If you came here looking for a review of a stand up paddleboarding, kayaking or rafting tour, you’ve come to the wrong place. Believe it or not, we used Paddle Moab for a canyoneering tour. It felt strange to book a company called Paddle Moab for a rappelling tour but they offered the tour I wanted and had great reviews. So we went for it!
We met them at their location in Moab and were outfitted with all our gear. In contrast to our experience with Outlaw Adventure Tours, the Paddle Moab storefront wasn’t as impressive and their gear not as new (and maybe a little smelly). But it got the job done! The staff was friendly and helpful, and the gear, while well-worn, was in good condition and completely safe. Canyoneering is a rugged outdoor activity so it is expected that the equipment not (or smell) look brand new.
At the last minute, they had a solo traveller sign up and join our group of 8. I’m not sure how she felt being in a group with 4 teenage boys but she seemed to roll with it. They drove us in a van to the starting point. This was actually the only part of the trip that was less than great. The van was old and didn’t seem to have working AC so it was a really uncomfortable ride to the Sand Flats Recreation Area. In fact, we were very close to asking them to pull over because our youngest thought he was going to get sick. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far away and we made it there in less than half an hour.
We hiked from the parking lot to the first rappel, with our two guides leading the way. At the top of the first rappel, they helped us put on our equipment and gave us a crash course in rappelling. I’ll be honest and say that it was information overload. Never having rappelled before, it was really confusing and difficult to follow, and it wasn’t until I was actually roped in and the guide walked me through it that I was able to figure it out. I really appreciated his patience and step by step instructions as I started down into the chamber. It made much more sense and was much easier for me to follow when I was actually doing it along with his instructions. I got the hang of it within a minute and was comfortably on my way down the rappel before we knew it. (Read my full trip report here!)
Our guides were great. They were super safety-conscious, making sure all the ropes were secured properly and guiding us with verbal instructions as we rappelled down. Plus they did all the heavy lifting! They had to come down the rappels last and then carry all of the heavy ropes and other gear the entire time (including the hike out of the canyon).
This was the first time rappelling for all 8 of us and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The guides were very safety conscious and were patient in teaching all of us the ropes (pun intended). Some of us were nervous and needed some gentle prodding, and they did a great job putting everyone at ease, walking us through it, and ensuring that we made it down safely. Don’t be fooled by the name – Paddle Moab knows what they are doing on land as well as in the water! We highly recommend their canyoneering tour.
