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Southern Utah is home to thousands of slot canyons. The below are all relatively easy to access and do not require ropes or climbing skills. There is often water in slot canyons, so bring shoes and shorts that can get wet. Be careful with the weather as distant rain storms can trigger deadly flash floods.
10. Wall Street - Bryce Canyon National Park
Wall Street in Bryce Canyon is one of the deepest sections of Hoodoos in the park. There is a deep canyon that runs between them with a hiking trail that descends from Sunset Point. The canyon isn’t a traditional slot canyon, but is deep and narrow despite not being very long. Wall Street is usually closed in the winter due to risk of falling ice, but its one of the best hikes in the park when its open in summer.
9. Neon Canyon - Glen Canyon Recreation Area
Neon Canyon is a side canyon that runs into the Escalante River in the Glen Canyon area of Utah. Neon is not very narrow, but has several sections which are deeper than it is wide. The highlight of Neon Canyon is an alcove and very unique arch at the endpoint of the canyon, called the “Golden Cathedral”.
8. Spooky Gulch - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Spooky Gulch, located right next Peek-a-Boo Gulch in the Escalante area, is one of the narrowest slot canyons on the list. You'll need to walk sideways to squeeze through long sections, and it can get crowded during peak times. It's best to visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
7. Zebra Slot - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Zebra is my personal favorite slot canyon in the Escalante Area, featuring candy-like stripes in the sandstone. Zebra gets very narrow and almost always has water in it. It also has a tapered bottom which makes it tricky to navigate. This slot is brutal to attempt barefoot… Bring shoes and clothes that can get wet!
6. Paria Canyon - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Paria Canyon begins in Utah and ends in Arizona where it runs into the Colorado River. The canyon has tall walls of red rock throughout and gets quite narrow in numerous spots. The river flows wall to wall in the upper sections of the canyon but it widens out significantly as it approaches the Colorado.
5. Fifty Mile Canyon - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
50 Mile Canyon has several sections of narrow slot canyons before it opens up with large repeating alcoves further downstream. The slot sections are unique and winding and sometimes form canyons within canyons as a multi-layered system. This canyon has been partially buried by Lake Powell. When the lake is low, more of the canyon is above water.
4. the Joint Trail - Canyonlands National Park
The Joint Trail is unlike anything else in Utah. While most slots are formed solely by water erosion, the Joint Trail formed from massive layers of sandstone that cracked under their own weight. This resulted in a grid of slot canyons with perpendicular intersections and caverns. Reaching it requires a full day of hiking in the Needles District of Canyonlands.
3. Buckskin Gulch - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
With 13 miles of narrows, Buckskin Gulch is one of the longest continuous slot canyons in the world. It runs into Paria Canyon, so the bottom entry point can be seen as a detour from Paria’s “Whitehouse” Trailhead. Visitors who want a shorter hike can also see Buckskin near its upper entry point at the “Wire Pass” Trailhead. Backpackers can through-hike Buckskin and Paria if they obtain a permit.
2. the Narrows - Zion National Park
The Narrows in Zion is the largest canyon on the list by far. There are areas with walls well over 1,000 feet tall and sometimes just 20 feet wide. Visitors can day-hike up the Virgin River to see the narrowest and deepest sections of the canyon. The Narrows can also be done top-down with an overnight permit from the Park Service. Try to do this hike as early in the morning as possible, or during fall/winter to escape the crowds. You can rent waterproof gear at the park.
1. Halls Creek Narrows - Capitol Reef National Park
Halls Creek stands out for its unique patterns of alternating slot canyons and alcoves. There are giant, cathedral-like amphitheaters with rock roofs which transform into narrow slots and back to alcoves again. There are open sections with long sight-lines and other sections with lower walls forming canyons within canyons. It is truly unique and awe-inspiring. Halls Creek takes serious effort to reach, with a 10+ mile one-way hike just to reach the start of it. The best way to see it is with an overnight backpacking permit from the park.
Thank you for reading this post! These rankings are just for fun and are based on my own experiences. If you would like to see more of my recommendations for national parks, please visit my website www.thewildiswaiting.com