Other Canyon Rating Systems

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These are historic or alternate descriptions canyon rating systems I have found to be mildly entertaining.

Technical Classification

• 1 Canyon Hiking: Nontechnical, no rope required. Hiking mostly on established routes. Involves some scrambling with the occasional use of hands.
• 2 Basic Canyoneering: Scrambling, easy vertical or near-vertical climbing and/or down-climbing. Rope recommended for handlines, belays, lowering packs, and possible emergency use. Exit and/or retreat possible without ascending fixed ropes. Scrambling requiring the use of hands and arms for pulling yourself up.
• 3 Intermediate Canyoneering: Technical canyoneering and climbing. Routes may involve any combination of the following: Problem-solving. A basic knowledge of technical climbing. Rope and climbing hardware for single-pitch rappels and belays. Basic pothole escape techniques. Obvious natural anchors. Retreat up canyon will require ascending fixed ropes.
• 4 Advanced Canyoneering: In addition to intermediate canyoneering skills, you will require one or more of the following skills: Advanced free climbing. Difficult and/or exposed down-climbing. Climbing using direct aid. Multipitch rappels. Complex rope work (i.e. guided rappels, deviations, rebelays). Obscure or indistinct natural anchors. Advanced problem-solving and anchor-building. Advanced pothole escape techniques.

Water volume/current

• A Normally dry or very little water. Dry falls.
• B Normally has water with no current or light current, Still pools. Falls are dry or running at a trickle.
• C Normally has water with strong current. Waterfalls.

Technical Rating

• Class 1 Hiking; no ropework
• Class 2 Basic canyoneering: scrambling; a rope may be used for easy climbing, handlines, and belays
• Class 3 Intermediate canyoneering; rappelling; the canyon is not reversible without fixing ropes
• Class 4 Advanced canyoneering; multipitch rappels; deviations and rebelays; exposed climbing; advanced ropework and problem solving

Water Rating

• Class A Dry or wading but no swimming
• Class B Swimming in still or near still water; wet disconnects (disconnecting from a rappel device while above or in the water); no or very minor current
• Class C Canyoneering in current and waterfalls

Duration

• Grade I A couple hours
• Grade II Half a day
• Grade III Most of a day
• Grade IV All of a long day
• Grade V All day and overnight
• Grade VI Multiple days and nights

Risk

• R More risk than average
• X Extreme risk; experts only

Technical Class

Ranks the technicality of the terrain and the type of rope work required.

• 1 Canyon Hiking Nontechnical, no rope required. Hiking mostly on established routes. Involves some scrambling with the occasional use of hands.
• 2 Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy vertical or near vertical climbing and/or downclimbing. Rope recommended for handlining, belays for novices, lowering packs and possible emergency use. Exit and/or retreat possible without ascending fixed ropes. Scrambling requires the user of hands and arms for pulling oneself up.
• 3 Intermediate Canyoneering Technical canyoneering and climbing. Route may involve any combination of the following: Problem solving. A basic knowledge of technical climbing and chimneying. Rope and climbing hardware for single pitch rappels and belays. Basic pothole escape techniques. The use of obvious natural anchors for rappels. Retreating upcanyon will require ascending or jumarring up fixed ropes.
• 4 Advanced Canyoneering In addition to intermediate canyoneering skills, this will require one or more of the following skills: Advanced free climbing. Difficult and/or exposed up/downclimbing. Climbing using direct aid. Multipitch rappels. Complex rope work (example--guided rappels, deviations, rebelays). Obscure or indistinct natural anchors. Advanced problem solving and anchor building. Advanced pothole escape techniques (example--pack toss or hooking out). At least one canyoneer has noted that introducing bolts into what originally would have been a 4 rated canyon (many in Zion NP), permanently reduces it to a 3.

Water Rating

Indicates possible complications due to flowing, quiet or pothole water.

• A Normally dry or very little water, usually in potholes. Dryfalls.
• B Normally has water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls normally dry or running at a trickle.
• C Normally has water with strong current. Waterfalls.

Risk Rating

Indicates the presence of additional risk factors such as double rappels down a big wall, or the presence of keeper potholes.

• R Risky One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that could complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgement are critical.
• X Extreme Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgement will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should only be attempted by expert canyoneers.

Slot

• PG SLOT Plenty Good but not life threatening. Will involve simple dowmclimbing or low-stemming, but no extreme moves. Beginners may sweat a little, but it's all pure fun for the experienced.
• R SLOT Some Risks, X SLOT (Extreme Risks) or XX SLOt (Double Extreme Risks) Extra tight slots with strenuous up/downclimbing and high-stemming, in some cases up to 15 meters or more above the bottom. Likely will have wide silos to cross, straight/vertical walls without foot/hand holds, and sometimes covered with green, slippery moss. For experts only. XX slots would definitely be life threatening for one or more moves. These ratings are based on the most difficult move in each slot.
• To the above, some canyoneers are adding + or - to each. If it's a little better/more difficult than a regular PG, then push it up part of a notch to +PG SLOT. Or if it's not quite a full X SLOT, make it an -X SLOT, or perhaps an +R SLOT. This should make it easier to hit the mark. Again, all subjective.

Grade

Indicates the estimated time required to complete the hike.

• I Short. A couple of hours.
• II Requires about half a day.
• III Will take most of a day.
• IV Expect a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp & mylar space blanket. Possible bivouac.
• V More than one day. Normally done in two days.
• VI Two full days or more.

Rope Work

• 1 No rope required for normal descent, although a rope should always be carried for emergencies.
• 2 Only single-pitch rappels required for normal descent.
• 3 Complex rope work and/or multi-pitch rappels required.

Water

Volume/Current

• 1 No water (or very, very little water).
• 2 Water with no current or light current.
• 3 Water with strong current.

Swimming

• A No swimming required.
• B Short and/or infrequent swimming required.
• C Long and/or frequent swimming required.

Time

• 1 1 to 3 hours.
• 2 3 to 4 hours.
• 3 3 to 6 hours.
• 4 Full day.
• 5 1 to 2 days.
• 6 Multiple days in the canyon.

Exits

• R Some sections with limited exits.
• X Long sections with no possible exits.

Climbing

Classes of terrain based on the system developed by the Sierra Club; technical climbing (Class 5) is defined more precisely using the Yosemite Decimal System.

• 1 Walking on level ground.
• 2 Hiking on or off trail with some elevation change.
• 3 Scrambling; may require hands for balance and support.
• 4 Easy vertical or near vertical climbing
• 5 Technical climbing; further broken down by Yosemite Decimal System from 5.0 to 5.14
• 6 Aid climbing.

Class 1: Canyon Hiking

• Usually dry hiking on established trail
• Routefinding straightforward using map and guidebook
• Established campsites available
• Hike to rim or backtracking straightforward
• Evacuation of injured person straightforward
• No major obstacles

Class 2: Advanced Canyon Hiking

• Dry hiking with some river rock or uneven terrain
• Streams easily crossed by ankle-deep wading or jumping
• Straightforward routefinding with map and guidebook
• Hike to rim or backtracking straightforward
• Suitable campsite available
• Evacuation of injured person straightforward
• Obstacles such as boulders easily circumvented

Class 3: Basic Canyoneering

• Prolonged water hiking and uneven terrain
• Stream crossings utilize downed logs, rocks, or wading
• Class 3 climbing such as scrambling over log jams may be necessary; may be able to circumvent
• Navigation and routefinding skills necessary
• Exits to rim sparse
• Backtracking may he difficult
• High and dry campsite more difficult to find
• Risks of flash flood, cold injury, drowning, rockfall more prominent
• Evacuation of injured person difficult

Class 4: Advanced Canyoneering

• Difficult hiking, multiple stream crossings, prolonged water walking
• Tight narrows may require taking off pack
• Plunge pools and wall-to-wall water may require swimming or deep wading
• Class 4 climbing with hand lines necessary in some places
• Circumventing log jams or chockstones may not be possible; may require bouldering skills
• Navigation and routefinding skills necessary
• Exit to rim difficult to find
• Backtracking difficult
• High and dry campsite difficult to find
• Risks of injury and environmental hazards more significant
• Evacuation of injured person difficult

Class 5: Technical Canyoneering

• Difficult and slow hiking, multiple stream crossings, prolonged water walking
• Tight narrows may require taking off pack
• Plunge pools and wall-to-wall water may require swimming across
• Class 5 climbing with hand lines and bouldering skills necessary
• Rappels necessary for dry pouroffs or waterfalls; anchors such as trees available
• Navigation and routefinding very difficult and time-consuming
• Exit to rim more difficult to find
• Backtracking very difficult
• High and dry campsite rare
• Combining of skills such as rappelling into a pool or in a waterfall needed frequently
• Risks of injury and environmental hazards significant; some risk of death
• Evacuation of injured person extremely difficult without outside help

Class 6: Advanced Technical Canyoneering

• Extremely difficult slow hiking and water walking
• Tight narrows may require taking off pack
• Long swims and difficult, technical stream crossings with hand lines
• Hand lines necessary for down climbing
• Rappels frequent; anchors not readily available
• Class 5.7 and above rock climbing
• Navigation and routefinding very difficult and time-consuming
• Secure, high and dry campsite may not be available
• Risks of injury and environmental hazards constant, and risk of death significant
• Combining of skills, such as rappelling into a pool or in a waterfall frequently necessary
• Exit to rim impossible
• Backtracking impossible without fixed lines
• Evacuation of injured person nearly impossible without help

Canyoneering: A Guide To Techniques For Wet And Dry Canyons (How To Climb Series) by David Black

Technical Slot Canyon Guide to the Colorado Plateau 2nd Edition by Michael R. Kelsey

Canyoneering: Beginning to Advanced Techniques by Christopher Van Tilburg