These water-cut canyons transport you to another world. They are named for their narrow width, often squeezing down to a sliver. Professor Creek is a small stream that joins the Colorado River 20 miles northeast of Moab. The Narrows is one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park. So you could start hiking right away in the creek, or just follow the dry trail for another few hundred feet, and eventually it will force you to hike in the creek. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. A permit is necessary, even if you do it as a day hike. Its time to pull the plugliterally. The creek trail leads to an incredible three-story waterfall. This is one of the best slot canyons in Utah that is part of the Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch trek. Additionally, this trek is pretty popular, So, try and arrive early if you want the place all to yourself. The nearby Ding and Dang Canyons are a bit more difficult, and best suited for experienced hikers. Directions From Moab, take U.S. Highway 191 north to . Hiking to Ribbon Falls, Grand Canyon National Park. The first waterfall is near the start of the slot canyon, and its easy to pass thanks to a new metal ladder that was just installed by the city of Kanarraville. Mileage: 6.4 milesElevation Gain: 889 feetDifficulty: ModerateEstimated Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are so many great places to visittrying to find the time is the trick. Whatever you choose, it will be an adventure! Canyoneers get muddy, shuffle through . Image courtesy of Jordan Wohlwend from The Homebody Tourist. From April 1 through October 31, 2023, daytime visitors to Arches National Park are required to have a timed entry ticket to enter the park. If youve hiked in the desert youve probably seen the raised, bumpy soil that dots the landscape. Oftentimes in canyoneering we find ourselves descending into unlikely places where most folks normally wouldn't desire to go. Explore up to 20 miles of trails for an unforgettable day hike in Buckskin Gulch in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The other 10 mile hike. Theres even a little wooden ladder thats great for pictures. Transform body, mind and spirit around the theme: Ignite the Flame Within. Follow along as she seeks her authentic self and learn how to find your own Tribe. You simply hike up the river as far as you want to go and turn around when you start to get tired. Spooky Canyon is extremely tight. Plan a winter Southeastern Utah trip. Its challenging, its breathtaking in its beauty, and it makes for a very memorable experience. Almost anyone will enjoy this family-friendly Utah slot canyon. NoHighlights: Two beautiful waterfalls (one which youll see earlier in the trail and one inside the slot canyon at the end) + a natural waterslide perfect to grab a quick lunch at. Sure, any of Utahs Mighty 5 national parks are spectacular year round covered in snow, peppered with spring wildflowers, and baked in sunshine. Its one of the best slot canyons in Utah Ive ever seen, although the tight Zebra Canyon is a bit tricky to navigate compared to other slots. There are a lot of pebbles and rocks in the creek, so its better if you have fully closed water shoes like these so you dont have to stop to get the rocks out of your shoes. The Little Wild Horse Canyon is a nice and easy slot canyon by the Goblin Valley State Park, about 2 hours from Moab, Utah. Overall, Id probably rate this hike as easy, even though its a bit longer and has more elevation gain than the other hikes in this slot canyon Utah guide. So happy exploring this canyon for my 4th time! It was only 70F in Moab, but the dogs were already hot. The easiest way to hike is to cross the river back and forth, seeking out narrow beaches along the way to give yourself a little break from wading in the fast-flowing river the entire way. Utah is home to several great dog-friendly national parks and other fun destinations. Be sure to check out. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. The Narrows is the most famous Zion slot canyon, but there are also a bunch of other nice ones near the national park. This leads to smaller crowds and a more peaceful hike! Departure Times: Morning and Afternoon. Slot canyons can be extremely dangerous places if you dont know what youre doing. Dont become a statistic! But Moab also offers lots of excellent trails with the same spectacular scenery without the crowds or entrance fees. Visit Utah for spelunking and cave exploration. Women entrepreneurs in Utah have been particularly successful at honing their expertise. From here, head either left or right until youre ready to turn around. With these narrow passageways and ladders to climb, this canyon is more fun to visit. It seems like a great hike but it seems difficult to do in a day hike. Discover Which Colorado Mountain Town is right for you. Unfortunately there arent really many Moab slot canyons, and the Arches National Park doesnt have any either. Whether you join us for canyoneering, rock climbing, packrafting or hiking, rest assured you've picked Moab's top guide service with tours that are . . Its definitely one of the top Utah slot canyons! Peekaboo Canyon is located in the Escalante area of southern Utah, about 1 hour from Bryce Canyon National Park. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Make your way over a few rock obstacles (youll need to use your hands) until you empty out on the backside of the canyon. As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers. Learn more about the parks and how to plan your visit in our Guide to Utahs Mighty 5. Copyright 2023 Utah Office of Tourism. Your insight, as usual, is very much appreciated. Connect with your inner spirit. Utah is home ot some of the most unique geology on the planet. Experience one of the most unique slot canyons in Utah with the Spooky and Peek a Boo Canyon loop. Location: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on Hole-in-the-Rock Road Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: The trail to the slot canyon is easy; the slot canyon can be challenging Read more: How to hike Zebra Canyon. See Zion dusted in snow on a winter escape to the east side where youll likely have the whole place to yourself. Location: Utah-Arizona border near Kanab Distance: 21 miles Difficulty: strenuous (because of the distance). The hike is dog-friendly and doable for school-age kids. Follow a winding canyon stream out to the Colorado River. A good one for beginners is Little Wild Horse Canyon near Goblin Valley. Need a place to stay in Moab? The solitude is one of the appealing features of this trek. So, feel free to explore as much or as little of this canyon as you want. Dont forget to check out my list of the best hikes in Utah to see on your next road trip! In fact, theres a second trailhead for the Spooky/Peekaboo canyons (called the Upper Dry Fork trailhead) that actually takes you right through the Dry Fork Narrows, that way you can see all three slot canyons in one loop hike! You can turn around from here, or continue to the road. Take the Behind the Reef Road for 1.5 miles until you reach signs for nearby Bell Canyon. With routes ranging from approachable to challenging, Maple Canyon is one of Utahs most beloved ice-climbing destinations. Let's stay updated! While the "zebra" portion lasts roughly ten minutes or so. Avoid the mad scramble and consider slow travel as a better approach to your Utah trip. The American Southwest is a playground for hikers, photographers, and adventurers. For many hikers, this is a hike that makes the bucket list. Heres a Utah slot canyons map you can use to plan your own road trip. Location: Page, Arizona Distance: Less than one mile Difficulty: Easy Read more: Lower Antelope Canyon: A Photographic Tour and Upper Antelope Canyon: A Journey in Photos. As you navigate the curve, look for a short slot canyon along the north wall. Otherwise youll need to head towards Escalante (4 hours and 45 minutes away) or Kanab (also 4 hours and 45 minutes away) for slot canyons near Salt Lake City. Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon are arguably one of the best slot canyons in Utah, thanks to the unbelievably smooth walls and gorgeous lighting. The small park is absolutely worth a day-trip, and the loop hike around the main viewpoints is nice and family-friendly. Location: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on Hole-in-the-Rock Road Distance: 3.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate Read more: A Photojourney through Peek-A-Boo Gulch and Spooky Gulch. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plan a photographic getaway today! Its not only ungodly hot, but the monsoon season in the desert brings torrential rains to canyon systems. Have you done these? Flash flooding can be very dangerous in a slot canyon. Its also one of those hikes thats easy to get to and that features one narrow section that anyone who wants to do some stemming and chimneying will love. Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch slot canyons in the Dry Fork area of Escalante Utah offer backpacking hikers scenic views without special gear or know-how. Theres nothing more magical than hiking one of the many slot canyons in Utah. You actually need to hike in the river that runs through the narrow slot canyon! Want to avoid the Utah national park crowds? The nearby Ding and Dang Canyons are a bit more difficult, and best suited for experienced hikers. The canyon starts a little wide but narrows as you get deeper into the canyon. This is actually a living organism (called cryptobiotic soil)! Hiking within the narrow canyon, hopping and skipping over the creek, and watching as the canyon walls steadily grow higher and higher as you head downstream is such a great experience. There are a few set hand lines and ropes to assist with some of the climbing. 1. Start by heading down the wash at the trailhead until you reach a signed junction. The Moonshine Wash is another scenic slot canyon located less than 2 hours from Moab, Utah. Mileage: 6 milesElevation gain: 1,017 ftDifficulty: ModerateEstimated Time: 4 hoursEntry Fee: $12Permits required? Nowadays you have to pay for a permit to do the Kanarra Creek hike because of its popularity, and there are a limited number of permits available per day. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 57 min to complete. Its narrower, but not really the iconic slot canyon. These eroded sandstone wonders make for excellent hikes. Yes, but there is an 8-foot ladder you will need to lift your dog down. It's a good idea to download an offline map of your hiking area on an app like Google Maps, that way you can keep using it to navigate or find your position even when you're out of reception. Meg aka Fox is a 30-something who's born to explore. If youre hiking in a slot canyon, youll want to carry WAG bags or special toilet in a bag kits that are designed to pack out human waste. Trail contacts: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Moab Field Office, 82 E. Dogwood, Moab 84532; (435) 259-2100; website. Its a weird, lumpy, landscape thats tone of fun to play in on a hotter day. Discover where adventure and learning converge across iconic rivers and ancient canyons. Petroglyphs and rock art. Unless youre really intent on seeing the Narrows, I would recommend going to one of the other places in this slot canyon Utah guide. It's narrower, but . To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. This strenuous hike is most easily accessible by hiking from the river to the rim of the canyon. Utah is filled with stunning desert landscapes and this rappelling tour takes visitors to the Medieval Chamber slot canyon just outside of Moab. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. There are parts where you have to shuffle sideways just to fit your body through the slot, and backpacks have to be carried awkwardly overhead. Arguably the most beautiful slot canyon on this list, this is also the most popular. Morning and afternoon trips available. SEDONA: Get links to all of our articles in our Sedona Travel Guide. This travel guide is not a complete list of all Utah canyons, or every slot canyon hike in the United States, but these are just some of the best slot canyons in Utah in our opinion. NoHighlights: Conquering one of the most iconic trails in Utah, wading through the river that runs through a narrow slot canyon, and getting to see some of the most dramatic sceneries of Zion National Park. Antelope Canyon is a favorite with photographers, and for good reason. Should you visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? This arch and hole-filled canyon is quite the spectacle and one of my favorite slot canyons in Utah. A Grand Adventure: Part 4. The Spring Creek Canyon is another nice slot canyon by the little town of Kanarra, located less than 1 hour from Zion National Park. Mary Jane Slot Canyon is one of Moabs hidden gems the trail is a creek the entire way, which leads to a 30 ft waterfall. Summers are hot. 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