Tips for Hiking in Utah’s Slot Canyons
Utah’s Slot Canyons are located in one of the most rugged and remotest parts of the United States. The region is heaven for hiking, photography, and self-discovery. But, it’s easy to get lost in the 1+ million acres of deserted wilderness. Preparation is absolutely critical so you can enjoy the experience and return home safely.
In this article, I share all the tips we found in our research and used for our hikes in Southern Utah’s national monuments from our hiking home base in Escalante.
With some preparation, slot canyon hikes are the most fun and memorable. You’ll want to go canyoneering again and again. Its totally addictive!
Contents
- Navigate to and in Utah’s Wilderness
- Dress for Hiking in Utah’s Slot Canyons
- Food & Drink on the Trails
- Facilities at Trailheads in Escalante area
- Water Safety in Slot Canyons
- Electronic Equipment to bring on Canyon hikes
- Emergency Preparedness for Canyon Hikes in Utah
- Permits and Fees
- Bringing Kids and Dogs in Canyon Hikes
- Related Stories
We’ve compiled this information from personal experience and research to help you plan your slot canyon hikes in Utah. But if you’re new to hiking canyons, join a trained professional or a group hike. It’ll be more fun and relaxing knowing that things are taken care of. If you’re going with a guide, they will provide you all the information needed for a great time. We got a lot of help from Jeff of the Desert Dawn before our trip. There are many outfitters in Escalante, you can find one that works great for you.
Right Vehicle to Drive
Drive an SUV or high-clearance vehicle. For some hikes you’ll need an All Wheel Drive (AWD), especially for wet or snow covered roads. Many of the trails require several miles of drive on dirt road like Hole-in-the-Rock road or Burr Trail. A well cushioned drive will help you arrive in style and comfort.
Map and Navigation on Utah’s Trails
Get offline maps for navigating the trails because most trails have no signs. You can easily get lost in the 1M+ acres of land for days or even forever. Some trails are marked by cairns (1-3 feet tall stacks of rock) and branches. But, everything looks the same in this vast wilderness, and it is easy to miss the cairns.
Do not get lost. It can be life threatening. Have a clear and well-rehearsed plan for navigating the wilderness.
We bought the professional version of the All Trails app. We practiced hiking with locally downloaded maps at parks near home, with cellular connectivity turned off. This gave a good sense of the All Trails functionality without signal. Hint – the functionality was very different from what we had imagined. Be sure to practice before you head into the wilderness in Utah.
Important Apps for Hiking in Utah’s Slot Canyons
Download, setup, and test all the apps you need before heading out to the trailhead. You may not have signal outside of town.
- We used All Trails for navigating.
- Some people use Outlandish iPhone app to see camping spots, trail markers etc on the dirt roads.
- Be absolutely sure to check your weather app and ask the ranger for rain forecast in the region.
Dress for Hiking in Utah’s Slot Canyons
Weather changes very quickly in the canyons – between times of the day, water action, shade, etc. In the summer months of June-August, the desert is very hot, but it can feel 25 degrees cooler in the canyon. Dress in layers irrespective of weather so you can add or remove layers as temperature rises and drops.
Most hikes have few trees for shade so you’ll need sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen. Keep a light scarf to protect your face and eyes from sand if its a windy day.
What to Wear in Summer
In summer its gets extremely hot, commonly over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll want to dress in light, quick-drying, breathable fabric. Many people wear shorts but if you’d like to protect your skin from scraping against the canyon walls, keep it covered.
What to Wear in Winter
In winter it is very cold in the shade but pleasant in the sun. It also snows in winter. You should be able to remove and add layers easily. During our December visit, we had two layers of pants and 3-5 layers of tops. I needed them all.
We got ultra-comfortable jackets, hiking pants, boots, and socks that are stylish and have room for layers. The staff at REI was very helpful in finding just the right clothing that fit me comfortably and worked on the trip.
Shoes for Slot Canyon Hikes in Utah
The absolutely most important wearable is a good pair of hiking shoes! Be sure to get a perfect fit with a good grip. The terrain changes from slippery rock, fine sand, sheer cliff, and rough rock in no time. You’ll need shoes that will make your hikes comfortable. Bad shoes can make your feet feel miserable very quickly on these hikes.
If you’re planning to hike in a canyon with water, I recommend taking good water shoes. Walking barefoot on flash flood runoff or opaque water may lead to undesirable surprises.
If you’re hiking in winter, be prepared for snow. Take the metal claws that fit your shoes. They are small (fit a 2-3″ bag) and easy to keep in the backpack. As the temperature fluctuates, the snow may conceal slippery ice. The claws will give you much-needed traction. We got ours from REI near home in California.
If you’re going on a long hike, be prepared with good hiking socks and shoes. The hiking guys provide a more detailed post on how to prepare and prevent blisters on your feet.
Food & Drink on the Trails
Water, #1 Most Essential Supply
In the summer heat of 100+ F, you will need many gallons of water. Based on your hike, take sufficient water to last until you get to a reliable source of water. Take a double filter to clear river water on longer hikes.
In December we finished a regular water bottle each for every 2-3 mile stretch. Even in summer, it is dry and one gets thirsty easily.
Snacks and Food
There are no restaurants or snack places in the canyons or mountains. You can only eat what you take with you, but slot canyons can get very narrow, too narrow for big backpacks. So, its best to take compact snacks like dried fruit, nuts, nutrition dense energy bars, and small mandarin oranges in summer.
Best way to carry water while hiking
For hikes in Utah’s canyons, we found hydration bladder, such as a Camelback or Platypus to be most effective. It stays inside the backpack and allows us to drink through a connected tube. I usually don’t like drinking from tubes because of the taste but carrying bottles on long hikes is inconvenient and heavy.
The downside of using a hydration bladder is that it’s not obvious how much water you have remaining. On our Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyon hike in winter, we ran out of water in the hydration bladder about two miles from the car. We luckily made it back to the parking lot without passing out because it was cold. Had it been summer, this would have been a much more dangerous situation.
Facilities at Trailheads in Escalante area
Most of the hikes in Escalante are in the wilderness of Souther Utah. There are no facilities and no marked trails. Take everything you’ll need and leave no trace.
Restrooms at Slot Canyon Trailheads
Many of the hikes have restrooms in the parking lots. However, be prepared to not have any facilities. We kept pee cups just in case. Luckily there were restrooms at all the trailheads we visited.
Visitor Centers and Giftshops
There are no visitor centers, staffed information booth or gift shops at the trailheads in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument or surrounding areas.
Visit the beautiful Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante for all the information you need. Make the visit before you head to the hiking trail!
Water Safety in Slot Canyons
Do NOT go into a slot canyon if it has rained in the past 24 hours or if there is storm forecast
Flooding in the Canyons
Rain for many miles around can quickly cause flash floods in the canyons. Every year, hikers fall victim to flash floods. Do not become a statistic. Check the weather forecast. Do NOT go into the slot canyons and gulches if there is chance of rain. Be sure to check with the Interagency Center staff for guidance before heading out on the trails.
Water on the Trails
It is common for some of the hikes like Zebra slot canyon to have water year-round. It could be knee-deep or waist-deep or more. You may need to cross streams multiple times. You may need to remove shoes and socks. In winter, this can be frigid cold. During our winter trip, we skipped the trails which had water. But, those who went, found it very difficult to stay warm.
If you’re going into trails with water, it will be very helpful to take waterproof shoes and neoprene socks.
Walking Pole
If you’re going to trails with water or need to cross streams, it’s hard to tell the depth because the streams are not clear. You’ll need walking poles to check the water depth before stepping in to a stream. To keep things compact, you’ll want to carry a light collapsable walking pole.
Electronic Equipment to bring on Canyon hikes
Camera
The canyon lands of Southern Utah are incredibly beautiful. Be sure to take your camera equipment if you’re into photography. Nirmal took his Nikon and we also used our iPhone cameras. The photos were great either way.
Hands-Free Camera (GoPro)
A hands-free camera would be a great way to film your trip without the baggage. In particular, your adventure in the narrow slot canyons and climbs on sheer rocks will be a lot easier to film without having to hold on to a camera.
Charger
Take an extra charger for the phone, especially if you’re using the phone for photography and navigation. If you’re lost, get stuck or injured, it can be your lifeline, even without connectivity.
How to carry camera while hiking
You will be scraping against the narrow canyon walls. So it’ll be better to carry the camera and equipment in a case, secured with straps to minimize damage.
For your phone or small camera, use a body pouch where you can easily secure the device or a jacket pocket with zipper.
Emergency Preparedness for Canyon Hikes in Utah
Know your Equipment
Whether you’re going with a guide or on your own, know your hiking equipment and how to use it when needed. Hopefully, you’ll never need it but the insurance will go a long way.
On some popular hikes with steep drops and climbs, and other hikers may have left ropes you can use. But on the other hikes, you’ll need to carry your own ropes. Learn to inspect a rope (or any equipment) for damage. You don’t want it to snap while you’re hanging on it for your life.
First Aid
It is extremely easy to get hurt in the rough terrain of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Be sure to carry your compact first aid kit with –
- Cleaning wipes
- Band-aids for scrapes from the rocks or stumbles.
- Ibuprofen for pain in case someone is injured.
- Bandage wrap in case of a sprain.
SOS Beacon
SOS Beacon for a situation when you need to call emergency services to rescue.
Satellite phone
Satellite phone for the rare scenario that you need to call someone and cant wait to get back.
Permits and Fees
Many areas require day permits or park fees. Others like Spooky and Peekaboo don’t. Check before you go.
Some places like the Calf Creek Falls hike, have a self-payment booth in the parking lot. Carry cash for parking fees.
Bringing Kids and Dogs in Canyon Hikes
Most of the popular slot canyon hikes would be a lot of fun for kids. However, you know your kids best, their abilities, focus, sense of adventure etc.
Dogs on leashes are welcome in some slot canyons. Even when there is no mention of dog restrictions, be sure to check that the route is dog-friendly. Kanarra Canyon and Zion Narrows are examples of hikes to not bring dogs.
Here are some essentials to carry on your hikes in Escalante of Southern Utah’s Canyons
– Lots of water
– Snacks
– Camera(s) and battery
– Layers of clothing
– Sun glasses and hat
– Hiking stick
– Hiking and waterproof socks and shoes
Read more details above.
Long hikes in the dry sandy trails can cause blisters. You can prevent them with the proper hiking socks and shoes. Check the hiking guys link above in ‘what to wear’ section.
With proper safety preparation, slot canyon hikes are the most fun hikes ever!
I thoroughly enjoyed climbing the rocks.
In summer, hopping over streams and wading in cool water must be absolutely fun.
For the geology buffs or curious cats, the rock formations are fascinating as they tell stories of the past, present, and future filled with drama and adventure.
Artists and photographers would never want to leave this place of infinite stories.
Best of all, the night sky is breathtaking for stargazing. The clear sky is darkest in these remote places and reveals the wonders of the universe.
Some of the best hiking trails in and around Escalante are
– Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyon
– Zebra Canyon
– Calf Creek Falls
– Burr Trail Singing Canyon
– Escalante River Trail
If you’re new to hiking the canyons, go with a trained professional or join a group hike with knowledgable hiker(s). It will be more fun and relaxing knowing that everything is taken care of. Escalante has many outfitters during the hiking seasons.
In December when we went hiking in the off-season, all guides were closed. However, Jeff from The Desert Dawn, spent hours with us on the phone, ensuring that we had all the information we need for fun times around Escalante.
We hope our experience gives you the tools to start your own fun trip. Remember –
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
– Lao Tzu
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