Whenever youre on an upward climb, ask yourself, can I get back down this? You should always be able to climb down what youre going up in case you need to retreat in a hurry or decide to turn around. This excellent out-and-back trail leads up a canyon lined with towering sandstone cliffs. Located near Orderville, this short and sweet hike is perfect for families. Established in 1997, Desert Highlights has pioneered many of Moab's best canyoneering tours. 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. Its also super photogenic since this is one of the best slot canyons in Utah with stunning red rocks around every turn. When canyoneering through the Robbers Roost area, the power of nature is on full display in its slot canyons, landscapes and lingering traces of ancient inhabitants. 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. Wondering where to take pictures in Utah? Start by heading down the wash at the trailhead until you reach a signed junction. From narrow slot canyons to grand sweeping vistas, sandstone plateaus to meandering rivers, San Rafael Country and the San Rafael Swell are home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Utah. Once you're in, all you have to do is walk through a . The river bed is uneven and the water is flowing, so having a stick to stabilize you is very helpful. On most Southern Utah bucket lists, you'll find the local favorite one-two punch of Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons. Starting at the small town of Kanarraville, the Kanarrs Creek Canyon trail is an out and back trail thats 6 miles long and features two amazing waterfalls and a narrow slot canyon. Book well in advancePet Friendly? Among the exceptionally beautiful slot canyon hikes in the southern San Rafael area, Little Wild Horse Canyon is a classic, as well as the perfect introduction both to non-technical canyoneering for just about anyone in decent shape. The big highlight are the unique patterns along the canyon walls a lot like zebra stripes. Pack out your poop. Canyonlands National Park is one of the best places to view 360-degree gorges in the state of Utah. A steep hike leads to a hidden valley high above Moab and Spanish Valley. Join a small group to hike along drainages and canyons that lead to the rappels. Season: April - November. The trail starts in the SE corner of the parking lot do NOT follow the trail head sign for Professor/Sylvester Creek. Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. Flash flood hazards are a real threat and floods kill people in slot canyons every year. The landscape is more grand so think big towering cliffs, wide canyons, and arches galore! Beautiful desert scenery. Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. There are so many great places to visittrying to find the time is the trick. Want to visit the awesome Antelope Canyon? Utah is home to several great dog-friendly national parks and other fun destinations. The drive in. As always, please remember to keep the trail clean, be considerate of other hikers, and leave no trace. About 1/2 mile in, make sure you turn left, following the creek. Best of all, this slot dumps you right at the intersection in Buckskin Gulch where you can see some petroglyphs on the canyon wall. Moab is surrounded by some of Utah's best national parks and some of the best hikes in the USA. Bring layers. Fun rock formations. Escalante is also roughly halfway between Moab and Zion, so its a great place to add to your Utah road trip itinerary! From the Coyote Buttes/Wire Pass Trailhead, head down the wash until you reach an obvious slot. 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Great hike for those who enjoy awesome views. Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest blog posts, tips, & travel guides. 10. Explore up to 20 miles of trails for an unforgettable day hike in Buckskin Gulch in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. 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. Hiking slot canyons in the summer can be extremely dangerous. Arguably the most beautiful slot canyon on this list, this is also the most popular. Moab is full of amazing things to do.But, if you are planning a trip, make sure to add hiking in Moab to the top of your list. This is not an all-inclusive list, because there are tons of slot canyons in this area, but listed below are some of the most popular and the most scenic slot canyons to explore.From short, easy, scenic walks to all day technical hikes, take your pick of the slot canyons you want to explore. Image courtesy of Jordan Wohlwend from The Homebody Tourist. A maze of soaring sandstone towers surrounds you on this moderate hike to a high ridge above Onion Creek. Youre rightthere is so much to do in this area. The canyon walls get higher as you hike further into the canyon, and eventually will reach upwards of 100 ft! . 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 . Required fields are marked *. 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. Youll need a 4WD high-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead, which is really just a stop along a dry river bed. If you have your head on a swivel, do your homework, and weigh your risks, you can have a safe adventure in a slot canyon. Moab is surrounded by a sea of buckled, twisted and worn sandstone sculpted by millennia of sun, wind and rain, Previous Group NoPet Friendly? The canyon is beautiful, similar to the more famous Negro Bill Canyon east of Moab. Use this map if you are driving from Fruita, CO. The creek flows year-round, along a canyon (known as Mary Jane Canyon) which is shallow for most of its length but one mile of the central section becomes fairly narrow and up to 100 feet deep.The walls have interesting rock textures and colors, different to most true slot canyons as the rock is darker . Our website uses cookies. At the end of the amazing Negro Bill Canyon is the Morning Glory bridge trail and it makes for a pretty amazing hike. HIKES IN ZION: Angels Landing, the Zion Narrows, Observation Point, and the Watchman Trail are some of the top hiking trails in Zion. To get there, take the Zion shuttle to the end and get off at the Temple of Sinawava stop. Summers are hot. Let's stay updated! The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone Trail in Moab gives you front row access to one of the largest and most diverse dinosaur track sites in North America. Follow this itinerary for a week-long winter road trip across the snow-covered desert of Southeastern Utah. Some of them are difficult to navigate and require technical skills, but many of them are family friendly and easy for beginners to hike. It was only 70F in Moab, but the dogs were already hot. If you visit youll probably find standing water at the bottom. Lower Antelope Canyon: A Photographic Tour, Upper Antelope Canyon: A Journey in Photos, A Photojourney through Peek-A-Boo Gulch and Spooky Gulch, How to Hike the Little Wild Horse Bell Canyon Loop, Complete Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows, How to Loop the Fold in Capitol Reef National Park, 10 Days in the American Southwest: The Ultimate Road Trip, Two Week American Southwest Road Trip: Grand Canyon & Utahs Mighty 5, Grand Canyon Road Trip: 5 Itineraries from Las Vegas. Unique rock formations on the hike in. In terms of pure enjoyment, these are our favorites on this list. Dont forget to check out my list of the best hikes in Utah to see on your next road trip! Easily accessible. In Utah, you should always bring more water than you think you need. It has a slot canyon you hike through to begin your hike to the top of the area. Hunters Canyon (4 miles roundtrip) This easy trail goes up Hunter Canyon, just south of the Colorado River west of Moab. At Wall Street, the canyon is just a few yards wide and hundreds of feet high, so it is extremely dramatic. Watch this video of a guided experience canyoneering in the remote Robbers Roost. With routes ranging from approachable to challenging, Maple Canyon is one of Utahs most beloved ice-climbing destinations. Take advantage of the variety of climbing available to enjoy this scenic winter climbing destination. When visiting Utah, make sure not to miss out on visiting Kanarra Falls, which is located less than an hour away from Zion National Park and is considered one of the best slot canyon hikes in Utah. This leads to smaller crowds and a more peaceful hike! NoPet Friendly? Extra socks arent a bad idea either especially if there are reports of water in the canyons. Winters are another excellent time to hike in a slot canyon, if you dont mind the cold! A slot canyon is a narrow canyon that is formed from water rushing through rock. Whatever you choose, it will be an adventure! Julie Last updated: January 26, 2023 United States 50 Comments. Getting Here: Headquarters Canyon and Surprise Canyons are located side by side in Capitol Reef National Park. Best time to go: Spring and fall are ideal, but you can hike here year-round. The natural forces that carved slot canyons are still at work, and even light, distant rainfall can render slot canyons extremely dangerous including flash floods. Flash flooding is a real threat and I really cant stress this enough DO NOT ENTER A SLOT CANYON WITH A RAINY FORECAST. To reach the Joint, youll wander through the needle filled canyons and get a real sense of the vast, unique beauty that the Needles District has to offer. Looking for advice on slot canyons to hike for a 1/2 to full day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Because of the remote location, there is a chance you could have these two slot canyons all to yourself (we did and it was a blast!). If youre interested in exploring slot canyons in Utah, youll want to start with these easier, non-technical routes. Distance: 2.6 miles round-trip Difficulty: Easy Time: 1 to 1.5 hours, Distance: 2.2 miles Difficulty: Easy Time: 1 hour. Willis Creek was a blast to hike. It may not be the most impressive and colorful slot ever, but it's still very photogenic and family friendly, and you can do it on a day trip from Moab. It is said that Utah has the largest concentration of slot canyons in the world, and many of them are easily accessible. Hello Sandra. Plan a winter Southeastern Utah trip. After climbing quickly to the valley, the trail traverses it below gorgeous, towering cliffs. She'd rather be dirty than done up. But, its really stunning and well worth a visit. Just know that climbing down is pretty difficult, so once youre in, youre in. Its narrow and the colors are terrific. This hike is ideal for small children. Actually, it is SW of Santa Fe. Slot canyons form when soft rock like sandstone, erode slowly from rain and wind. However it does have a creek and is dog-friendly! This is actually a living organism (called cryptobiotic soil)! Check out our post: Should you visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? Located on Navajo lands, this slot canyon can only be visited on a tour. Morning and afternoon trips available. Canyoneering Moab: Morning Glory Arch & Medieval Chamber. It can be blazing hot in the desert, but slot canyons see little sun. The first mile of the trail is very open, and you can see all of the surrounding mesas and buttes. Take a winter break to refresh with a visit to a few of these places. . The hike is dog-friendly and doable for school-age kids. Use this map if you are driving from Moab. Its time to pull the plugliterally. Peek-A-Boo Gulch has several sections of challenging rock scrambling, including a 12 foot climb just to enter the canyon. The trailhead can also be a bit tricky to find the first time. 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. Its not only ungodly hot, but the monsoon season in the desert brings torrential rains to canyon systems. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Hire a tour guide, drive your own 4WD vehicle, or hike to a high-lookout point to take in the grandeur of the superb stratigraphic mesas in the distance. This is another crazy slot canyon located near Peekaboo, and most people do these two slots as a loop hike since theyre located so close together. Have you hiked Buckskin Gulch? Also aim to visit between March and November. Not only are slot canyons unique in their beauty, but they offer memorable adventure's filled with rappelling, climbing and hiking through pristine areas. Your email address will not be published. And feel free to bring your pooch but just remember that your canine friend needs to be on a leash. 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