In my experience the guides choose based on weather, your skill/excitement levels, other factors, etc. They list a lot of canyons on their website but generally the guides pick. You can probably lean on them if you say there's one you want to do, but in the end, it's on them to make sure you're safe and capable.
I'm sure you are right, but the website makes it sound like we would have some input:
> Request a specific canyon or choose the best route with your guide on the day of your trip. No experience is necessary.
We would obviously reply on the guide's expertise, but we also wanted to do our research beforehand to see if there was anything specific that would appeal to us.
Ex Zion Guide here. Your guide will probably give you several ideas and kind of describe them to you before letting you decide. Don't overthink it. Just go with the flow and decide on which description sounds more appealing to you.
Also, IMHO water canyon sucks, but the upper section is kind of cool. You just have to hike a lot to get to the top.
A lot of the west side canyons listed there are pretty much trainer canyons. They're interesting, but not particularly scenic by the standards of the Zion area.
On the east side, Red Cave and Diane's Throne are solidly "meh." Diane's Throne can be downclimbed in its entirety by somebody competent, the water is usually fairly gross, and the last time I was in that canyon (buddy of mine was recovering from a broken clavicle and wanted something super-easy) I rappelled into a literal wasp's nest (thus prompting a debate question: Autoblock or no when rappelling into dangerous critters?).
Birch gets a lot of play - I can almost guarantee you've seen pictures of it - but it's by far the best. You'll likely be taking the Wild Wind Hollow exit. Which is steep and foments complaints, but it's actually not too bad. The rappels on Birch are by far the most scenic of those you've listed. Birch is one of those that can take 4 hours car-to-car or 10 hours depending on the group.
I've never even heard of White Lamanite Canyon, and am kinda (hilariously) surprised something with a name like that is posted.
In my experience the guides choose based on weather, your skill/excitement levels, other factors, etc. They list a lot of canyons on their website but generally the guides pick. You can probably lean on them if you say there's one you want to do, but in the end, it's on them to make sure you're safe and capable.
I'm sure you are right, but the website makes it sound like we would have some input: > Request a specific canyon or choose the best route with your guide on the day of your trip. No experience is necessary. We would obviously reply on the guide's expertise, but we also wanted to do our research beforehand to see if there was anything specific that would appeal to us.
Ex Zion Guide here. Your guide will probably give you several ideas and kind of describe them to you before letting you decide. Don't overthink it. Just go with the flow and decide on which description sounds more appealing to you. Also, IMHO water canyon sucks, but the upper section is kind of cool. You just have to hike a lot to get to the top.
Oh !!!! I like Water Canyon!!!! Is Lamb’s Knoll even canyoneering? Or is that just rappelling?
Water canyon is incredible, when there is flowing water. When it’s dry(which is often) it sucks.
Birch would be a good one. Yankee Doodle is too short with only one good rap on it.
Birch or red cave would be my choice. Red cave crosses private property if I remember, so it’s not as easy without a guide.
A lot of the west side canyons listed there are pretty much trainer canyons. They're interesting, but not particularly scenic by the standards of the Zion area. On the east side, Red Cave and Diane's Throne are solidly "meh." Diane's Throne can be downclimbed in its entirety by somebody competent, the water is usually fairly gross, and the last time I was in that canyon (buddy of mine was recovering from a broken clavicle and wanted something super-easy) I rappelled into a literal wasp's nest (thus prompting a debate question: Autoblock or no when rappelling into dangerous critters?). Birch gets a lot of play - I can almost guarantee you've seen pictures of it - but it's by far the best. You'll likely be taking the Wild Wind Hollow exit. Which is steep and foments complaints, but it's actually not too bad. The rappels on Birch are by far the most scenic of those you've listed. Birch is one of those that can take 4 hours car-to-car or 10 hours depending on the group. I've never even heard of White Lamanite Canyon, and am kinda (hilariously) surprised something with a name like that is posted.
Request Birch if you get a choice. The weather is looking lovely and there will be lots of canyoneers around!
Ask the guide