What makes R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. special
R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. sits inside Zion National Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
What brings people back to R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. is how different it looks from one visit to the next. A wet spring week and a dry August afternoon can feel like two different places.
Geology and background
What makes R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. special
R3 is not a waterfall at all. It is a bolted rappel anchor in Zion National Park, listed here alongside the falls of the Keyhole Canyon area because canyoneers use it on the route down. The “10 ft.” in the name is part of the anchor’s label, not a height, and there is no drop to photograph here: the anchor is a fixed point on the rock, there to hold a rope.
Its neighbours show what the route is. Archangel Falls is 0.2 miles away, R2, the previous anchor, is 0.2 miles away and Mystery Canyon Falls is 5.9 miles away. Do not come looking for a waterfall to view. This page is for canyoneers planning the descent, and the anchor matters to them, not to sightseers.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Prices and passes
Entry fee: $35.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to this anchor, so recent rain is your best guide to canyon conditions. Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the canyon can look very different from a wet-season visit. In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes: leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Safety
This is a canyoneering anchor, not a viewpoint. Inspect any bolt before you trust your weight to it, and never rappel alone. Flash floods are the real danger in a slot canyon: check the weather and the park’s canyon conditions before you go, and do not enter if rain is forecast upstream. Stay on marked routes and behind railings where they exist. Wet rock near a drop is the most common cause of serious injury.
What to bring
Rope, harness and helmet
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Check the Zion National Park page on the day for canyon conditions and permit requirements.
Pair it with Archangel Falls, 0.2 miles away, if you want a waterfall on the same trip.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Do not treat this anchor as a viewpoint: it is a fixed point for a rope, nothing more.
A waterfall is a stream caught in the middle of reshaping its valley. The plunge pool at the base is scoured out by falling water and the stones it carries, and the lip retreats a little with every flood.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
The trail and the viewpoint
We do not have a trail length for R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Zion National Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $35.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft.
R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. is in Zion National Park, Utah. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (37.3105, -113.0513) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Utah waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft.
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft., Utah located?
R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. is in Zion National Park, Utah. Its GPS coordinates are 37.3105, -113.0513.
What kind of waterfall is R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft., Utah?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft.?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $35.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
R3 – Keyhole Falls – Bolted Rappel Anchor: 10 ft. is worth a detour, especially after rain. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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