Slot Canyons Near Escalante Utah

Slot Canyons Near Escalante Ut

While a majority of hikers flood to other places like the slot canyons and rivers, you may find that you are the sole visitor at this peaceful location. The hiking is easy and flat. There is no specific trail to follow-just a pathway winding around the various formations. Take your time and enjoy. To get to Devil’s Garden from Escalante: 1. L-R, Joshua Kitchen, Nicole Reynolds in the slot canyon, Peek-A-Boo gulch, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah Feb. 15, 2014 Photo by Drew Allred, St.

General Information:
Dry Fork contains the four slot canyons of Peekaboo, Spooky, Brimstone and Dry Fork Narrows. These canyons can be combined in many fashions to create an adventure lasting from several hours to a full day of exploring. The slots are accessible to most hikers and photographers with only a small amount of scrambling required. Fall and spring are the preferred seasons to do this route. The routes can also be done in summer as there is shade available.

The complete Dry Fork route is rated 1A III using the Canyon Rating System. In normal conditions you might find some wading ranging from ankle to knee deep depending on recent conditions. It's also possible you will find the slots completely dry. Go prepared for at least some minor wading. Most groups will find a short 50-foot section of rope useful for handlines and to help in raising and lowering backpacks. This is a desert environment so bring plenty of water.

A GPS is helpful in identifying waypoints and verifying your location. Good map reading skills and the USGS 7.5' Map titled 'Big Hollow Wash' are valuable tools. All waypoints and maps for this route use the WGS84 datum. Navigation for this route is moderate. There is hiker trail for most of the way which is not difficult to follow. Mistakes in navigation are easy to overcome and correct on this route. These canyons have a moderate flashflood danger, check the local weather before entering these slot canyons.

1. Slot Canyons Slot canyons are narrow gorges in soft rocks like Utah’s layered sedimentary deposits. They are named for their narrow width, often squeezing down to a sliver. It is said that Utah has the largest concentration of slot canyons in the world, and many of them are easily accessible.
2. The diversity of geology is incredible in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Unlike the narrow Spooky slot canyon, Willis Creek is a wide (almost spacious!) slot canyon to explore. The best time of day to hike in this slot canyon is early, when the sun starts to pour into the canyon and bounce light and shadow off the walls.

Trailhead Information:
From Main and Center in the town of Escalante, Utah travel 5.0 miles east on Highway 12 to the signed Hole-In-The-Rock Road (N37° 43' 39', W111° 31' 54'). The maintained gravel road is located on the south side of Highway 12. Turn south (right) on Hole-In-The-Rock Road and travel 26.3 miles to the signed Dry Fork Road (N37° 28' 00', W111° 13' 27'). Turn east (left) and follow the Dry Forks Road 0.7 miles to a junction (N37° 27' 56', W111° 12' 44'). Turn north (left) at the junction and follow the road 0.9 miles to the Dry Fork Trailhead.

The Dry Fork Trailhead is accessible to all vehicles in normal weather conditions. A vehicle shuttle is not required to complete this route.

Route Information:
From the Dry Fork Trailhead(N37° 28' 38', W111° 12' 58') follow the well used trail north for one mile as it descends to the bottom of Dry Fork Coyote Gulch (N37° 28' 52', W111° 13' 05'). Once in the canyon bottom you can hike north (upstream) for 1/2 mile and explore the Dry Fork Narrows.

Once you have explored the Dry Fork Narrows return to where you entered the wash and hike downstream a short distance to Peekaboo Canyon (N37° 28' 53', W111° 13' 00'). Peekaboo and Spooky are normally done as a loop hike by going up Peekaboo and down Spooky. This is the easiest method of defeating the obstacles you will face. This direction also puts the most difficult obstacle, which is the entrance into Peekaboo first on the to-do list. If you can enter Peekaboo you should have the skills required to complete the loop.

From the entrance of Peekaboo climb up the 20-foot dryfall using steps carved in the sandstone. Those less skilled might find a partner assist and the use of a handline to be helpful. Once up the dryfall hike upstream and enjoy the show. This canyon contains several nice arches and bridges. Continue up through the narrows until the canyon opens up and a cairned hiker trail (N37° 29' 08', W111° 13' 00') exits the wash to the east (right).

Follow the hiker trail 1/2 mile east to the top of Spooky Canyon (N37° 29' 06', W111° 12' 34'). From the top of Spooky hike downstream and enjoy the narrows. You will encounter some great narrows and a couple minor obstacles in this slot but nothing too difficult. Once the canyon opens up continue hiking downstream until you reach its confluence with Dry Forks (N37° 28' 49', W111° 12' 29').

Once you reach Dry Forks hike downstream (east) for 3/4 miles to where a wide side canyon known as Brimstone Canyon (N37° 28' 32', W111° 11' 47') enters from the north (left). Hike up the wide wash a short distance to where the canyon narrows quickly to become a deep and skinny slot canyon. Hike upstream as far as you wish, but use caution, at least one hiker has become wedged in Brimstone and had to be rescued. The secret to success is not to force your way into any extremely tight constriction. Once you are done exploring Brimstone hike back up Dry Fork and return to the trailhead.

Trapped Hiker:
In 1996 a Tucson, AZ, photographer was stranded for eight days in Brimstone Canyon of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. He survived on a swallow of water per day while awaiting rescue. He was found by a search dog when the dog tracked him to the edge of the crevasse. When rescued, he was taken to the hospital, treated for dehydration and released after a couple days' rest.

Video:
Enjoy a short video of hiking Peek-a-boo and Spooky Canyons. Video courtesy of Dan Burt.

Slot Canyons Near Escalante Utah

Controversy:
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was declared in September 1996 at the height of the 1996 presidential election campaign by President Bill Clinton, and was controversial from the moment of creation. The declaration ceremony was held at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and not in the state of Utah. The Utah congressional delegation and state governor were notified only 24 hours in advance. This was seen by many as a transparent political ploy to gain votes in the contested state of Arizona. That November, Clinton won Arizona by a margin of 2.2%. Local officials and Utah Congressman objected to the designation of the Monument, questioning whether the Antiquities Act allowed such vast amounts of land to be designated a monument.
Environmental groups had long sought wilderness designation for the lands inside the monument. While designation of the monument is not legally the same as wilderness designation, for most practical purposes it is very similar. Bill Clinton significantly improved his standing with environmentalists by designating the monument.

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At over 1 million acres, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the largest national monuments in the United States. The majority of the land within the monument is wild, rugged, and much of it is inaccessible except on foot. Ancient cultures inhabited for thousands of years, and extensive ruins and evidence of these thriving civilizations can be found throughout the area. The monument has been in the news recently due to a political decision to reduce its size by 47%, and adventurers who’ve heard this buzz are eager to explore and understand for themselves what this southern Utah treasure is all about.

The area is full of some of the world’s most dramatic geologic features, from thousands of slot canyons cut by the Escalante River, to sandstone arches, natural bridges, and tall, skinny spires peeping throughout the landscape. If you’re planning a trip in the Escalante area, at least a day hike is a must. Below you will find a list of some of the best day hikes in the national monument.

If you have more time, the best way to experience the Grand Staircase-Escalante is to take a backpacking trip (read about our backpacking tips) or take a guided trip with REI to nearby Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon National Park to see those highlights of the region and get a chance to explore the Grand Staircase-Escalante NM.

Favorite Day Hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

If you only have a day to see a glimpse of this massive monument, make sure you check out one of the hikes included below. After your hike, check out our favorite local coffee shop, Kiva Koffeehouse, for a refreshing frozen lemonade and sweet treat to bring those blood sugar levels back up. 😉

Hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls

The trailhead to the Lower Calf Creek Falls hike can be found off of Scenic Byway 12, at the Calf Creek Campground. It is 11 miles south of Boulder, Utah and 15 miles east of the town of Escalante. The trail offers a beautiful hike through a verdant desert oasis with tall multi-colored sandstone walls towering above on either side. If you look closely, you’ll see remnants of ancient cultures painted on the walls. Hiking through this lush canyon, you will understand why the Fremont people lived here for hundreds of years.

For the most part, you will hike along Calf Creek on a very sandy path. Parts of the trail do not follow near the creek and in these sections the trail is very exposed with little shade. Make sure to bring water shoes, sun protection, and plenty of water. The final destination is the cascading 126-foot Lower Calf Creek Falls, perhaps the most beautiful waterfall of Escalante. Be sure to budget time for swimming and cooling down beneath the falls!

• Distance: 6 miles (out-and-back)
• Elevation gain/loss: 521 feet
• How long it takes: 3-4 hours

Hike the Escalante River to the Natural Bridge

A hike along the Escalante River to the Escalante Natural Bridge is a great introductory day hike for getting to know Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This hike begins at the Escalante River trailhead, just off Scenic Byway 12 and slightly north of the Boynton Overlook. There are multiple river crossings on this hike, so be sure you are prepared to get your feet wet (and then sandy)! You’ll see multiple highlights in just a few miles – first the natural bridge, then petroglyphs, then an arch, and then a cliff dwelling in view on the south side of the river.

Temperatures heat up in the summer, so plan accordingly by starting your hike early, bringing proper sun protection, and plenty of water. Read more about hiking the Escalante River.

• Distance: 4.4 miles to Escalante Natural Bridge (out-and-back)
• Elevation gain/loss: 291 feet
• How long it takes: 2-3 hours

Explore Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons

Are you looking to explore the slot canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante? Peek-a-boo and Spooky slot canyons will fill you with amazement at the power of water that has formed such incredible, narrow, and textured canyons. These slot canyons are easily accessible off of the Hole-in-the-Rock Road a dirt road that is accessed from Scenic Byway 12 twenty-six miles south of the town of Escalante. This hike is quite popular, partially due its proximity to another famous hike, the dry fork of Coyote Gulch. If you struggle with claustrophobia, Peek-a-boo and Spooky slot canyons may not be the best hike for you. At some points, the canyon shrinks to only 18 inches wide and you often have to walk sideways. It can create a challenging situation if someone is coming from the other direction! If you’ve never explored slot canyons before, read up on these tips for hiking slot canyons in Escalante before you go.

• Distance: 3.5 miles (lollipop-loop)
• Elevation gain/loss: 459 feet
• How long it takes: 2-3 hours

An Escalante Epic: Hike to Coyote Gulch

A “best hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante” list wouldn’t be complete without Coyote Gulch. You have most likely seen the infamous image on the internet of Stevens Arch, the incredibly immense sandstone structure that stretches above the Escalante Riverbed (if not, it’s pictured below). While well-known, this hike is not for the faint of heart, and those wanting to hike to Coyote Gulch in a day should be prepared for a long day of scrambling, hiking in sand, and through the Escalante River. In fact, we do not recommend doing this hike in just one day. The canyon is best explored when you are able to take your time and spend at least two nights of backpacking along the Escalante River, discovering the many slot canyons, arches, and bridges along the way!

You will need a Coyote Gulch permit if you plan to do a backpacking trip. The access point to begin this hike is located near water tanks on Fortymile Ridge, southwest of the confluence of Coyote Gulch and Escalante Canyon.

• Distance: 11.5-17 miles roundtrip
• Elevation gain/loss: 2,775 feet
• How long it takes: 10-12+ hours

Out-and-Back hike of Willis Creek Slot Canyon

The diversity of geology is incredible in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Unlike the narrow Spooky slot canyon, Willis Creek is a wide (almost spacious!) slot canyon to explore. The best time of day to hike in this slot canyon is early, when the sun starts to pour into the canyon and bounce light and shadow off the walls. It is also a great hike to find shade on warm summer days but is not recommended during the late summer monsoon season when slot canyons can quickly become dangerous due to flash floods. The trailhead is off Scenic Byway 12 on a dirt road (BLM500) best for 4WD or high clearance vehicles.

• Distance: 4-5 miles (out-and-back)
• Elevation gain/loss: 816 feet
• How long it takes: 1.5-3 hours

The best time to hike in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is early spring and fall, to enjoy cooler weather and avoid the dangers of flash flood season in late summer.

You do not need to obtain permits to do these day hikes in Grand Staircase. If you are camping or backpacking, you will need overnight permits. Permits are typically free and can be obtained at visitor centers or at developed trailheads.

Find out about REI’s multi-day adventure trips nearby in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.