Good places for beginners

[cwyso475]

I've done about 3 trips (2 years ago) with experienced people, where is a good place for a couple of beginners to go out on their own? we want to be able to practice the basics without getting in over heads.
Thanks!

[thafen]

That seems like the hard part, where do you live? There are a few practice places around St George, but they should not be taken lightly either. Take an experienced person with you even to practice as that can also be dangerous. The best thing to do is take the basic class from the ACA, then the technical that is a good start for most of the canyons in Zion.

[Dwayne27]

Do you mean a good area for beginner canyons, or an area to just practice some rope work and rappelling?

[Kirk]

At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I suggest that in the absence of more experienced people tagging along, only non-technical canyons are appropriate for beginners. This is more than hiking with ropes - "small" mistakes at the wrong time can lead to serious injuries and/or death. We'd love to see you keep coming back for more with a sparkle in your eye and a spring in your step, so please keep taking more training and go out with competent, experienced folks. If you are in Utah or California, there's plenty of folks who should be willing to take you along.

For non-canyon practice, fences, trees, local outdoor climbing areas are all great tools. Please have safety uppermost in your mind, and be thoughtful and careful. We've lost a couple people in "beginner leading beginner" situations and hope to keep that as small as possible as the years go by.

Be safe as you have fun!

[kodiak66]

Are there any good newbie canyons near the Salt Lake area? I am pretty new to the sport and have some friends getting me into it. I know about some places like the San Rafael Swell and Zion, but I'm curious if there is anything closer to SLC. thanks

[Seth]

I agree that you need to take someone experienced with you but a few good places are, Rocky Mouth Canyon and Parley's Canyon.
Rocky Mouth Canyon
look it up on Climb-utah.com
It is an extremely short canyon with just one rapel and one down climb. But it still is a canyon with even year round water flowing in it. I believe in the spring you have to rapel the down climb because of the flow from snow runoff. It is located in Sandy.
Parley's Canyon
Great Rappelling wall.
from foot hill or i-80 drive south on 215, take first exit 33rd south and turn left, after crossing over the freeway make an immediate left again then drive a few blocks until it dead ends into a parking lot. There will be trails to the east and just follow the ones that go up and keep you close to the highway (I-80) About 200 yards up there will be a shake and just before that to your left (north) will be an outcropping of rocks and there you will find a 100 vertical wall with chains bolted into the rocks. This is a popular spot for climbers. Right next to that is a little rock face were you can rapel 15 feet, and I would recommend there for practice. My 5 year old likes doing that wall.
Again have experience or someone experienced with you before doing anything like this. Talk to me on a sunnyday and I'll be there. You can even email me at seth.craig@utah.edu