Matkatamiba Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Matkatamiba Canyon (Matkat) is a remote non-technical canyon within the vast reaches of the Grand Canyon. Access is either by river with rafters stopping before the Matkat rapids, or via a technical canyoneering trip down 150 Mile Canyon followed by a packraft crossing of the Colorado River. Our group came the technical way.

Once you hike around to Matkat you are greeted with beautiful narrow canyon dropping into an incredible layer of muav limestone. Spring water feeds the lower muav and creates beautiful slides that are non-technical — hours of fun. Right from the river the hair-combed walls of the muav have a distinctive appeal, with swirling linear patterns from horizontal weaknesses in the rock.

This is a fantastic canyon to visit and one of my all-time favorite Grand Canyon canyons. Next year we will also combine this same trip with Panameta and Olo Canyons. For personal documentation only — not to be used as beta.