Overview: This excellent out-and-back trail leads up a canyon lined with towering sandstone cliffs. Some canyons feature sections requiring canyoneering or rock scrambling experience while others have you hiking through a creek or standing water. The easiest (and prettiest) way to access the heart of this incredible canyon system is via the Wire Pass slot canyon. But if you only have time for one, how to you decide which one to visit? Image courtesy of Jordan Wohlwend from The Homebody Tourist. Read More: Peekaboo And Spooky Slot Canyons. 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. Join a small group to hike along drainages and canyons that lead to the rappels. Its narrow and the colors are terrific. With tight passageways, curving, scalloped walls, and short sections of easy rock scrambling, this hike is fun for both kids and adults. From the Coyote Buttes/Wire Pass Trailhead, head down the wash until you reach an obvious slot. Antelope Canyon is a favorite with photographers, and for good reason. The reason we are asking is that we completed your incredible 14 day Southwest Itinerary, and we liked it so much that we want to back again to Arizona and Utah for another hiking trip. Moab is home to the best slot canyons in Utah, making it the perfect place for slot canyon hikes ranging from easy to difficult. Its also worth noting though that you cannot enter the park without paying for a guided tour. 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. This is a third slot canyon you can visit as part of the Spooky/Peekaboo hike in Escalante. Its dark, its mysterious, and its fun to squeeze yourself through, just as long as you are not claustrophobic. The premiere way to experience Canyonlands is from the ethers. Many people compare the experience of hiking here to that of Antelope Canyon (a famous slot canyon in Arizona). Fun rock formations. Its time to pull the plugliterally. (Phi Phi Leh), Santorini Greece Travel Guide: Things To Do In Santorini Island, Navagio Beach Greece: Shipwreck Bay In Zakynthos Island, Zakynthos Greece Travel Guide: How To Visit Zakynthos Island, Phi Phi Island Thailand Travel Guide (Koh Phi Phi Islands), Huayna Picchu Hike: The Machu Picchu Stairs Of Death, Utah Hiking Guide: 17 Best Utah Hikes & Trails, 35 Best Things To Do In Oahu Hawaii (Fun, Couples, Free), 25 Best Hikes In Indonesia: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, & Jungles, Koko Head Hike: Koko Crater Trail & Stairs In Oahu Hawaii, Angels Landing Hike: Epic Chain Trail In Zion National Park Utah, Komodo Island Indonesia: National Park & Dragon Tour. Oftentimes in canyoneering we find ourselves descending into unlikely places where most folks normally wouldn't desire to go. 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. A Grand Adventure: Part 4. Watch this video of a guided experience canyoneering in the remote Robbers Roost. In Utah, you should always bring more water than you think you need. Spooky Gulch is one of the narrowest slot canyons around, only 10 inches wide in some spots! Last year we were able to go on a big road trip around the American Southwest while seeing many of the best slot canyons in Utah along the way, and afterwards we put together this slot canyon Utah guide and map! When you venture out to these two slot canyons, you are really going off-the-beaten-path. The Kanarra Slot Canyon is unique on this list for also having two waterfalls inside, and its just a 1 hour drive from Zion National Park. Follow a winding canyon stream out to the Colorado River. However, you do need a permit for the lesser-visited top-down hike.Pet Friendly? Its definitely one of the top Utah slot canyons! There is so much to do in this region, and hence wondering if you have plans to do another alternate itinerary for this region, with a list of other hikes that you plan to do. Visitors can explore the intricate and narrow gorges cut through beautifully layered sedimentary deposits over immense time in the Colorado Plateau, which provides the artistic foundation for the natural . Yes, but there is an 8-foot ladder you will need to lift your dog down. An incredible canyoneering introduction, with two rappels: 100' into a hidden chasm, and 110' off a giant rock arch! Sandstone walls wind and turn, taking you to another planet. Always bring several layers to stay warm. Moderate climbing, a fixed rope line, and extremely deep and narrow slots prevent this from being dog-friendly.Highlights: Super-narrow canyon, small climb in the beginning, an arch within the slot canyon. Willis Creek is fun to explore. The landscape is more grand so think big towering cliffs, wide canyons, and arches galore! More information at go.nps.gov/archesticket. The trailhead is located six miles from Goblin Valley State Park. This waterfall is a double-tongued waterfall halted by a chockstone, about 30 feet high. Peek-A-Boo Gulch has several sections of challenging rock scrambling, including a 12 foot climb just to enter the canyon. Dont become a statistic! Arguably the most beautiful slot canyon on this list, this is also the most popular. The creek trail leads to an incredible three-story waterfall. The end result is a narrow canyon with very high walls. The good news is that the Narrows is open to all fitness levels because you dont have to hike to the end of the gorge. Flash flooding is a real threat and I really cant stress this enough DO NOT ENTER A SLOT CANYON WITH A RAINY FORECAST. As a result, the streams carve out deep slot canyons as they fill and empty throughout the year. Sunscreen. Use a tool like weather.gov to check the weather for the specific canyon you plan to visit. You can also get here by driving Burr Trail Road east from highway 12. Canyoneering: Begin with an unforgettable 4-6 hour hiking and rappelling experience in either Medieval Chamber (challenge level: easy) or Entrajo Canyon. Willis Creek Slot Canyon is one of the lesser known Utah canyons. Discover this 8.4-mile out-and-back trail near Moab, Utah. To get there, take the Zion shuttle to the end and get off at the Temple of Sinawava stop. 4-13 people - $112/person. Discover where adventure and learning converge across iconic rivers and ancient canyons. The Buckskin Slot Canyon is great for photos, and its also notable for having some petroglyphs that are easy to reach. Youre rightthere is so much to do in this area. The best Utah state parks will entice you with ice fishing, white sand and snow-dusted scenery. Use this map if you are driving from Fruita, CO. The bad news is that the Narrows is getting extremely popular. Getting Here: Headquarters Canyon and Surprise Canyons are located side by side in Capitol Reef National Park. Youll want to wear water shoes for this hike 90% of the trail is hiking through the creek. A perfect day of Rocks-and-River: combine a half day of canyoneering with a late day Colorado River rafting tour! Comment below! 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. As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers. Yes, but some scrambling is required so you may need to lift your dog.Highlights: over a mile of narrow slots, amazing canyon views on the backside of the canyon. Plan a photographic getaway today! Fun to explore and extremely photogenic, slot canyons provide a unique hiking experience. Yes, you can purchase it online.Pet Friendly? Mileage: 5.6 miles round-tripElevation gain: 633 feetDifficulty: easy to moderateEstimated Time: 3 hoursEntry Fee: NonePermits required? The hike is dog-friendly and doable for school-age kids. So important I said it twice. But if you like adventure then Ding and Dang Canyons are for you. With Moab Cliffs & Canyons, you can relax and enjoy the adventure, . Local Tip: Its a tight squeeze to get into the canyon, but it is doable if you hike sideways and think thin or stem (put both feet on the side of the canyon walls and walk up the walls) to get some more room. The magnificent walls of Kanarra Creek Slot Canyon. However, its the low season for tourism, so many of the more popular slot canyons in Utah are empty this time of year. Once you're in, all you have to do is walk through a . So, if youre not an experienced canyoneer then be sure to bring a friend who is. The most important thing to know about hiking a slot canyon is the weather. With pink and red striped walls, this slot canyon is uniquely beautiful. Getting lost in the desert can be dangerous. Slot canyons are one of the top, hidden treasures found within Southern Utah's diverse redrock landscape. Best done if youre backpacking in the Needles District of the park, this trail features a narrow, straight, steep mini canyon thats a satisfying sight. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Finally, we reached the Mary Jane slot canyon waterfall! Just be aware that this hike is a bit more technical by nature. 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. Here are the places that seven of Utahs most well known women writers knew and loved most. Spooky Canyon is extremely tight. Yes. So happy exploring this canyon for my 4th time! A slot canyon is a narrow canyon passageway formed in rock (usually sandstone) that has been eroded by water over time, eventually creating a keyhole-like crack in the rock that is just wide enough for a person to fit through. Spring can see wet days, so check the forecast. No guide is necessary. A slot canyon refers to a sandstone canyon that has a narrow width (usually a few feet wide or less). Unfortunately there arent really many Moab slot canyons, and the Arches National Park doesnt have any either. Columnist Libby Kinder at the tail end of a hike through three slot canyons in Grand Staircase-Escalante . The short answer is kind of. Directions From Moab, take U.S. Highway 191 north to . You're into the first slot within 15-20 minutes of hiking. The Zion Narrows may be the most famous slot canyon Utah has to offer. Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch. My wife Intan and I are usually in our second home Bali, but our journeys take us to destinations all over the world. Youre in good hands with these pro resources from someone who has scoured the state for the past 8 years. Some of them are difficult to navigate and require technical skills, but many of them are family friendly and easy for beginners to hike. Check out Moab Flats! 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. One slot canyon near Moab is the Mary Jane Slot Canyon. . For more detailed information on how to find the exact trailheads for these Utah slot canyons, you can check out my individual travel guides for each hike. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. Learn More: How to Hike the Little Wild Horse Bell Canyon Loop. Your insight, as usual, is very much appreciated. Why a Hawaii-based highliner and influencer hasn't returned to Utah yet. These eroded sandstone wonders make for excellent hikes. . Additionally, its a super short hike that will take you around 15 minutes to complete, depending on how many photos you take. Located just down Hole-in-the-Rock Road from Zebra Slot Canyon are two thrilling slot canyons to explore. 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