Always pack out your trash, including toilet paper and dog poop! You can easily explore Zion or Arches National Park from Moab. Its an essential part of keeping erosion in check in the desert. At the end, youll reach the Joint a narrow slot section that feels like youre in a trash compactor. Antelope Canyon. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. Be sure to check out. UTAHS MIGHTY 5: Utahs Mighty 5 is a collection of five national parks in Utah. Its located less than an hour from the popular Bryce and Escalante areas, so its definitely a good one to add to your Utah road trip! 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. 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. rappelling, walking across fins, exploring slot canyons and enjoying the magnificent views from a whole new . . Its narrow and the colors are terrific. The river bed is uneven and the water is flowing, so having a stick to stabilize you is very helpful. 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. You dont need a permit for the bottom-up hike. Arches National Park is one of the top national parks in America: its a 73,234-acre wonderland of eroded sandstone fins, towers, ribs, gargoyles, hoodoos, balanced rocks, and, of course, arches northwest of Moab. As you visit, do your part to keep Utah Forever Mighty. While Arches has no real "slot canyons," many of its sandstone walls are cross-hatched with narrow passages appropriate for this type of exploration. Location: Zion National Park Distance: 16 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Read more: Complete Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows. Lots of solitude. Its not only ungodly hot, but the monsoon season in the desert brings torrential rains to canyon systems. 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! Flash flood hazards are a real threat and floods kill people in slot canyons every year. The entire trip is around 12 miles, but the long distance is totally worth the effort. Our guide to the most breathtaking Utah panoramas is only a click away. Want to bring your furry friend on your next vacation? The creek trail leads to an incredible three-story waterfall. Do not enter if rain is in the forecast, even if its outside of your immediate area. It can be blazing hot in the desert, but slot canyons see little sun. Headquarters Canyon is short, sweet, and super easy to hike, and in my opinion, the more thrilling of these two slot canyons. We have assembled a short list of some of the best slot canyons in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Copyright 2023 Utah Office of Tourism. Kid friendly? See Zion dusted in snow on a winter escape to the east side where youll likely have the whole place to yourself. From the Coyote Buttes/Wire Pass Trailhead, head down the wash until you reach an obvious slot. From there, it is a one-mile easy walk on a paved trail alongside the river to the start of the slot canyon and The Narrows hike. 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. This is a great one for beginners. Here are several tours and entrance tickets to popular slot canyons in the American Southwest. Otherwise, you can get stuck in a slot canyon. Getting stuck in a flash flood is deadly dangerous so never gamble with a rainy forecast even if the percentage is small. Mileage: 1.9 milesElevation Gain: 492 feetDifficulty: EasyEstimated Time: 1 hour. The other good news is that the Dry Fork Narrows are wider and tamer than the slot canyons at Spooky and Peekaboo, so you can just relax and enjoy the scenery as you walk through. Start at the Little Wild Horse Canyon entrance first to avoid swimming up traffic in the narrows. Moab is surrounded by a sea of buckled, twisted and worn sandstone sculpted by millennia of sun, wind and rain, Previous Group A perfect day of Rocks-and-River: combine a half day of canyoneering with a late day Colorado River rafting tour! It was only 70F in Moab, but the dogs were already hot. Unless youre really intent on seeing the Narrows, I would recommend going to one of the other places in this slot canyon Utah guide. HIKES IN ZION: Angels Landing, the Zion Narrows, Observation Point, and the Watchman Trail are some of the top hiking trails in Zion. Located just down Hole-in-the-Rock Road from Zebra Slot Canyon are two thrilling slot canyons to explore. Sequoia - Kings Canyon; Joshua Tree National Park; Professor Creek and Mary Jane Canyon Trail. How a series of hiking and camping trips in Utahs parks and wilderness put Elisabeth Brentano on a transformative journey from urbanite to nature lover. This leads to smaller crowds and a more peaceful hike! This type of maneuver was new to us, but we had a lot of fun learning how to do it. . Of course I cant make a list of the best slot canyons in Utah without mentioning Antelope Canyon, which is famous for being one of the most beautiful places in America! Its one of the best slot canyons in Utah Ive ever seen, although the tight Zebra Canyon is a bit tricky to navigate compared to other slots. This is a great trail to hike when Moab's weather is warmer, and you, the dogs, or kids need to . You can find this canyon along BLM road 98 about 40 minutes east of Moab. Its almost like far-reaching fingers of deep-cut canyons throughout the region. Willis Creek was a blast to hike. Scratching your name on the walls and destroying ancient rock art with your own markings are actually federal felonies, so dont do it. Utah is filled with stunning desert landscapes and this rappelling tour takes visitors to the Medieval Chamber slot canyon just outside of Moab. Headquarters Canyon & Surprise Canyon. 2-3 people - $124/person. A good one for beginners is Little Wild Horse Canyon near Goblin Valley. Check often, including the day you hike. 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. Be on the lookout for petroglyphs, blooming cacti, and more. We have not hiked all of these slot canyons, at least not yet. A permit is necessary, even if you do it as a day hike. Flash flooding can be very dangerous in a slot canyon. For many hikers, this is a hike that makes the bucket list. Dont trash the canyon! If you visit youll probably find standing water at the bottom. Although most slot canyons in Utah require special gear to visit, this list of the best Utah slot canyons features perfect hikes that you dont need any special training to enjoy. Sure, any of Utahs Mighty 5 national parks are spectacular year round covered in snow, peppered with spring wildflowers, and baked in sunshine. Families with dinosaur enthusiasts (of all ages) will enjoy this interesting short hike to a large boulder with dinosaur tracks above the Colorado River. 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. The World Travel Guy 2023 Fun to explore and extremely photogenic, slot canyons provide a unique hiking experience. Map. NoPet Friendly? Your email address will not be published. If youve hiked in the desert youve probably seen the raised, bumpy soil that dots the landscape. And because this slot canyon is so amazing and photogenic, its on this list of the best slots canyons in Utah. Local Tip: There are a lot of other amazing things to do in the San Rafael Swell, so its worth it to spend a couple of days exploring this under-rated area. Experience one of the most unique slot canyons in Utah with the Spooky and Peek a Boo Canyon loop. Here are the places that seven of Utahs most well known women writers knew and loved most. Its definitely one of the top Utah slot canyons! You should see the creek within 5 minutes, and be hiking in a generally SE direction. 14+ people - call for pricing and availability. Local Tip: This is an EXTREMELY popular canyon, arrive before 8 am if you want any chance at solitude. Yes, but there is an 8-foot ladder you will need to lift your dog down. But, its really stunning and well worth a visit. Book Now: Lower Antelope Canyon / Antelope Canyon X Tour. Should you visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? You can turn around from here, or continue to the road. Its a fun and unique hiking challenge. A slot canyon is a narrow canyon that is formed from water rushing through rock. Moab is surrounded by some of Utah's best national parks and some of the best hikes in the USA. Follow this itinerary for a week-long winter road trip across the snow-covered desert of Southeastern Utah. 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 . The best way to visit this slot canyon is by entering from Wire Pass, that way you get to see two slot canyons for the price of one! More Information: Dead Horse Rim Loop Trail. 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. Find a guide to take you canyoneering in Utah. From here youll see the Dry Fork Narrows to the left (save that for last) and a slot canyon that starts about 10-feet up a rock wall. All in all, this was one of our favorite Utah slot canyons! 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. Its possible to hike the entire Narrows in one full day if you get a permit in advance, but most people just go partway and then turn back (no permit required for that). The Narrows is closed during the spring months while the snow is melting, creating high flow rates in the river. Previous Group American Southwest Slot Canyons: On a Map, More Information about the American Southwest. Follow the faint trail to the right once you exit the canyon until you reach the obvious start of Spooky Canyon. Which slot canyon is your favorite? Some of the best hikes in Utah are these incredible canyons so be sure to add these destinations to your bucket list! Hiking. Finally, we reached the Mary Jane slot canyon waterfall! Its also one of the most popular hikes in the area so make reservations well in advance (like months) and do not expect to have this place all to yourself. The only con is that its extremely popular, so a tour guide is required nowadays, and you might have to make a reservation months in advance. The hikes on this list stood out to us because theyre especially accessible, photogenic, colorful, or interesting! The Peekaboo Slot Canyon is like an adult playground, with lots of fun obstacles to cross and wonderful red rock walls to admire. Discover where adventure and learning converge across iconic rivers and ancient canyons. Youll be using plenty of basic canyoneering and climbing skills such as stemming and bridging (if you dont know what these are, then this is likely a somewhat dangerous adventure for you). We thought the slot canyon section at Wire Pass was even more photogenic than Buckskin itself. Book a Trip Today! Location: Utah-Arizona border near Kanab Distance: 21 miles Difficulty: strenuous (because of the distance). Distance: 8.1 miles for the full Little Wild Horse Bell Canyon Loop Difficulty: Moderate Time: 4 to 6 hours Getting Here: This hike is located in the San Rafael Swell of Utah. The uplift from the Colorado Plateau causes the water in bigger canyons to move more quickly, which cuts deeper canyon walls. Reservations open three months in advance. This is another neat slot canyon hike located about 2 hours from Moab, but its not for beginners. A steep hike leads to a hidden valley high above Moab and Spanish Valley. You simply hike up the river as far as you want to go and turn around when you start to get tired. This hike offers lots of solitude away from the national parks. Make your way over a few rock obstacles (youll need to use your hands) until you empty out on the backside of the canyon. Its spectacularly colorful and photogenic. Of course I have to mention the mother of all slot canyons, the Zion Narrows! Local Tip: The creek can dry out in the summer. No.Highlights: Scrambling, canyoneering skills, beautiful rock formations and a stunning drive to the canyon. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. About 1/2 mile in, make sure you turn left, following the creek. Dogs are allowed, but swimming is often required.Highlights: Zebra-striped canyon walls. Slot canyons are one of the top, hidden treasures found within Southern Utah's diverse redrock landscape. The Buckskin Slot Canyon is great for photos, and its also notable for having some petroglyphs that are easy to reach. 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. When you venture out to these two slot canyons, you are really going off-the-beaten-path. Hiking to Ribbon Falls, Grand Canyon National Park. Location: Kanarraville, Utah Distance: 3 to 4 miles, round trip Difficulty: Moderate. 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. Trail contacts: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Moab Field Office, 82 E. Dogwood, Moab 84532; (435) 259-2100; website. These water-cut canyons transport you to another world. Too bad you cant (legally) take the Apache Tears home with you anymore. Great hike for those seeking solitude. Our whole trip is about 11 days and we will be traveling down to Zion and Bryce as well so we really dont have a preference on location. If youre looking for how to enjoy the best slot canyons in Utah like a pro, and not a tourist, then youre in the right place! The second waterfall comes into view a bit later. Looking for advice on slot canyons to hike for a 1/2 to full day. But so nice and compact. Entry Fee: $5 per person and $5 per dogPermits required? Not only are they fun to hike, but you just might have them all to yourself. 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. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. Its easy, its great for all ability levels and ages, and with the creek and high canyon walls, you can stay cool (almost) even during the hotter summer months. 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! No guide is necessary. It seems like a great hike but it seems difficult to do in a day hike. Another neat slot canyon is great for photos, and more permit for the bottom-up hike contents (,! Forever Mighty really going off-the-beaten-path of your immediate area hiked all of these slot canyons and enjoying the magnificent from... Extremely photogenic, colorful, or continue to the right once you exit the until! 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