Best Slot Canyons In Utah

• Mary Jane Slot Canyon is one of Moab’s hidden gems – the “trail” is a creek the entire way, which leads to a 30 ft waterfall. This is a great trail to do when Moab is too hot, and you, the dogs, or kids need to cool off. The canyon walls get higher as you hike further into the canyon, and eventually will reach upwards of 100 ft!
• Best accessed from Lake Powell, its upper reaches are accessible only to the adventurous and technically experienced. Expect much rapelling and swimming. Many people rate this as the very best slot in the entire Mountain West. Just west of Natural Bridges, White Canyon and its many tributaries has yet to be completely explored.
• A Slot Canyon is a narrow canyon that whas formed by water rushing through the rock. The rock is normally softer, like sandstone or limestone. And a slot canyon is always more deeper than wide. This makes it perfect for exploring through all the narrow curves and admire the rocks.

• Slot Canyons In Utah
• Where Are The Best Slot Canyons In Utah
• Best Slot Canyons In Utah Winter

Please protect these places and preserve their beauty for all who come after you. Leave no trace of your visit! Use caution when exploring slot canyons as they can be deadly during rainstorms.

Slot Canyons Utah Hikes. 50% - £/€/CA$50. Min Deposit is £/€/CA$10. Players depositing via Moneybookers, Neteller and Skrill are not eligible for this offer. Players must wager the bonus 40 times withing 14 days before any withdrawals can be made. Game weighting applies. What Are The Best The Slot Canyons in St George. Jenny’s Canyon Trail. If you’re a new hiker or if you’re traveling with your family and want to visit one of the.

12. Kanarra Falls - Kanarraville

Kanarra Falls is a gem of a slot canyon, located near Kanarraville, Utah. It’s pretty short but famous for two small waterfalls which have ladders that hikers can ascend. The hike to reach the slot is not remarkable but the endpoint is worth the effort. Kanarraville is near Zion National Park and makes for a good day-trip if you are in the area. A permit is required to hike Kanarra Falls - click here for more information. Bring shoes that can get wet!

11. Peek-a-Boo Gulch - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Peek-a-Boo is a famous slot canyon in the Escalante area, known for two small arches which span the entrance. The canyon gets really narrow but it’s fun to maneuver through, and requires a 10-foot scramble to enter. There are sometimes unavoidable pools of water in Peek-a-Boo, so bring shoes that can get wet. Try to visit early in the morning to beat the crowds!

10. Leprechaun Canyon - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Leprechaun Canyon is off the beaten path in Utah, just north of Glen Canyon. The canyon is deep and has a beautiful endpoint before ropes are needed to explore it further. This is a kid-friendly option with no dangerous areas and just a short hike required to reach it. It’s near the Colorado River crossing at Hite, UT which is a very scenic area.

9. Spooky Gulch - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Spooky Gulch is located right next to Peek-a-Boo Gulch in the Escalante area. It is one of the narrowest slot canyons on the list with long sections where you need to walk sideways to squeeze through. There can be serious traffic jams during busy times. Try to do this one early in the morning to beat the crowds!

8. the Subway - Zion National Park

Only a small section of the Subway can be seen without ropes, but what is doable for hikers is still incredible. The hike to reach the Subway is long but fun and features several slanted waterfalls, along with a larger waterfall at the end of the canyon. Permits are required to hike the Subway and can be obtained at the Zion Visitor Center or online.

7. Little Wild Horse Canyon - San Rafael Swell

Little Wild Horse Canyon is an impressive slot canyon located in the San Rafael Swell region of Utah. This slot is really long and narrow and makes for a fun hike, whether done as an out-and-back or a loop through Bell Canyon. It’s right near Goblin Valley State Park which is a fun place to explore as well.

6. Zebra Slot - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Zebra is my personal favorite slot canyon in the Escalante Area, featuring candy-like stripes in the sandstone. Zebra gets very narrow and almost always has water in it. It also has a tapered bottom which makes it tricky to navigate. This slot is brutal to attempt barefoot… Bring shoes and clothes that can get wet!

5. Little Death Hollow - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Little Death Hollow starts tall and wide, but eventually converges to a single-file slot that goes on for miles. It is well off the beaten path in the Escalante area and offers fewer crowds than you might find at Zebra or Peek-a-Boo. The rich color and textures on the sandstone are spectacular in this canyon.

Slot Canyons In Utah

4. Paria Canyon - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Paria Canyon is the second largest canyon on the list, with towering walls for miles and miles. The Paria River flows wall-to-wall in many sections, so river-hiking is required to see it. A popular backpacking route runs the length of Paria all the way out to the Colorado River at Marble Canyon (permit required). Paria sits on the border of Utah and Arizona, so it could be considered an Arizona slot canyon as well.

Where Are The Best Slot Canyons In Utah

3. the Joint Trail - Canyonlands National Park

The Joint Trail is unlike anything else in Utah. While most slots are formed solely by water erosion, the Joint Trail formed from massive layers of sandstone that cracked under their own weight. This resulted in a grid of slot canyons with perpendicular intersections and caverns. Reaching it requires a full day of hiking in the Needles District of Canyonlands.

2. Buckskin Gulch - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

With 13 miles of narrows, Buckskin Gulch is one of the longest continuous slot canyons in the world. It runs into Paria Canyon, so the bottom entry point can be seen as a detour from Paria’s “Whitehouse” Trailhead. Visitors who want a shorter hike can also see Buckskin near its upper entry point at the “Wire Pass” Trailhead. Backpackers can through-hike Buckskin and Paria if they obtain a permit.

1. the Narrows - Zion National Park

The Narrows in Zion is the largest canyon on the list by far. There are areas with walls well over 1,000 feet tall and sometimes just 20 feet wide. Visitors can day-hike up the Virgin River to see the narrowest and deepest sections of the canyon. The Narrows can also be done top-down with an overnight permit from the Park Service. Try to do this hike as early in the morning as possible, or during fall/winter to escape the crowds. Waterproof gear can be rented at the park.

Thank you for reading this post! These rankings are just for fun and are based on my own experiences. If you would like to see more of my recommendations for national parks, please visit my website www.thewildiswaiting.com

For centuries people have ventured into the unknown in search of the unique features of the world. The next time you feel that impulse, don’t think you have to cross the globe to find something undiscovered. You only need to go to Utah.

Just the other weekend, my husband and I accidentally stumbled upon Utah’s Little Grand Canyon, located about three and a half hours south of Salt Lake City.

Utah is full of hidden gems that take work or luck to find. Arguably the state’s best features, hiding between all the red-rock vistas and natural hot springs, are the countless, winding slot canyons. Diving into the narrow passageways of southern Utah will have you feeling like you’re uncovering a lost civilizations architecture.

Explore these slot canyons at your own risk. Slot canyons can be very dangerous. Powerful waves of rain are what carved these canyons. A distant storm can fill them quickly with fast-moving water and debris. July and August see the most rain storms. Always avoid slot canyon hiking when there is rain in the forecast.

A majority of the slot canyons in Utah that we know and love today were found by adventurous explorers. Using a map and compass, they scrambled over boulders, down canyons, and across riverbeds to squeeze into slot canyons.

Thankfully, the Utah slot canyons on this list are pre-explored, making them well-known and recommended among slot hikers. You’ll be able to make your way to these seven canyons by driving through some of Utah’s top-notch scenery. Most of these are a couple hours’ drive from Kanab or St. George in southern Utah. These canyons are all ones you can hike and do not require technical canyoneering skills, making them perfect for beginners.

Seven Utah Slot Canyons That Are Perfect for Beginner Canyoneers

Before hitting the trail, make sure you’re also prepared for desert conditions. Pack one litre of water for every hour you intend to be hiking. Lightweight clothing, like nylon pants and a sun shirt are great for protecting skin from the sun while also keeping you cool, and many recommend wearing tall leather boots to protect ankles and calves from rattlesnakes.

Like any other time you strike out into the wilderness, let someone else know where you’re going and when you intend to be home. It’s especially important when traveling through slot canyons to check both local and regional weather. A storm that happens miles away on a desert mesa can quickly make its way to a slot, sweeping away hikers within.

Best Slot Canyons In Utah Winter

1. Buckskin Gulch—East of Kanab, UT

At 21 miles long, Buckskin Gulch holds the title as the longest navigated of the Utah slot canyons. Hikers can navigate the dark, winding narrows on a two-day backpacking trip, with a recommended 13.5 miles on day one, and 7.5 miles on day two. Buckskin’s entrance rests near the Paria Canyon—Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, and can easily be combined with a trip to The Wave, made popular by countless Instagram posts. Fees are minimal: $6.00 per person per day and $6.00 per dog per day. You’ll want to purchase overnight permits in advance.

Hikers will wade through water along this route, so be sure to bring shoes and attire that dry quickly and can easily navigate a wet, rocky riverbed as well as sandy flats.

2. Wire Pass—East of Kanab, UT

The trailhead for Wire Pass actually begins the hike into Buckskin Gulch, so if you aren’t interested in completing the 21-mile hike, Wire Pass is a great way to capture the experience and magic of a slot canyon, without making the full commitment to a more technical canyoneering outing.

As an out-and-back, Wire Pass totals 3.7-miles and can get fairly hot in the summer, so it’s best to complete this hike in late spring or early fall.

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3. Orderville Canyon—Zion National Park

This canyon, located in Zion National Park, elevates the challenge of navigating slot canyons in Utah. There are two technical portions of the Orderville Canyon require rope, the longest drop is just 15 feet, which makes it a great entry point for beginner canyoneers. Permits are required for the 12.3-mile Orderville Canyon, and a shuttle service can be scheduled through Zion Adventure Company for $29/person.

The narrows of Orderville are full of pools, chockstones, and sandy stretches that offer an authentic Utah slot canyon experience. Protect your ankles and legs, and don’t jump into pools! Getting rescued out of Orderville can be long and arduous.

4. Yankee Doodle Hollow—Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

While being the shortest of the hikes through Utah slot canyons on this list, Yankee Doodle Hollow packs a big punch with Navajo sandstone, deep and vibrant colors, and photogenic vistas. This slot is popular with beginner canyoneers and guided groups for its single and easy drop into the canyon—so don’t expect a whole lot of solitude. Without technical canyoneering skills, hikers can still access the canyon from the bottom up, though the hike is technical and steep.

5. Zebra Slot Canyon—Northern Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

When you’re surrounded by white paintbrush strokes among tall, flowing red sandstone walls in the middle of Utah’s stunning desert landscape, you’ll see that this hike lives up to its name. Starting in a wash, you’ll see some of the best desert scenery until the wash deepens and narrows to the slot portion of the hike. While the “zebra” portion lasts roughly ten minutes or so. It offers a visually-stunning Utah slot canyons experience and makes the entire hike worthwhile.

6. Brimstone Gulch—Eastern Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Brimstone Gulch is what many Utah slot canyons aspire to be. Every picture you’ve seen of slot canyons resembles some part of Brimstone Gulch. Tides of red sandstone weave in and out of each other, where sunlight streams in and quickly disappears. Hikers will pass through the Dry Fork of Coyote Gulch before entering the Brimstone Gulch slot, and can also pick up the trail to Spooky Gulch, and Peek-a-Boo Canyon for a series of sandstone arches within the slot. Enjoy the sand dunes and respite from the hot desert sun.

7. Echo Canyon Passage—Zion National Park

Glimpses of the Echo Canyon Passage can be seen from popular Zion hikes like Observation Point and East Rim Trails in Zion, making this one of Zion’s most well-known and loved slot canyon hikes. Rangers issue 12 permits a day. Be prepared to keep trying if you don’t get one the first day. This canyon is stunning, and gets dark and winding at some points. The elevation drop totals 1,100 feet, making this a strenuous hike for those not prepared.

Related Campgrounds:

• Big Cottonwood Canyon Camping, Salt Lake City, UT
• Moab Valley RV Resort, Moab, UT

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