Descend into the dramatic Medieval Chamber and rappel beneath the immense Morning Glory Arch with Desert Highlights in Moab, Utah. This private half-day adventure brings hiking and technical rappelling together in a stunning high desert setting.
Descend into the dramatic Medieval Chamber and rappel beneath the immense Morning Glory Arch with Desert Highlights in Moab, Utah. This private half-day adventure brings hiking and technical rappelling together in a stunning high desert setting.
Book with Desert Highlights
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Desert Highlights · Moab, Utah
Located just outside Moab, Utah, Desert Highlights invites adventurers into the rugged heart of the region’s iconic red rock landscape. The Medieval Chamber trip offers a private half-day adventure featuring dramatic rappels and scenic hiking through sandstone canyons that define this high desert playground. Moab’s environment is famous for towering arches, slickrock, and deep canyons carved by millennia of wind and water—in short, perfect terrain for those craving hands-on, immersive canyon adventures.
The trip centers around the Medieval Chamber itself, a deep vertical shaft etched into smooth sandstone walls. From the edge, the rappel looks intimidating—an eerie drop into darkness where daylight fades and the canyon’s hidden grotto reveals its calm, sandy floor far below. After carefully clipping in, rappellers descend 90 feet into this quiet chamber, a silent pocket unlike anything else visible from the rim.
Following this immersive rappel, the route leads to the stunning Morning Glory Arch, ranked as the seventh longest natural arch worldwide. Unlike more famous arches exposed on open cliffs, Morning Glory is tucked into a narrow canyon with the canyon floor dropping 100 feet beneath. Here, the adventure peaks with a unique, free-hanging rappel that suspends descenters in mid-air with the massive arch looming in the background—an unforgettable perspective framed by lush canyon greenery below.
Desert Highlights stands out in the Moab outdoor scene by offering completely private tours tailored to your group, making this adventure accessible for ages six and up (with some exceptions). Their guides combine technical skill with friendly support, ensuring safety and fun whether you’re a first-time rappeller or a seasoned adventurer. This combination of dramatic landscapes, distinctive geology, and personalized experience cements the Medieval Chamber as a must-do for visitors seeking both adrenaline and awe in Moab’s rugged backcountry.
moderate.
4–6 hours.
Participants should be in good physical condition comfortable with hiking moderate distances and swift rappelling techniques.
No prior experience is necessary; guides provide thorough instruction and support.
Children six and older are welcome with parental consent; reach out to discuss specific needs.
Wear sturdy shoes, bring sun protection and water, and dress in layers for changing temperatures.
Tours are private and typically suited for small groups to maintain safety and personalized attention.
Please contact Desert Highlights directly at 435-259-4433 or [email protected] for details.
Basic restroom facilities are available near the tour starting point in Moab.
The sandstone formations in this area date back over 150 million years and have been shaped by natural forces into unique desert structures.
Desert Highlights promotes Leave No Trace ethics, ensuring minimal impact on fragile desert ecosystems during private tours.
Desert Highlights operates private guided outdoor adventures focused on Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and nearby canyon country. Desert Highlights offers customizable hiking tours, canyoneering, packrafting, and rock climbing designed for private groups, families, and small teams. Tours include half-day and full-day hikes in Arches and Canyonlands, sunset hikes, multi-rappel canyoneering routes such as The Mail Slot, technical descents like Cow Swim Canyon with rappels of 85 and 155 feet plus a scenic 5-mile packraft float, and combined canyoneering and packrafting options in Moab. Guides from Desert Highlights lead private hikes tailored to group pace and interests, providing route selection, interpretive geology, and safety-focused instruction. Several hiking options are listed with specific durations, including approximately nine-hour full-day Arches tours and five-hour half-day Arches tours. Rock climbing and half-day climbing options are also available, with routes such as Looking Glass Rock and Full Day Rock Climbing experiences. Desert Highlights supports online booking for convenience and schedules departures that accommodate sunrise, daytime, and sunset experiences. Private groups can select easy, moderate, or challenging itineraries where available. Safety measures emphasize experienced guide supervision and appropriate technical skills for canyoneering and rappels. Desert Highlights maintains a focus on small-group private experiences to maximize solitude, landscape access, and personalized interpretation. The company’s publicly listed offerings document a range of adventure levels, from family-friendly packrafting floats to advanced multi-rappel canyoneering trips. Booking is available online for specified trips, and private guided hiking, canyoneering, packrafting, and climbing itineraries are offered year-round where conditions permit by request.
Book with Desert Highlights