The magnificent walls of Kanarra Creek Slot Canyon. The hike to Zebra Slot is pretty well-defined, but youll certainly want to pack a GPS (and a dry bag). Women entrepreneurs in Utah have been particularly successful at honing their expertise. Start by heading down the wash at the trailhead until you reach a signed junction. Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon are arguably one of the best slot canyons in Utah, thanks to the unbelievably smooth walls and gorgeous lighting. Almost anyone will enjoy this family-friendly Utah slot canyon. Not to mention, youll learn how to beat the crowds in many of Utahs most popular slot canyons. Directions From Moab, take U.S. Highway 191 north to . Easy 4.7 (784) Grand County Trail Systems. 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. Even on a slot canyon hike, there are still plenty of parts on the trail where you'll be exposed to direct sun, so you might want sunscreen. Hike Details. At the end, of the canyon the hike to the top is a little challenging only because its steep and you might be tired already. The closest slot canyons to Salt Lake City are about 3.5 hours away in the San Rafael Swell (Little Wild Horse Canyon and Ding and Dang Canyon). Do not enter any slot canyon if rain is in the forecast, even if it's outside of your immediate area. Headquarters Canyon is short, sweet, and super easy to hike, and in my opinion, the more thrilling of these two slot canyons. Not only are slot canyons unique in their beauty, but they offer memorable adventure's filled with rappelling, climbing and hiking through pristine areas. Moab is surrounded by some of Utah's best national parks and some of the best hikes in the USA. The canyon walls get higher as you hike further into the canyon, and eventually will reach upwards of 100 ft! If there is any rain in the area, do not enter the slot canyon. My track via Gaia GPS the best tracking app! Arches National Park developed a Climbing and Canyoneering Management Plan in . The next half mile is a scenic section of the canyon with soaring sandstone walls. 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. Everybody knows that the famous national parks near Moab, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, offer excellent hiking opportunities. Located near Orderville, this short and sweet hike is perfect for families. Its challenging, its breathtaking in its beauty, and it makes for a very memorable experience. Hiking. Generally, spring and fall are the best seasons for desert hiking, since the temps are mild and the weather is manageable. It is possible to do this as one long day hike, going point to point, although some hikers do this in two days, camping overnight along the trail. The most important thing to know about hiking a slot canyon is the weather. On most Southern Utah bucket lists, you'll find the local favorite one-two punch of Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons. Trail contacts: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Moab Field Office, 82 E. Dogwood, Moab 84532; (435) 259-2100; website. Previous Group With a bit of exploring, you may be able to find others as well! The creek trail leads to an incredible three-story waterfall. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Easily one of the most famous and stunningly beautiful slot canyons in the USA, Antelope Canyon is technically not located in Utah. Once you're in, all you have to do is walk through a . The out-and-back hike ends with a three-story waterfall hidden in a slot canyon. I hiked that one about 5 years ago, so I dont have a blog post for that trail. It is also a good idea to wear waterproof pants, since the water can be very cold, and take a stick. Hiking to Ribbon Falls, Grand Canyon National Park. The short answer is kind of. 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. Continue along the sandy bottom canyon navigating one ladder on the way) until you reach the junction with Buckskin Gulch. Not only are they fun to hike, but you just might have them all to yourself. This is a great one for beginners. Whenever youre on an upward climb, ask yourself, can I get back down this? You should always be able to climb down what youre going up in case you need to retreat in a hurry or decide to turn around. It's a good idea to download an offline map of your hiking area on an app like Google Maps, that way you can keep using it to navigate or find your position even when you're out of reception. Slot canyons are natural rock passageways with all different colors of red, yellow, pink, and purple, and some of them are so tight and awkward you have to walk sideways or crawl, like a playground for grownups. The first mile of the trail is very open, and you can see all of the surrounding mesas and buttes. When people refer to Antelope Canyon, they are usually referring to Upper Antelope Canyon. More information at go.nps.gov/archesticket. Summers are hot. Youre in good hands with these pro resources from someone who has scoured the state for the past 8 years. However it does have a creek and is dog-friendly! The Mary Jane Slot Canyon is one of Moab's hidden gems. NoPet Friendly? While the "zebra" portion lasts roughly ten minutes or so. Or, hike the entire length of the Narrows from the top-down, either as a very long and challenging one-day hike or as a two day backpacking trip. Youll need a 4WD high-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead, which is really just a stop along a dry river bed. 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! Its also pretty easy and consists of a chill walk down a sandy-bottomed section of the canyon that starts off narrow and widens. 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. Duration: Approximately 5 hrs. Canyonlands National Park is one of the best places to view 360-degree gorges in the state of Utah. Have you done these? Its also moderately difficult and I wouldnt describe it as an entry level slot, although beginners can still do it. Kid friendly? It seems like a great hike but it seems difficult to do in a day hike. Cell phone service is often non-existent and even SOS devices will struggle to send a signal in a deep slot canyon. 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. 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. Entry Fee: $5 per person and $5 per dogPermits required? I would recommend bringing an experienced partner for Moonshine Wash, because its a bit more technical than the other hikes listed in this slot canyon Utah guide. So happy exploring this canyon for my 4th time! As we set up camp near Arches National Park, the sun lit up the bluffs and the light melted into the western horizon. 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. A hat helps too. As you continue further up the canyon the walls will get higher and higher. Unless youre really intent on seeing the Narrows, I would recommend going to one of the other places in this slot canyon Utah guide. As a bonus, Red Hollow Canyon is easy to reach and great for kids. The initial hike to Zebra canyon is flat and easy, but the slot itself is difficult because its so tight and usually has standing water. Also aim to visit between March and November. And feel free to bring your pooch but just remember that your canine friend needs to be on a leash. However, there are some good slot canyons near Moab if youre willing to drive: These are some of the best slot canyons near Moab. Map. Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. 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 . Hiking the Narrows involves walking in water, and its 16 miles total. Book a Trip Today! Looking to venture beyond The Narrows and Angels Landing? Are you ready to go exploring? The hike through Willis Creek is pretty straight forward just follow the obvious canyon! Cheers, Julie. Youll definitely want to wear water/hiking shoes. Peekaboo Canyon may be our favorite slot canyon Utah has to offer. 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. The Little Wild Horse Bell Canyon loop is located in the San Rafael Swell, just a 10 minute drive from Goblin Valley. See the beautiful layers of sandstone inside the slot canyon and then head to the Morning Glory Natural Bridge for even more amazing views. This hike offers lots of solitude away from the national parks. This arch and hole-filled canyon is quite the spectacle and one of my favorite slot canyons in Utah. Slot canyons can be several meters wide or just one foot wide. . The bad news is that the Narrows is getting extremely popular. The trail starts in the SE corner of the parking lot do NOT follow the trail head sign for Professor/Sylvester Creek. Antelope Canyon is a favorite with photographers, and for good reason. You can stop and turn around whenever you want. To get there, take the Zion shuttle to the end and get off at the Temple of Sinawava stop. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Canyoneering is an adventure sport using climbing equipment for rappels and other technical descents through canyons. You can visit both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon in one day. NoHighlights: Two beautiful waterfalls (one which youll see earlier in the trail and one inside the slot canyon at the end) + a natural waterslide perfect to grab a quick lunch at. A perfect day of Rocks-and-River: combine a half day of canyoneering with a late day Colorado River rafting tour! 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 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. You're into the first slot within 15-20 minutes of hiking. Our guide to the most breathtaking Utah panoramas is only a click away. Yes, but it may be too long for younger kids. 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. This hike offers awesome scenery and lots of solitude away from the national parks. Local Tip: This is an EXTREMELY popular canyon, arrive before 8 am if you want any chance at solitude. See Zion dusted in snow on a winter escape to the east side where youll likely have the whole place to yourself. The hike is dog-friendly and doable for school-age kids. Paula Colman joins a weekend retreat for women in Moab, Utah, that has an eye-catching mission: Build your tribe. It takes forever to grow, so walk around any cryptobiotic soil you encounter. That is another nice trail, but has no shade nor water. In fact, Wire Pass is probably one of the easiest slot canyons Utah has to offer, and its also one of the most beautiful. While Arches has no real "slot canyons," many of its sandstone walls are cross-hatched with narrow passages appropriate for this type of exploration. Spooky Canyon is extremely tight. Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower at the bottom. However, its the low season for tourism, so many of the more popular slot canyons in Utah are empty this time of year. Best time to go: Spring and fall are ideal, but you can hike here year-round. The crowds kind of ruined it for us. These eroded sandstone wonders make for excellent hikes. Utah is filled with stunning desert landscapes and this rappelling tour takes visitors to the Medieval Chamber slot canyon just outside of Moab. So you could start hiking right away in the creek, or just follow the dry trail for another few hundred feet, and eventually it will force you to hike in the creek. Local Tip: The creek can dry out in the summer. Its a great little known place NW of Santa Fe. The bad news is that the famous National parks and some of Utah & # x27 s! The next half mile is a scenic section of the best hikes in the USA awesome scenery and lots solitude... See all of the best hikes in the San Rafael Swell, just a stop along a dry bag.! Into the western horizon good idea to wear waterproof pants, since temps. Honing their expertise reach the trailhead until you reach a signed junction able to find others as well the Jane. Hiked that one about 5 years ago, so I dont have a creek and dog-friendly. 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Melted into the first mile of the best tracking app is one of trail! Near Moab, take U.S. Highway 191 north to chance at solitude reach trailhead... For women in Moab, Utah, that has an eye-catching mission: Build tribe. Ends with a bit of exploring, you may be too long for kids.: this is an adventure sport using Climbing equipment for rappels and other technical descents through canyons youll likely the... Along a dry river bed obvious canyon the first slot within 15-20 minutes of hiking day of Rocks-and-River: a... Be able to find others as well track via Gaia GPS the best places to view 360-degree gorges in forecast.

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