up Parunuweap Canyon to French Canyon. The lighting up French Canyon was great.

Lush, pretty, and short French Canyon.

Looking back down French Canyon.

The narrow section of French Canyon ended and we came upon a dryfall (center). A social trail led to the right around it and then up the sandy slope you can see just above the dryfall (center).

The social trail led up to the sandy slope (center).

Starting up the sandy slope, looking back down French Canyon.

Looking down into French Canyon on the short Class 3 section to gain the rim.

Once on the rim, a social trail led up.

Looking back into French Canyon on the ascent, Zion National Park in the distance.

Social trail leading over some slickrock and to an old dirt road.

On the old dirt road making our way to the main dirt road we drove in on.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!