Canyoneering is not a new sport; it has been around for decades. It has, however, enjoyed a tremendous surge in popularity over the past several years. Unfortunately, many of the people who are discovering this exciting sport remain unaware of the inherent risks and the complex technical skills required to enjoy it safely. The rope skills learned from rock climbing and rappelling are a good start, but will prove to be inefficient, and sometimes dangerous, in an aquatic or semi-aquatic canyon environment.

Since 1999, the American Canyoneering Association (ACA) has been the premier source for training, technical information and services for recreational canyoneers, canyon leaders, guides and rescue professionals in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and around the globe.

The ACA Curriculum

The curriculum follows a series of Skills Checklists and represents the most comprehensive technical training available, designed to enhance safety, efficiency and enjoyment for canyoneers of all experience levels.

Core Skills Course

Intro to Canyoneering provides students with the basic personal canyoneering skills needed to descend easy canyons as team members with competent leaders and mentors. The Core Skills checklist is the basis for this course.

Sovereign Canyoneer Course

Technical Canyoneering provides students with the intermediate anchor, rigging and on-rope skills needed to become contributing team members with competent leaders and mentors. The Sovereign Skills checklist is the basis for this course.

Aspirant Course 

Aspirant Canyon Leader Prep provides students with the necessary skills needed to become effective assistants to Canyon Leaders. The Aspirant Skills checklist is the basis for this course.

Assistant Canyon Leader Course

Assistant Canyon Leader Prep provides students with the necessary skills needed to become effective assistants to Canyon Leaders. The Assistant Canyon Leader Skills checklist is the basis for this course.

Canyon Leader Course

Canyon Leader Prep provides students with the necessary skills needed to become effective canyon leader for a recreational canyoneering group. The Canyon Leader Skills checklist if the basis for this course.

Canyon Rescue Course

Canyon Rescue provides students with companion rescue skills needed to become self sufficient problem-solvers for most canyon problems. The Aspirant, Assistant Canyon Leader, and Canyon Leader rescue skills are the basis for this course.

Seek instruction from ACA Guides/Instructors who follow the ACA Curriculum to learn skills from the ACA's Core, Aspirant, Assistant Canyon Leader, & Canyon Leader Skills Checklists. Get out and descend canyons. Lots of canyons. Practice your skills. The key to becoming a good leader or guide is to become accomplished in the sport.

Visit the ACA Canyoneering Meetup Group for the 2022 Course and Workshop Calendar.

What people are saying …

"All I can say is WOW! Terrific course. I had already taken a course from a private guide service and was concerned I might not learn anything new in the ACA basic course. My concerns were totally unfounded. I paid half as much for the ACA course and learned at least twice as much. By my math that's four times the value. Keep up the good work, ACA."

May 28, 2015

"I wanted to thank you again for the course on technical canyoneering last weekend. It truly was a great course and I am very glad I took it. I learned so much that I think I went into information-overload. So I tried to focus on the main principles you reinforced in the scenarios more than anything else: repetition, repetition, repetition. I guess I am writing because I am so grateful. I have been on the ACA website these last few days and I have noticed how much effort you put into the site, promoting the sport and the proper techniques. Thanks, it has opened up a whole new world for me.”

May 28, 2015

"This course will easily become the standard by which any other canyoneering course will be judged. It was amazing that the professional mountaineering guides found a lot to learn, but the pace was such that a neophyte like me could also pick things up quickly."

May 28, 2015

"Bruce is fantastic at teaching and explaining concepts. I would recommend him to anyone. Bruce was a hoot."

January 13, 2022

"I took one of the classes AZ Rock and Canyon offered and can not say enough about it! Tom and Jeremiah went over everything and why we do things the way we do so you have a better understanding of everything. After their class and small rappels, we met up the next day to do a canyon and put into practice what we learned with three trained people helping us along the way. I give them 10 stars out of 5! Take their classes, you will not be disappointed. I have also told several people about their gear and they love it!" - Brandon Guard

March 17, 2021