When it comes to technical canyons, you’ll be hard pressed to find one that’s more fun than Waterslides Canyon. Deep in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness, this scenic canyon is like two adventures in one when you run it from top to bottom. The top half features a narrow canyon with towering walls and beautiful waterfalls, while the lower half has sculpted granite with a series of pools, slides, and rappels that create the most incredible natural waterpark.

🪢 This is a technical canyon with a minimum of 8 rappels up to 80 feet and several jumps or slides, some of which can be rappelled, if desired (or to check water depth). You will need one 200-foot rope, plus all the required safety equipment for rappelling and knowledge how to use it. This guide is not intended to provide instruction on how to descend a technical canyon safely.

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Trail Description

I don’t think any canyon was on our to-do list longer than Waterslides. We worried about the long drive, the road conditions, water flow, temperature, and safety conditions. But one fine April day, we were gifted the most perfect conditions with air temperatures in the mid-70s with water still flowing from recent rains.

We left the Phoenix area at 6AM, and after the missing turn-off for the road that goes to the top, we finally started the adventure around 9:30AM. To be honest, the road wasn’t nearly as bad as we imagined it could be (you ever try to drive out to the Parker Canyon exit?), and it is likely passable by a 2WD high clearance vehicle. We didn’t test that theory, since we only had 4×4 vehicles. I’m just saying “probably.”

Once at the top parking area, you’ll follow a Jeep road down toward the canyon. Now, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but turn left at the refrigerator. Say what? There’s some evidence of past habitation in the area, including what might have been a refrigerator. and this is where we cut across from the road into the canyon floor.

Boulder Field

After the first four rappels, you’ll come to a stretch that is full of giant boulders. You’ll be using your arms to help you climb around these obstacles, but generally, we stayed pretty close to the watercourse and found a way through.

When your path ends abruptly at a cliff, go right to find a downclimb that should be doable for most canyoneers. Even Hillary, despite her cursing Carly’s name.

The Confluence

After rappel 6, another drainage will come in from the left side. Find the best place to downclimb into this narrow gorge and head right to keep moving downstream. There are some nice spots in here to have lunch.

This section was labeled “Swamp Walk” on the map we had from Ropewiki, but we didn’t really find any swampy conditions. There was a little bit of moss growing in some of the pools, but nothing major. I’m guessing it can get grosser if there hasn’t been much flow lately.

The Slides

Eventually, the rock will change into sculpted granite with pools and slides. Get excited! This is what you came for, right? Heck yeah!

There are a myriad of slides and pools in this section, ranging from a few feet long to about 30 feet long, and it would be impossible to document them all. However, I will show you some of the larger slides, and keep in mind that the tallest ones likely have an anchor in place so you can rappel down if you wish.

So, this place is ridiculously fun, but it’s also hard on your gear. Be sure to cover your wetsuit with clothing that you will never need again. There’s a 50/50 chance it will be unusable afterward.

The Exit

Now, if you’re like us, it can take a very long time to do this canyon for the first time, and you might have the sun starting to get low in the sky. That means you’re cold and ready to get out of the water for good. Then you see it—a huge pool between you and your progress down canyon. Never fear, a little fancy footwork will get you past this pool on the left. Water avoidance skills: master.

At this point, you can doff your wetsuit. I know, how British of me to use that word. I feel fancy right now. Soon after this point, the water will disappear, and you’ll be following a creek bed toward your vehicle. Once it’s in sight, you can pretty much find the path of least resistance that generally goes in that direction. Toward the end, you’ll leave the creek bed and do some light bushwhacking before coming to the crux of the canyon.

WHAT?

Yep, there’s one more creek crossing, and your shoes were just starting to feel so dry. Suck it up. There’s only one way home, and you’re looking at it.

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Map & Directions

Location Sierra Ancha Wilderness, Globe, Arizona

Fees/Passes None

Trailhead Facilities None

Download KML or GPX

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