Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah
Hiking the Willis Creek Slot Canyon in Utah. The hike along the Willis Creek Slot Canyon is so much fun! And to think that we almost skipped this hike. After a long day of hiking and exploring both Bryce Canyon National Park and Kodachrome Ba. Peek-a-Boo Canyon, sometimes called Red Canyon because of its glowing walls, lies east of Zion. The canyon drains into Kanab Creek and offers the sooth, striated walls most prized in slot canyons. The curved passageways can be up to 100 feet deep. Sand Wash, or Red Cave, don’t include wading through streams, but the narrow passageways.
- Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah Mountain
- Best Slot Canyons Ut
- Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah State
- Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah Mountains
According to Wikipedia, “a slot canyon is a long, narrow, deep and tortuous channel … with sheer rock walls.” The Free Dictionary adds that the depth of a slot canyon is “considerably greater” than its width. Southern Utah has the greatest concentrations of slot canyons in the Southwest. Our favorites are discussed here.
Page navigation:
- Antelope Canyon – most photographed slot canyon
- Buckskin Gulch – longest slot canyon
- Little Wild Horse – best slot canyon for families
- The Joint – best slot canyon impersonator
- The Narrows – the most iconic slot canyon
Criteria for being featured in this post as a slot canyon
All the destinations in this post have the following criteria in common:
- They feature a path between two sheer walls
- Both walls are over 10 feet tall (or at least about twice as tall as a normal-sized human)
- An average-sized person can touch both walls at the same time with outstretched arms
- The path is at least 50 feet in length
- Visiting requires a non-technical hike. It may be a short, long, easy, or difficult hike, but it is not canyoneering and does not require any special equipment.
Visiting slot canyons
Slot canyons are incredibly special and beautiful places. Better yet, in the Southwest, they are under ideal weather conditions most of the year. They could become, however, inherently dangerous if there is any precipitation in the forecast.
Flash floods
Slot canyons are prone to flash floods. We won’t go into too much detail about it here, but you should check out the Southern Utah Tourism Summit for more info. Don’t let it scare you too much. As long as the weather is fine and it hasn’t rained in a few days prior to your visit, there’s nothing to worry about.
Weather conditions
Check the forecast before setting out on your trip and again on the morning on your slot canyon visit. If there is any chance of rain in your area, reschedule your trip or reorder your itinerary.
Our favorite slot canyons of southern Utah
Antelope Canyon – Navajoland
- CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO COVID REGULATIONS. Check updates here.
- Slot length: 500 feet
- Approach to slot: minimal walk from car to slot
- Location: Hwy 98, 3 miles from Page, AZ
- Fee: Expensive. See different tour companies for current rates
- Access: Requires guide and reservations
This is possibly the best-known and most photographed slot canyon in the world. It’s not technically in Utah. But it is so close across the border that we’re including it here.
Antelope Canyon is actually made up of two slots, Upper and Lower. They are separated by a few miles of wash. The entire canyon is part of the Navajo Reservation, right outside of Page, AZ. Private Navajo businesses manage access to the two canyons. You can only visit the canyons with a guide and you must make reservations for your tour. It is expensive but most people say it is worth it.
On a personal note, if you’re going to any of the other slot canyons on this list, I don’t think you need to stop at Antelope Canyon. Though you’re guaranteed to get amazing pictures out of it, it is a bit too expensive for the experience you receive.
Upper Antelope Canyon
Have you seen the postcard picture of a sunlight beam shining into a reddish sinuous slot? That’s Upper Antelope Canyon. This phenomenon occurs right about noon on a daily basis, when it isn’t too cloudy out. This makes Upper Antelope Canyon the most popular and coveted canyon to visit in the Southwest. It is truly a spectacular sight, but only a few dozen people per day (weather-permitting) get to experience it.
To visit Upper Antelope Canyon, make a reservation here. This is the only company that has access to the canyon at noon (book the 11 AM tour). You’ll meet your guide at the turnoff to Antelope Canyon, right off Hwy 98, and board an open-back truck that will take you to the canyon entrance. The ten-minute ride is very sandy. Try to keep your mouth closed to avoid spitting out grains for the rest of the day.
The slot itself is about 500 feet in length. It is an easy walk on flat and sandy ground the entire way. Your guide will take you through the slot, stopping every two minutes for photographs. When the canyon opens up, your guide will turn you back the way you came. Overall you’ll get about 50 minutes in the canyon.
Lower Antelope Canyon
If you’re not absolutely sure that you’ll be at Upper Antelope Canyon at the right time, then go to Lower Antelope Canyon instead. Since there is no light beam to wait for, it is beautiful no matter the time of day. Not to mention it is a bit more adventurous, requiring the use of step ladders to get around.
To visit Lower Antelope Canyon, make a reservation here. You’ll meet your guide outside the check-in office and walk a few feet downhill to the canyon entrance. Metal steps lead you down about 30 feet to the bottom of the canyon.
Similar to Upper Antelope Canyon, the slot itself is about 500 feet in length. Your guide will take you through the slot, stopping every two minutes for photographs. It is an easy walk, but some obstacles (such as ladders) require the use of your hands for support. At the end of the canyon is a set of stairs to take you back up to the open desert. A 10-minute uphill walk will lead you back to the parking lot. Overall you’ll get about 45 minutes in the canyon.
Buckskin Gulch via Wire Pass – Grand Staircase-Escalante and Vermillion Cliffs National Monuments
- Slot length: 13+ miles
- Approach to slot: 1-mile easy hike in wash to Wire Pass, then 1-mile in slot canyon to Buckskin Gulch
- Location: House Rock Valley Rd, 30 miles east of Kanab, UT.
- Fee: If you have the NPS Annual Pass, display it on the dashboard of your parked vehicle. Otherwise, bring cash for the self-pay station
- Access: If backpacking, apply for an overnight permit. If you’re just day hiking, you’re fine. You need a high-clearance vehicle to drive the 8 miles down the dirt road to the Wire Pass Trailhead.
At over 13 miles, Buckskin Gulch is easily the longest slot canyon in the United States. In my opinion, it is also the most spectacular! The quickest way to access it is via Wire Pass, which is another unbelievable slot canyon. On the other end of it, Buckskin Gulch spills into the majestic Paria Canyon. Walking the entire length of Buckskin Gulch, including Wire Pass and Paria Canyon, requires overnight preparations, permits, and shuttle arrangements. Read more about it in this very detailed guide.
Visiting the much shorter Wire Pass is a treat in and of itself. If you don’t have time on your trip to backpack Buckskin Gulch, a half-day hike to Wire Pass will suffice. From the trailhead, it takes about 15 minutes to hike in a wash before arriving at the entrance to Wire Pass. This slot is nearly a mile long before it joins with Buckskin Gulch. When you’re ready, turn around and retrace your steps to your car. Note that two sections in Wire Pass require rock scrambling. Depending on seasonal conditions, it may have a few standing puddles to wade through as well.
Little Wild Horse – San Rafael Swell
- Slot length: 1 mile
- Approach to slot: 0.7-mile hike in wash; easy terrain with minimal scrambling
- Location: 5 miles west of Goblin Valley State Park (nearest town is Hanksville, UT)
- Fee: Free
- Access: It’s a dirt road to the trailhead, but usually very well-maintained and suitable for all vehicle types
Little Wild Horse is technically in the San Rafael Swell, a vast desert system administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is a very fun family hike close to Goblin Valley State Park. It’s easy to reach and requires little effort to find. There are lots of other slot canyons nearby, but they require basic canyoneering gear and a high clearance vehicle to get to them.
Most documentation you’ll find about hiking Little Wild Horse is supplemented with Bell Canyon info. If you’re an avid and fast hiker, you can combine the two canyons into one big loop. In my opinion, though, Bell Canyon isn’t very interesting, especially after hiking through the 1-mile slot of Little Wild Horse. I suggest turning around after this first long slot and retracing your steps. Even though there are a few more short slot sections in the loop, they are nowhere near as spectacular as the first section.
To get to the slot section of Little Wild Horse, you first hike for 15 minutes up a wash. It gets more and more interesting as you go. Depending on seasonal conditions, there may be a few puddles of standing water in the wash and throughout the entire slot. Note that if it has been an exceptionally wet year, you may have to walk directly in the water to get through.
The Joint – Canyonlands National Park
- Slot length: 50 feet
- Approach to slot: Drive 4WD road or hike 6 miles one-way
- Location: Canyonlands National Park, Needles District
- Fee: Canyonlands National Park entrance fee or NPS Annual Parks Pass
- Access: If backpacking, apply for an overnight permit. If you’re just day hiking, you’re fine.
The Joint is not technically a canyon, but fits the DetourOn criteria for being featured in this blog post. The Joint itself and any hike that leads to it is one of my favorite areas to explore in the Southwest.
The quickest way to get to the Joint is to drive down Devil’s Lane. It is aptly named. You must have a 4WD high-clearance vehicle and skills to drive it! If you don’t, you’ll have to hike. Numerous hiking trail combinations will get you there, each with unique features. Consult the Needles District hiking map for trail options.
At 6 miles one-way, Elephant Hill Trail to Chesler Park is the shortest route. My favorite for views and variety, however, is Big Spring. Though doable to hike to the Joint and back in one day, I recommend getting an overnight backpacking permit to truly experience the trails of Chesler Park.
Ironically, the San Rafael Swell and Canyonlands are also great destinations for wide open spaces.
The Narrows – Zion National Park
- Slot length: 16 miles
- Approach to slot: 4 miles upstream from Riverside Walk or 12 miles downstream from the Narrows Trailhead
- Location: End of Scenic Drive of Zion National Park
- Fee: Zion National Park entrance fee or NPS Annual Parks Pass
- Access: Must make a reservation for the park shuttle or apply for an overnight permit
The Narrows is hands-down the most talked-about experience in Zion National Park. In fact, it is part of Zion Canyon, formed by the fast-flowing Virgin River. Hiking the entire length of the Narrows is even more intimidating than Angels Landing, and requires a lot of preparation. Aside for luck in obtaining an overnight permit that coincides with good weather, you must also prepare to walk in the cold river for over 60% of the hike. Read more about it here.
The narrowest part of the Narrows is about 20 feet in width with canyon walls over 1500 feet tall! Again, I’m stretching it just a little bit by including the Narrows in this post. A person can’t quite touch both sides of the canyon at the same time. I’m justifying it because this part, called Wall Street, is so striking.
If you don’t want to deal with backpacking or obtaining a permit, the quickest and easiest way to get to Wall Street is to hike upstream from Riverside Walk. Factor about 1 mile per hour on the way up because you’ll be walking against the current most of the way. You’ll be twice as fast on the way back.
No matter how you choose to get there, I definitely recommend renting canyoneering boots and a walking stick from the Zion Adventure Company to make your journey easier.
Map of our 5 top slot canyons
Want to make a slot canyon road trip? Visit DetourOn, choose your destinations, and download a roadbook for your travels. Happy trails!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah Mountain
1. the Narrows - Zion National Park
Best Slot Canyons Ut
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.
Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah State
Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah Mountains
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