Arizona Waterfall & Wet Canyon Adventure

Guided wet canyoneering adventure through waterfalls, pools, and narrow canyon passages in an Arizona slot canyon.

From $249.00 / personBook This Adventure Contact Us

Tour Overview

Experience a guided wet canyoneering adventure through waterfalls, pools, and narrow canyon passages in an Arizona slot canyon. Hike, swim, scramble, and rappel with professional guides in a stunning canyon near Payson and Tonto Basin.

Duration: Approx. 3 to 5 Hours (in the canyon)

Tour Highlights

Waterfalls & Pools: Rappel through flowing water and swim across deep, sculpted granite pools.
Remote Wilderness: Descend a secluded wet canyon near Payson and Tonto Basin.
All Technical Gear Included: Harnesses, helmets, ropes, wetsuits, and canyon backpacks provided.
Beginners Welcome: No prior technical rope experience required; learn on rope with certified guide instruction.

Tour Itinerary

Your adventure begins when you rendezvous with your guide in Payson, Arizona. After confirming gear requirements and logistics, we caravan to the trailhead staging area. Your guide will fit you with a harness, helmet, wetsuit, and canyon backpack, followed by a hands-on safety orientation and rappel technique coaching session.

We approach the canyon rim and drop directly into the drainage system. Once in the canyon, the environment transforms as you encounter rushing water, polished rock chambers, and natural water chutes. You will negotiate vertical drops on guided waterfall rappels, safely managed and backed up by your lead guide.

Inside the corridor, the route is dynamic and active. You will navigate deep swimming sections, scramble over water-carved boulders, and float through quiet stone amphitheaters. Midday, we pause on a dry rock shelf to rest, hydrate, and have trail snacks.

After completing the final pool swim and exit hike, we return to the staging vehicles where your dry change of clothes is waiting, wrapping up an unforgettable descent through one of Arizona's premier aquatic corridors.

Pricing

$425 per person - solo adventurer (1 person)
$299 per person - groups of 2-4
$249 per person - groups of 5-8
In the Special Request box at booking, please tell us your experience on rope - it's helpful for our guides to know beforehand. We'll also need everyone's gender, height, weight, and ladies' dress sizes for wetsuit fitting.

Participant Requirements

Swimming Ability: All participants must be able to swim unaided in deep, moving water; this tour includes active swimming sections through deep pools.
Physical Fitness: Moderate to challenging cardiovascular endurance and mobility over slippery, uneven rock surfaces. Once in the canyon system, the only exit is completing the entire route.
Minimum Age: Suitable for active participants ages 8 and up (minors must be accompanied by an adult).

What's Included

Professional, certified canyoneering and backcountry guide.
All technical gear: ropes, harnesses, helmets, wetsuits, and dedicated canyon backpacks.
Trail snacks and filtered water refills.
Comprehensive safety briefing and hands-on rappel coaching.
All required land access, backcountry, and permit fees.
Digital tour photos uploaded to our Facebook page when conditions allow guides to safely take them (not guaranteed).

What's Not Included

Transportation: Guests are responsible for driving to the rendezvous location in Payson and caravanning to the canyon put-in area.
Guide Gratuity: Gratuity is optional, but always appreciated by our professional guides for exceptional service.
Personal Lunch: Guests may bring trail snacks, but we cannot guarantee personal items will stay dry in the canyon. We recommend leaving a post-tour lunch in a cooler inside your vehicle.
Dry Change of Clothes: Clean, dry clothes, towel, and footwear to leave in your vehicle for after the tour.

What to Bring

Footwear: Trail running shoes with aggressive rubber tread offer the best balance of traction on wet rock and support during swims. Heavy hiking boots become waterlogged and are not recommended. Standard water shoes do not provide enough support for the rocky approach and exit hikes unless you pack separate hiking shoes. Smooth-soled sneakers, sandals, and open water booties are strictly prohibited.
Outer Shorts: Bring a durable pair of athletic shorts to wear directly over your provided wetsuit to protect it from abrasive rock friction during downclimbs and slides.
Swimwear / Base Layer: Swimsuit or synthetic athletic layers to wear underneath your wetsuit.
Hydration: Bring 24 to 32 oz of water in a durable, leak-proof bottle (filtered water refills are provided).
Dry Change of Clothes: Towel and complete change of dry clothes and shoes to leave in your vehicle for after the descent.
Eye Protection: Sunglasses with a secure retention strap.
Weather Forecast: Check the regional mountain forecast before departure.

Season & Departure Times

This is a warmer-weather canyon: it runs May through October, meeting at 8:00 AM in Payson. It is not available November through April.

Important Notes

Pre-Tour Logistics & Guide Communication: Your lead guide will reach out prior to your tour date to confirm the exact rendezvous staging area in Payson, morning timing, and current conditions. Please ensure your contact details are accurate at booking.

Wetsuit Sizing Details: To ensure proper equipment fit, please provide each participant's gender, height, weight, and ladies' dress sizes in the Special Request box during checkout.

Cancellation Policy

This tour has a 72-hour cancellation policy. Please read your confirmation email for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the actual tour, and does it include drive time?

Our listed duration (approximately 3 to 5 hours) covers active canyon time from rendezvous to release. The exact time spent in the water depends on group size, individual movement speed, and overall group pace. Total transit time for the day depends on your starting location, as drive times from Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Sedona will vary.

Where do we meet our guide?

You will rendezvous with your guide at a designated staging location in Payson, Arizona, and caravan together to the canyon put-in area. Your lead guide will reach out prior to your tour with exact coordinates, driving instructions, and rendezvous timing.

Do I need prior canyoneering or climbing experience?

No prior technical experience is required. Our certified guides walk you through every step, provide redundant safety systems, and coach your rappel technique throughout the descent. The most important requirements are the ability to swim unaided in deep water and a willingness to listen closely and follow your guide's instructions.

What style of footwear is required for a wet canyon?

Trail running shoes with sticky rubber traction are ideal because they drain well and provide solid grip on slick rock. Heavy hiking boots become waterlogged during swims, and standard water shoes lack the structural support required for the rocky approach and exit hikes. Smooth-soled sneakers and open sandals are strictly prohibited.

What happens in the event of inclement weather or flash flood warnings?

Wet canyon safety requires active water flow and weather tracking. 360 Adventures monitors regional storm activity, and our team holds sole discretion for determining whether conditions are safe to enter the canyon. If weather makes the descent unsafe, we will work with you to reschedule or provide a full cancellation.

Have more questions? View our Canyoneering Waterfalls FAQ→