Came in from East Mesa. Would have taken about 4 hours but I lost my cell phone and we spent about an hour looking for it. Luckily some canyoneers turned it in a few days later!
My group used the time estimate in Tom Jones' guide to Zion -- definitely plan on the longer ~10 hours if you hike uphill from Weeping Rock. Leave early -- we left Weeping Rock at 9:45am and made it out at dusk.
Bring belay gloves -- not just for the belays, but also for Death Gully. We would have ripped up our hands on plants + rocks without them.
mike_lindacher - Nov 11, 2013 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2013
mystery
i'm in no way a pro, but our group never noticed this canyon as being over-bolted? perhaps they've been removed.
Heard soo much talk about this canyon so I finally finally had to do it. It is a pretty canyon, but I had pretty high expectations going into it. It is definitely not my favorite Zion canyon or canyon on the Colorado plateau like it is for some. It is pretty and worth doing though. Like Scott said, it is way over bolted. From what I saw, not one of the bolts in the canyon is necessary. Oh well
Survived an epic in this one, when we got our ropes stuck and of course didn't bring ascenders. Climbing partner forgot his headlamp. I lowered him into the narrows with an emergency rope not knowing how far the last drop was in the dark. He had hypothermia and wasn't prepared for fall conditions. Came 2 minutes from spooning with him. Called off search and rescue upon arriving to the car.
patascent - Sep 7, 2010 3:37 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2002
Still my favorite
More than eight years have passed since I did this canyon and it is still my all time favorite. We did it before the permit system was in place and it was my 1st experience rapping into the water. The rap into the Virgin River was hilarious because people on the ground started clapping...a little strange but memorable.
blueshade - Jun 26, 2010 2:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2010
Mystery Canyon
A number of shorter raps can easily be downclimbed, possibly the most fun part of this canyon besides the last rap. Not as pretty as some but definitely nice.
Loved every facet of the route: the hike up and out, the descent down in, the slots, crossing of the lake, the raps into the pools, the wet rap into the Virgin, and wading out to see strangers who did not have as cool of visit to Zion as us who have solved the mystery.
Day Hiker - Jul 3, 2009 4:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2009
Mystery Canyon
With Rick Kent and Seahorse. The loose crap on the downhill part of the approach really sucked, but everything else was great.
jamesmh - Nov 26, 2008 2:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2008
Mystery Canyon
A very fun and scenic canyon which I thoroughly enjoyed. We must have hit it during a dry spell; didn't have a bit of water until Mystery Springs. After that it was a little chilly, but not too bad. Doing the final rap to the light of headlamps was fantastic.
LaMusa - Jun 26, 2008 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
Mystery Canyon
This was my first canyoneering experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must say that the hardest part for me was the climb down into the canyon through Death Gully. I hated that part! The rest was amazing!
madsjim - Jun 9, 2008 3:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
Fun
Really Fun. I really enjoyed the dunk into Mystery Springs, cold and invigorating! Nothing overly difficult and a fun romp for a day.
bobeck - Dec 18, 2007 3:45 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2007
Many times..
Did it with Tanya this last time.
tanya - Nov 30, 2007 1:41 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2007
Mystery Canyon
Beautiful canyon and was lucky enough to avoid the cold swim. ;)
Rice Climber - Aug 6, 2007 8:48 pm Date Climbed: Nov 24, 2006
Mystery Canyon
A perfect way to spend Thanksgiving weekend... heading down Mystery Canyon!
John Styrnol - Jun 12, 2007 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2003
Mystery
Done this canyon around 4-5 times during different times of the year, a classic.
mountaingazelle - Jun 12, 2007 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2003
Mystery Canyon
Did Mystery Canyon during a WMC canyoneering trip. We did two other canyons in the same weekend.
Eleutheros - Sep 23, 2016 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2015
Beautiful First Zion CanyonOne of the best... perfect day. Sweet slide/rap into the Narrows.
awhite28 - Jul 8, 2016 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2016
MysteryCame in from East Mesa. Would have taken about 4 hours but I lost my cell phone and we spent about an hour looking for it. Luckily some canyoneers turned it in a few days later!
Atrain13gm - Sep 5, 2015 11:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2015
10hrs+My group used the time estimate in Tom Jones' guide to Zion -- definitely plan on the longer ~10 hours if you hike uphill from Weeping Rock. Leave early -- we left Weeping Rock at 9:45am and made it out at dusk.
Bring belay gloves -- not just for the belays, but also for Death Gully. We would have ripped up our hands on plants + rocks without them.
mike_lindacher - Nov 11, 2013 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2013
mysteryi'm in no way a pro, but our group never noticed this canyon as being over-bolted? perhaps they've been removed.
s_tuning@msn.com - Jan 19, 2013 4:08 pm
MysteryBeautiful canyon. Rap into the spring is fantastic.
Alex Wood - Jun 24, 2012 7:43 pm
At LastHeard soo much talk about this canyon so I finally finally had to do it. It is a pretty canyon, but I had pretty high expectations going into it. It is definitely not my favorite Zion canyon or canyon on the Colorado plateau like it is for some. It is pretty and worth doing though. Like Scott said, it is way over bolted. From what I saw, not one of the bolts in the canyon is necessary. Oh well
GregHaz - Apr 25, 2011 3:26 pm
Love the end!!My favorite day of that whole trip. Make sure you keep your focus on the slippery rock at the last rappel with the crowd watching.
With Steve Ramras, Dave Pitney, Josh Huffman,Frank(?) and 2 others.
americanswiss - Mar 8, 2011 1:15 am
MysterySurvived an epic in this one, when we got our ropes stuck and of course didn't bring ascenders. Climbing partner forgot his headlamp. I lowered him into the narrows with an emergency rope not knowing how far the last drop was in the dark. He had hypothermia and wasn't prepared for fall conditions. Came 2 minutes from spooning with him. Called off search and rescue upon arriving to the car.
patascent - Sep 7, 2010 3:37 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2002
Still my favoriteMore than eight years have passed since I did this canyon and it is still my all time favorite. We did it before the permit system was in place and it was my 1st experience rapping into the water. The rap into the Virgin River was hilarious because people on the ground started clapping...a little strange but memorable.
blueshade - Jun 26, 2010 2:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2010
Mystery CanyonA number of shorter raps can easily be downclimbed, possibly the most fun part of this canyon besides the last rap. Not as pretty as some but definitely nice.
junoiceclimber - Mar 26, 2010 2:33 am
Mystery SolvedLoved every facet of the route: the hike up and out, the descent down in, the slots, crossing of the lake, the raps into the pools, the wet rap into the Virgin, and wading out to see strangers who did not have as cool of visit to Zion as us who have solved the mystery.
Day Hiker - Jul 3, 2009 4:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2009
Mystery CanyonWith Rick Kent and Seahorse. The loose crap on the downhill part of the approach really sucked, but everything else was great.
jamesmh - Nov 26, 2008 2:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2008
Mystery CanyonA very fun and scenic canyon which I thoroughly enjoyed. We must have hit it during a dry spell; didn't have a bit of water until Mystery Springs. After that it was a little chilly, but not too bad. Doing the final rap to the light of headlamps was fantastic.
LaMusa - Jun 26, 2008 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
Mystery CanyonThis was my first canyoneering experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must say that the hardest part for me was the climb down into the canyon through Death Gully. I hated that part! The rest was amazing!
madsjim - Jun 9, 2008 3:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
FunReally Fun. I really enjoyed the dunk into Mystery Springs, cold and invigorating! Nothing overly difficult and a fun romp for a day.
bobeck - Dec 18, 2007 3:45 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2007
Many times..Did it with Tanya this last time.
tanya - Nov 30, 2007 1:41 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2007
Mystery CanyonBeautiful canyon and was lucky enough to avoid the cold swim. ;)
Rice Climber - Aug 6, 2007 8:48 pm Date Climbed: Nov 24, 2006
Mystery CanyonA perfect way to spend Thanksgiving weekend... heading down Mystery Canyon!
John Styrnol - Jun 12, 2007 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2003
MysteryDone this canyon around 4-5 times during different times of the year, a classic.
mountaingazelle - Jun 12, 2007 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2003
Mystery CanyonDid Mystery Canyon during a WMC canyoneering trip. We did two other canyons in the same weekend.