Moab Canyons - MMI, Lost and Found, Lomatium, Krill, Rimshot, The Pickle, Looking Glass Arch, Wilson Arch

Canyons and Climbing in Moab, UT

November 8-11, 2025

Justin, Hazel, and I headed out for a multi-day desert adventure that we won't soon forget. We spent our first two days canyoneering with our friends Daniel and Talena, who drove down from Salt Lake to meet up with us.

Our canyon crew, Daniel, Justin, Talena, Hazel and Laura

We met up at the trailhead, in the remote northeast corner of Arches National Park, and headed for MMI, a canyon we had not previously done. Despite being relatively short, it had some fun rappels and interesting rock formations.

Laura and Hazel rappelling in MMI

We opted for the climbers exit in hopes of making it to Lost and Found Canyon as well before heading into Moab for dinner. The exit is notoriously exposed and slabby. Daniel was a rockstar, he climbed across the slab first and dropped a rope down for the rest of us. He later mentioned that he’s had two different friends take falls on that exact exit, making us extra grateful for his steady lead and the safety line!

Hazel and Talena hiking toward the climbers exit

After reaching the rim, we navigated across the desert to the head of Lost and Found Canyon with it's famous rappel through the arch. Hazel really enjoyed showing Talena how quickly she could move through the skinny sections and showed her how good she was at stemming. Daniel found a giant bird nest and posed for a picture as a bird and Justin intentionally short-rigged the rope on one of the rappels so Daniel could convert it to lowering him from mid-rappel (maybe he just wanted to freak out the novice canyoneers that were taking a break at the bottom).

Daniel and Justin enjoying the views while waiting for the party in front of us

Hazel showing Talena how fast she could maneuver through the skinny section.

Hazel being a goofball in Lost and Found

Daniel and Talena were incredibly gracious and patient with Hazel; in fact, Talena quickly became Hazel’s best friend on the trip! Hazel spent most of the weekend chatting her ear off, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed pace and fantastic conversations.

Hazel and her best friend Talena relaxing in the sun

On Sunday, we headed into the stunning, labyrinth-like Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. We descended Lomatium and Krill canyons.

The crew exploring the Firey Furnace

Hazel chatting Talena's ear off while Daniel and Justin rig the rappel in Lomatium

Hazel had an absolute blast "hangdogging" on the rappels, perfectly content to hang out in her harness mid-air. We revisited Skull Arch, which Hazel had renamed to Sunglasses Arch the last time we were there. She stuck with her name and it was referred to as Sunglasses by everyone on the trip.

Laura and Hazel "hang dogging" in Lomatium canyon

The route to the top of Krill is more technical and exposed than much of the canyon and the rappel into the belly of the whale is always impressive. It's worth adding on that extra adventure if you have time.

Working our way back up canyon to find the entrance to Krill

Is this the way to Krill?

Justin and Hazel rappelling into the Belly of the Whale

When we made our way out of the Firey Furnace, Daniel and Talena headed back to Salt Lake and Justin, Hazel and I got dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Moab.

Looking back into the belly as Talena rappels from above

On Monday, we checked off a few of the smaller things that we had just never made it to either due to poor weather or lack of priority. Despite being relatively short adventures individually, doing them all in one day ended up being a bit of an epic linkup.

Hazel and Laura gearing up for the climb up Wilson Arch

First up was Wilson Arch. Wilson Arch is located south of Moab right along Hwy 191. It's huge; the hole measures about 90'x50' and you can count on an audience when people see you rappelling through the eye from the highway. The climb is easy with a rating of 5.4; it ascends three distinct steps with significant exposure. You really only do the climb for the rappel, which is mostly free hanging. Hazel's had tons of fun and wanted to do it again, but instead, we headed toward the nearby Looking Glass Rock.

Hazel and Laura rappelling off the Wilson Arch

Hazel having fun in the desert

By the time we got to the Looking Glass, there was already a crowd. We got to the base of the climb just as the group before us was heading up; what luck!

Hazel starting up the Looking Glass Rock

Hazel and Laura rappelling from the top of Looking Glass Rock

We climbed efficiently and enjoyed another long, free hanging rappel through an arch. Someone had a highline set up next to us and we enjoyed watching them bounce and balance. The group that had climbed ahead of us had let us rappel before them because they wanted to set up the rope swing from the rappel anchors. We hung out for a while to watch and enjoy the desert shenanigans. Between the high-liners, the rope-swingers and the arch viewers, it was a regular desert party.

Justin checking out the view through the looking glass

The highliners above the rope swingers

After all of that, we debated for a few minutes, and ultimately decided to head for Rim Shot. Despite being considered a canyoneering route, there is nothing canyon-y about it. It starts with a slog up the Moab Rim trail, gaining over 1,200' in just a mile. Then a stroll across some slickrock, followed by a series of significant rappels straight off the Moab Rim down to the Colorado River.

Slickrock hike over to the edge trying to find the rappel for Rim Shot

Justin and Hazel on one of the Rim Shot rappels

Laura and Hazel on one of the Rim Shot rappels

Having done thousands of rappels and rarely being fazed by any of them, this route definitely got my attention. A couple of these rappels were hair-raising. I'm not sure whether it was the extreme exposure, the multiple extensions of webbing attached together, the difficult starts, the bouncy rope, or the very long free hangs, but it required full attention.

Justin and Hazel on one of the final rappels on Rim Shot

Before hitting the road on Tuesday, Justin really wanted to climb The Pickle, a distinct formation sitting right at the entrance to Arches National Park. The route is a classic bolt-ladder aid climb with a short, spicy 5.7 section right at the top. Justin led, while I followed.

Justin climbing the Pickle

Hazel working on her Junior Ranger book

Justin on the Pickle

Justin rappelling off The Pickle

Hazel stepped into a new role as our official event photographer, shooting some amazing photos of us from the ground below. She also completed the entire Arches Junior Ranger program.