A long, narrow and deep channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls that are typically eroded into either sandstone or other sedimentary rock Southern Utah has the densest population of slot canyons in the world with over one thousand slot canyons in the desert lands south of Interstate 70
Overview
Slot canyons are long, narrow, deep channels with sheer rock walls, typically carved in sandstone or limestone by flash floods, and Utah has some of the best in the world, mainly in the Navajo and Wingate sandstones of the southern part of the state. Because of the flash flood danger, always check the weather forecast (including for storms upstream), and never enter a slot canyon if rain is expected.
Top Slot Canyons
- Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass, and Paria Canyon: near Kanab
- The Narrows and Subway (Zion): a river hike and a technical route that needs a permit
- Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyon: an easy loop near Goblin Valley
- Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch: from the Hole-in-the-Rock Road near Escalante
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Slot canyon", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Featured Utah Slot Canyons
Buckskin Gulch
Longest and deepest slot canyon in the Southwestern United States (and possibly the longest in the world) at over 13 miles (21 km) long making it a major attraction for hikers and canyoneers
Longest and deepest slot canyon in the Southwestern United States (and possibly the longest in the world) at over 13 miles (21 km) long making it a major attraction for hikers and canyoneers
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The Dye Clan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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Kanarra Falls
Scenic slot canyon hiking route featuring stream crossings, narrow sandstone walls, waterfalls, and ladders that ascend through a water-carved gorge.
Difficulty: Moderate
Little Wild Horse Canyon
One of the most popular slot canyons in Utah, and are within the Muddy Creek Wilderness.
One of the most popular slot canyons in Utah, and are within the Muddy Creek Wilderness
deborah.soltesz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Paria River
Tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 95 miles (153 km) long, flowing through roadless slot canyons along part of its course and is one of the most popular destinations for canyoneering in the region.
Tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 95 miles long, flowing through roadless slot canyons is one of the most popular destinations for canyoneering in the region
Wire Pass
Narrow slot canyon to a petroglyph panel and the narrows of Buckskin Gulch
Narrow slot canyon to a petroglyph panel and the narrows of Buckskin Gulch