When I started canyoneering, the main motivation to seek training was to gain autonomy and not depend on people to explore destinations, or partners for safety. After time passed by, and became acquainted with communities and practices, my second concern became canyon closures due to accidents (SAR rescues), or closures due to canyon damage. Fast forward to 2025, and so far permanent "closures" have not quite materialized, but more and more areas are getting limited access by permitted systems, and canyon damage seems to be largely tolerated or ignored. Some seasonal closures are in place due to birds nesting in canyons.
In other areas of the world, canyon closures due to damage have been a thing, as well as closures due to rescues. As far as I can tell, canyoneering areas in the USA are on a heading towards these types of closures, sooner or later.
Trophy Canyon Syndrome & SAR
Every canyoneering community seems to have a short list of "trophy canyons". Canyons that are socially broadcasted as routes that will elevate your status or recognition in the community. In the past, some of these routes were broadcasted as a culmination of a progression of preparation routes. But as years passed by, and newcomers anxious to get recognition entered the fray, progression routes are skipped and newcomers to straight to the trophy routes, raising the number of incidents and SAR calls.
Using Everest as a bellwether for canyoneering
This recent video (reference at the bottom) with updates to the permit system to climb Mount Everest seems to offer a sneak peek into the future of natural areas that become a “trophy” challenges.
Mount Everest new restrictions:
More permit requirements to curtail environment damage and degradation
Improve safety by drastically reducing the number of persmits
and...
No more solo summits allowed. You have to be accompanied by a guide.
What will it take for canyoneering routes to avoid an Everest like future?