Dry Fork Slot Canyons
Around Escalante - Utah
Note: On dirt roads, road conditions can change constantly. Therefore, we strongly recommend that everyone check the road conditions before each trip. The most current information is usually available on the BLM website in Escalante.
GSENM-Road-Condition-Report
Our visits: So far 1 visit in November 2009
Dry Fork Slot Canyons
Description of how to get there: In principle, the drive is quite simple. You drive 25.8mi on the Hole in the Rock Road and then turn left onto BLM 252 Rd. Coordinate: Latitude 37.466624, Longitude -111.223908. After a mile you keep left and after another mile you have reached the parking lot and trailhead to the slot canyons of the Dry Fork. Coordinate: Latitude 37.476754, Longitude -111.220259.
Hike Description: During our visit in November 2009, we first had problems finding the right way down. We didn't have a GPS device at the time and so didn't know exactly where we had to go. But it is quite simple, because you only have to go down. The trail is mostly over slickrock and so there are not always well-trodden paths. As always in open terrain a GPS device is very useful. Once you've reached the bottom of the wash, you first turn left. Here is the relatively flat Dry Fork. We hiked about 500m into the relatively wide canyon.
Trail length: 4.3mi roundtrip - all canyons
Altitude difference: 751ft
Time needed: 3-4 hours
Difficulty level: easy to strenuous - Depending on which canyon you visit, the requirement changes.
Our rating: Quite a nice start. For really nice colors the canyon is too wide. For those who don't want to climb (Peek-a-boo Canyon) or squeeze through narrow crevasses (Spooky Canyon), this is the canyon for you.
Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyons
Hike Description: Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon is located about 656ft east of Dry Fork. The entrance to Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon is on the left and it is easy to miss. It is even harder to enter the canyon because you must climb up a wall that is about 13ft high.This is only for someone who likes to climb vertical walls. The sandstone is grippy and there are some hollows to hold on to, but it is still not easy to get up here. The canyon itself is quite short, but requires some climbing too, because it has no flat bottom.
Our rating: If you put up with the climb, this is by far the most interesting canyon here, also in terms of photo opportunities. So if you like climbing, you will like it here very much.
Spooky Slot Canyons
Hike Description: If you hike a few hundred meters east along the wash from Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon, you'll reach the entrance to Spooky Slot Canyon. This one is not for people with claustrophobia, because the canyon is narrow, very narrow. But it' flat and purely from that aspect, it would be very easy to walk.
Our rating: If you like squeezing through narrow crevices and looking for adventure, you will like it here. The canyon is rather not, in the actual sense beautiful, it offers more of a challenge and an adventure.
One final note. The Peek-a-boo and also the Spooky Slot Canyon can be hiked through. That means you can climb out of both canyons at the end. In addition, both canyons can be connected by a loop. But you have to climb and you might need a rope. We have not hiked the loop ourselves and can therefore not really comment on it.