A maze of soaring sandstone towers surrounds you on this moderate hike to a high ridge above Onion Creek. The crowds kind of ruined it for us. You can turn around at any point, but most people hike/ wade as far as the Wall Street section, which is three miles in. You dont need any special gear or technical skills to do Zebra, but good fitness and prior experience in slots will help a lot, and you cant be claustrophobic or afraid of wading through dirty water. Entry Fee: $5 per person and $5 per dogPermits required? All of the slot canyons in Utah are prone to dangerous (and deadly) flash flooding. 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. Moab visitors are conveniently close to what is considered one of the world's best canyoneering destinations. Location: Valley of Fire, Nevada Distance:0.5 miles Difficulty: Easy Read more: Exploring the Valley of Fire. Mileage: 4 miles from Butler Flat Road or around 12 miles round-trip from the Elephant Hill TrailheadElevation gain: 567 to 1,200 ftDifficulty: moderate to difficultEstimated Time: 2 hours or 6 hoursEntry Fee: $30Permits required? Almost anyone will enjoy this family-friendly Utah slot canyon. Visit Utah writer Kristen Pope met Dr. Jayne Belnap, one of the worlds top experts on biological soil crusts, to learn about the importance of biocrusts to Utah's desert landscapes, and how to protect them. The Narrows is the most famous Zion slot canyon, but there are also a bunch of other nice ones near the national park. Too bad you cant (legally) take the Apache Tears home with you anymore. You can visit both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon in one day. So, feel free to explore as much or as little of this canyon as you want. Antelope Canyon is a favorite with photographers, and for good reason. You may have to do a little bit of driving, but its worth it! Mileage: 6.4 milesElevation Gain: 889 feetDifficulty: ModerateEstimated Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes. Easily accessible. Use this map if you are driving from Moab. Spooky lives up to its namesake. 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. To help you choose a hike outside the parks, weve selected a few of the best. Join a small group to hike along drainages and canyons that lead to the rappels. LEARN MORE: How to Loop the Fold in Capitol Reef National Park. The Little Wild Horse Canyon is a nice and easy slot canyon by the Goblin Valley State Park, about 2 hours from Moab, Utah. You can find this canyon along BLM road 98 about 40 minutes east of Moab. Bring layers. I hiked that one about 5 years ago, so I dont have a blog post for that trail. However, you do need a permit for the lesser-visited top-down hike.Pet Friendly? From the Coyote Buttes/Wire Pass Trailhead, head down the wash until you reach an obvious slot. Mileage: 5.9 milesElevation gain: 636 ftDifficulty: DifficultEstimated Time: 3 hoursEntry Fee: nonePermits required? Brimstone Gulch is what many Utah slot canyons aspire to be. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Kanarra Falls is a permit-only hike and is limited to 150 hikers a day, so make sure to snag yours up ahead of time. The end result is a narrow canyon with very high walls. Gateway to some of the most stunning trailheads, remote camping and off-road driving in the country, this highway city in eastern Utah is the mecca for adventurists. Length 8.4 miElevation gain 541 ftRoute type Out & back. The trailhead can also be a bit tricky to find the first time. Morning and afternoon trips available. Yes, but unlimited. Dont worry youll be rewarded with and adventure-filled day in a stunning setting. Some canyons feature sections requiring canyoneering or rock scrambling experience while others have you hiking through a creek or standing water. Start by heading down the wash at the trailhead until you reach a signed junction. This slot canyon may not be as narrow as the others on this list, but its colorful walls make it very unique and well worth the visit. The big highlight are the unique patterns along the canyon walls a lot like zebra stripes. For the full list, read our Best Hikes in Zion guide. Extra socks arent a bad idea either especially if there are reports of water in the canyons. A waterfall and wildflowers. To help you choose a hike outside the parks, we've selected a few of the best. Season: April - November. In spite of the difficulty and awkwardness, we still had tremendous fun doing this hike, and its undoubtedly one of the best slot canyons in Utah! Learn more about this unforgettable attraction and plan a visit. Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. 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. Finally, we reached the Mary Jane slot canyon waterfall! Best of all, this slot dumps you right at the intersection in Buckskin Gulch where you can see some petroglyphs on the canyon wall. Buckskin Gulch is labeled as the longest slot canyon in the world, 21 miles one way. Flash flooding can be very dangerous in a slot canyon. Buckskin Gulch is the longest slot canyon in the United States, and its believed to be the longest slot canyon in the world 21 miles one way! No guide is necessary. Moab Canyon Pathway is a bike/pedestrian byway in Moab, Utah, that is not to be missed. Recommended by James Ian from Parks Collecting. Youll need a 4WD high-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead, which is really just a stop along a dry river bed. Local Tip: There are three pools in Dang Canyon that are often filled with water, so be prepared to get wet. Best for: Families can totally do this slot. The diversity and beauty found in Utah has often been captured by women. 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. It offers a visually-stunning Utah slot canyons experience and makes the entire hike worthwhile. Canyoneering: Begin with an unforgettable 4-6 hour hiking and rappelling experience in either Medieval Chamber (challenge level: easy) or Entrajo Canyon. An incredible canyoneering introduction, with two rappels: 100' into a hidden chasm, and 110' off a giant rock arch! 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. Its a very photogenic hike, with nice red rock colors and steep canyon walls. 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 . 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. This one is technically located in Arizona, but its very close to the southern border of Utah and you can visit it on a day trip from there. Allow 3-4 hours and you will get an amazing experience. This leads to smaller crowds and a more peaceful hike! Its definitely one of our favorite Utah canyons. Often overlooked in favor of other Utah slot canyons, Ding and Dang are well-worth doing if you like to scramble and climb around rocks. The canyon walls get higher as you hike further into the canyon, and eventually will reach upwards of 100 ft! Experience one of the most unique slot canyons in Utah with the Spooky and Peek a Boo Canyon loop. The canyon isnt really a slot canyon. Some locals of Boulder, Utah, call this slot canyon on the Burr Trail, Singing Canyon. When you go, you know exactly why. It's narrower, but . The American Southwest is a playground for hikers, photographers, and adventurers. Follow a winding canyon stream out to the Colorado River. Generally, spring and fall are the best seasons for desert hiking, since the temps are mild and the weather is manageable. 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 . The solitude is one of the appealing features of this trek. After months of being at home, weve all been disconnected from each other but connected permanently to our screens. Planning a trip to Utah? Be on the lookout for petroglyphs, blooming cacti, and more. (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. Duration: Approximately 5 hrs. And then when youre done, just go back the way you came. Antelope Canyon is located in Arizona, right near the border with Utah. Oftentimes in canyoneering we find ourselves descending into unlikely places where most folks normally wouldn't desire to go. Fun rock formations. Directions From Moab, take U.S. Highway 191 north to . As we set up camp near Arches National Park, the sun lit up the bluffs and the light melted into the western horizon. Secondly, Coyote Gulch is mentioned as a potential hike you are planning to do in the future. 10 Amazing Slot Canyons to Explore. The Red Hollow Slot Canyon is a short and easy hike in Orderville, Utah, not too far from the popular Zion and Bryce national parks. Dont trash the canyon! This canyon is popular for horseback riding, and the whole trail is straightforward and pretty much flat, so overall Id rank it as one of the easiest and most family friendly slot canyon hikes in Utah. But, its really stunning and well worth a visit. Its a hidden gem located off the beaten path, so you arent likely to see many other hikers. Location: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, near Cannonville Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Easy Read more: Hiking Willis Creek Canyon. Headquarters Canyon is short, sweet, and super easy to hike, and in my opinion, the more thrilling of these two slot canyons. So important I said it twice. The out-and-back hike ends with a three-story waterfall hidden in a slot canyon. Youll definitely want to wear water/hiking shoes. 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. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use It's easy, it's great for all ability levels and ages, and . Flash flood hazards are a real threat and floods kill people in slot canyons every year. Best time to go: Spring and fall are ideal, but you can hike here year-round. Druid Arch. 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! Try to pack at least 3-4 liters per person. Hiking within the narrow canyon, hopping and skipping over the creek, and watching as the canyon walls steadily grew higher and higher over us as we headed downstream was such a great experience. 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. As one of the top hikes in Escalante, this slot canyon sees surprisingly little traffic. As the longest-known slot canyon in the world, Buckskin Gulch is a true wonder. Mileage: 1.9 milesElevation Gain: 492 feetDifficulty: EasyEstimated Time: 1 hour. Take a winter break to refresh with a visit to a few of these places. 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