Utah's Best Slot Canyon Hikes

Willis Creek Slot Canyon is the perfect complement to its fabulous canyon friends. With its trickling creek and gorgeous canyon walls, Willis Creek is the friend you almost forgot to invite but turns out to be the life of the party. The trail starts out through brush and trees, then takes a turn down toward Willis Creek. Absolute best opportunity is Little Wild Horse Canyon, which will be on your route between Torrey and Moab. It's paved all the way to the trailhead. Best slot experience you'll have. In Moab, look at a half day canyoneering adventure. We like Ephedra's Grotto which features a couple of cool rappels. Cliffs and Canyons offers the trip. Casino slot machines big wins video bonus.

Added by Sam Watson

There is something magical and sobering about exploring slot canyons in Southern Utah.Hiking, swimming and sometimes squeezing through high sandstone walls carved by the elements over thousands of hundreds of thousands of years (you read that right) makes you keenly aware of how powerful the natural world around us is. Hiking through Utah's slot canyons is a unique experience every Utahn should try. The sheer sandstone walls on both sides of you create a quiet sanctuary, and you'll feel as though you're immersed in nature. There's one slot canyon in the Beehive State that has a unique feature – absolutely amazing acoustics.

Easy access. Awesome slot canyon experience. Easy to hike (no ropes required). Dog friendly. Out-and-back hike. 4 miles roundtrip.

Willis Creek Slot Canyon begins at the Willis Creek Trailhead, located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The trail is very easy to find and follow. It begins winding through junipers for several hundred feet before dropping gradually into a wash, at which point it meets up with Willis Creek. Be ready to get your feet wet, because the creek and the trail are interwoven for the rest of the hike. Almost immediately after joining up with the creek, walls of winding sandstone rise sharply up from either side of the trail, creating a great slot canyon experience. This is a fantastic hike for families, those with dogs, or anyone who wants to experience an excellent slot canyon without having to use ropes. The creek winds through alternating sections of slot canyon and washes for several miles. Most hikers enjoy Willis Creek as an out-and-back hike, walking until they feel ready to turn back (roughly two miles out, two miles back).

Getting there: Willis Creek is accessible from the Willis Creek Trailhead, located nine miles from the town of Cannonville, Utah. There is a BLM Visitor Center in Cannonville, which is a great place to stop in to get information about the current conditions of Willis Creek and surrounding areas. Drive south on Main Street until Cottonwood Road splits off to the right. This is a dirt road, and might be difficult to drive in wet conditions. Follow this for six miles until you reach a small parking lot that has a sign for Willis Creek. Park here, and have fun on the hike!

Willis Creek is dog friendly, so bring your dog if you so choose. Just remember to clean up after them so as to preserve the experience for others. Like all slot canyons, be sure to check the weather prior to hiking. If there is any chance of rain, save Willis Creek for another day. Flash floods are a possibility if rain is in the forecast, and can be deadly. Stopping in at the BLM station before hiking will give you all the information you need in this regard.

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Reviews

Justin Schaefer

🥈 Contributor

over 2 years ago

Great hike

Easily accessible (we were able to drive to it with a Hyundai Elantra). The hike itself was very easy for all fitness levels, was not crowded, and had beautiful scenery!

5.0

Kelley Dodge

🥈 Contributor

almost 4 years ago

Wyandotte casinos in oklahoma. Easy Slot Canyon

Very easy to get to and nice that you can walk right into the slot canyons unlike others where you need ropes or rappelling gear. We were one of two groups on the trail all day. It's a nice, quiet escape from the crowds at Bryce Canyon.

5.0

Reid Gulley

about 4 years ago

great family hike

Dirt road with a couple steep grades. Great hike hopping back and forth over the stream. Wonderful terrain and color. Slot sections are impressive easy walking, not the super narrow shimmy sideways between the sides slots. Bring some snacks and enjoy.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.

The San Rafael Swell is a mecca of hiking and camping, all free thanks to BLM Land. It's a great area to explore off trail, find rock art, hike through slot canyons, and traverse over red and white slick rock. The Swell offers something for everyone, so it's great for the whole family, kids, and dogs included. The best times of year to hike here are early Spring and late Fall when the temperatures are cooler. From arches to the best views, here are the 6 Best Trails in the San Rafael Swell!

Utah's Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah

Farnsworth Canyon is located in the San Rafael Swell, and offers a little something for everyone. A short slot canyon, pictographs, exploring off trail, and desert flowers in the Spring all abound. Hiking to the pictographs is only 1.5 miles one way, so even kids can enjoy this hike and 'hunt' for the pictograph.

Hurst Natural Bridge is located in the San Rafael Swell, high above Ernie Canyon. There is no trail to reach Hurst Bridge, making a fun day for those who like adventuring and exploring. This hike is best during Winter, early Spring and late Fall when the temperatures have cooled off. If you like hiking to lesser known ares of The Swell, this is the trail for you!

Wild Horse Window Arch sits in the heart of the San Rafael Swell near Goblin Valley State Park. This arch is actually visible from the road leading to Goblin Valley yet very few make the trek to this cool arch. There are several nicknames such as 'The Eye of the Swell' and 'The Eye of Sinbad'. Older maps refer to it as Skylight Arch, but whatever you call it, it's worth the hour or two it will take to see this massive area. There's no official trail, and that's partially what makes this fun.

Five Hole Arch (aka Colonnade Arch) is located south of Green River, UT off a rough 4×4 dirt road. The arch is so special it has two names – Five Hole Arch for the obvious five holes nature has created, and Colonnade Arch for the resemblance to Colonnade architecture (a row of columns supporting a roof). Some maps only show one or the other name, and some only label it as 'Natural Arch'. Whatever you prefer to call it, this arch is quite stunning once you find it. Dogs and kids should be able to do this hike, just make sure to bring plenty of water even though the distance is short.

Little Wild Horse Canyon is the perfect introduction to slot canyons in Utah – it was actually my first slot canyon in April 2014. This slot canyon is easy to navigate, the trail is well marked, it's usually free of standing water, the canyon walls are just wide enough for you to fit through, you can drive to the trail head in a small, compact car (most slot canyon entrances require a 4X4 car to get to the TH), you can hike this within 2 hours, and it's like a fun maze for kids and dogs.

Easy access. Awesome slot canyon experience. Easy to hike (no ropes required). Dog friendly. Out-and-back hike. 4 miles roundtrip.

Willis Creek Slot Canyon begins at the Willis Creek Trailhead, located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The trail is very easy to find and follow. It begins winding through junipers for several hundred feet before dropping gradually into a wash, at which point it meets up with Willis Creek. Be ready to get your feet wet, because the creek and the trail are interwoven for the rest of the hike. Almost immediately after joining up with the creek, walls of winding sandstone rise sharply up from either side of the trail, creating a great slot canyon experience. This is a fantastic hike for families, those with dogs, or anyone who wants to experience an excellent slot canyon without having to use ropes. The creek winds through alternating sections of slot canyon and washes for several miles. Most hikers enjoy Willis Creek as an out-and-back hike, walking until they feel ready to turn back (roughly two miles out, two miles back).

Getting there: Willis Creek is accessible from the Willis Creek Trailhead, located nine miles from the town of Cannonville, Utah. There is a BLM Visitor Center in Cannonville, which is a great place to stop in to get information about the current conditions of Willis Creek and surrounding areas. Drive south on Main Street until Cottonwood Road splits off to the right. This is a dirt road, and might be difficult to drive in wet conditions. Follow this for six miles until you reach a small parking lot that has a sign for Willis Creek. Park here, and have fun on the hike!

Willis Creek is dog friendly, so bring your dog if you so choose. Just remember to clean up after them so as to preserve the experience for others. Like all slot canyons, be sure to check the weather prior to hiking. If there is any chance of rain, save Willis Creek for another day. Flash floods are a possibility if rain is in the forecast, and can be deadly. Stopping in at the BLM station before hiking will give you all the information you need in this regard.

We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more!

Reviews

Justin Schaefer

🥈 Contributor

over 2 years ago

Great hike

Easily accessible (we were able to drive to it with a Hyundai Elantra). The hike itself was very easy for all fitness levels, was not crowded, and had beautiful scenery!

5.0

Kelley Dodge

🥈 Contributor

almost 4 years ago

Wyandotte casinos in oklahoma. Easy Slot Canyon

Very easy to get to and nice that you can walk right into the slot canyons unlike others where you need ropes or rappelling gear. We were one of two groups on the trail all day. It's a nice, quiet escape from the crowds at Bryce Canyon.

5.0

Reid Gulley

about 4 years ago

great family hike

Dirt road with a couple steep grades. Great hike hopping back and forth over the stream. Wonderful terrain and color. Slot sections are impressive easy walking, not the super narrow shimmy sideways between the sides slots. Bring some snacks and enjoy.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.

The San Rafael Swell is a mecca of hiking and camping, all free thanks to BLM Land. It's a great area to explore off trail, find rock art, hike through slot canyons, and traverse over red and white slick rock. The Swell offers something for everyone, so it's great for the whole family, kids, and dogs included. The best times of year to hike here are early Spring and late Fall when the temperatures are cooler. From arches to the best views, here are the 6 Best Trails in the San Rafael Swell!

Utah's Best Slot Canyon Hikes In Utah

Farnsworth Canyon is located in the San Rafael Swell, and offers a little something for everyone. A short slot canyon, pictographs, exploring off trail, and desert flowers in the Spring all abound. Hiking to the pictographs is only 1.5 miles one way, so even kids can enjoy this hike and 'hunt' for the pictograph.

Hurst Natural Bridge is located in the San Rafael Swell, high above Ernie Canyon. There is no trail to reach Hurst Bridge, making a fun day for those who like adventuring and exploring. This hike is best during Winter, early Spring and late Fall when the temperatures have cooled off. If you like hiking to lesser known ares of The Swell, this is the trail for you!

Wild Horse Window Arch sits in the heart of the San Rafael Swell near Goblin Valley State Park. This arch is actually visible from the road leading to Goblin Valley yet very few make the trek to this cool arch. There are several nicknames such as 'The Eye of the Swell' and 'The Eye of Sinbad'. Older maps refer to it as Skylight Arch, but whatever you call it, it's worth the hour or two it will take to see this massive area. There's no official trail, and that's partially what makes this fun.

Five Hole Arch (aka Colonnade Arch) is located south of Green River, UT off a rough 4×4 dirt road. The arch is so special it has two names – Five Hole Arch for the obvious five holes nature has created, and Colonnade Arch for the resemblance to Colonnade architecture (a row of columns supporting a roof). Some maps only show one or the other name, and some only label it as 'Natural Arch'. Whatever you prefer to call it, this arch is quite stunning once you find it. Dogs and kids should be able to do this hike, just make sure to bring plenty of water even though the distance is short.

Little Wild Horse Canyon is the perfect introduction to slot canyons in Utah – it was actually my first slot canyon in April 2014. This slot canyon is easy to navigate, the trail is well marked, it's usually free of standing water, the canyon walls are just wide enough for you to fit through, you can drive to the trail head in a small, compact car (most slot canyon entrances require a 4X4 car to get to the TH), you can hike this within 2 hours, and it's like a fun maze for kids and dogs.

Moonshine Wash slot canyon is tucked away in the middle of the San Rafael desert, and is now one of my favorite non-technical slot canyons in Utah. The best section of the Moonshine Wash slot canyon lasts for about 1.5 miles, and at every nook and cranny the lighting can look very different and vibrant. There are a few chock stones creating a fun obstacle for hikers, where you have to use a down climbing technique called stemming (also chimneying). Both techniques require you to push your weight up against the slot canyon walls to help maneuver down drops more than 6 ft.

Camping

Utah's Best Slot Canyon Hikes

The Wedge Overlook is located in the San Rafael Swell only 3 hours from Salt Lake City. Often referred to as the 'Little Grand Canyon', this destination offers expansive and stunning views similar to Grand Canyon National Parkwithout the tourists, and fees, yet also allows dogs off leash. The Wedge was created from the San Rafael River carving into the terrain over millions of years. From the overlook you can see the San Rafael River, Window Blind Peak, Sid's Mountain Wilderness Study Area, and the lower Buckhorn Wash area. Camping is free.

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