- After a great start with Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons, I continued down Hole-in-the-Rock Raod for more infamous canyon experiences.Referencing the fantastic book, Hiking the Escalante by Rudi Lambrechtse, I discovered extensive non-technical canyoneering hikes in the area and this one at the Dry Fork Trailhead couldn't be missed.
- The crack has become a slot canyon. Slot canyons—the narrow, tall channels through otherwise solid rock—can be found anywhere in the world, but are particularly numerous in the southwestern U.S.
- Slot canyons are nice because you don’t have to make very many decisions in them. Carved by wind, water and dinosaur tears, slot canyons can be hundreds of feet deep and so narrow you have to cram yourself through sideways. (There’s one near Zion called Fat Man’s Misery.).
- Tunnel Slot Canyon Escalante
- Tunnel Slot Canyon
- Tunnel Slot Canyon Escalante
- Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyons
Grand-Staircase Escalante is filled with slot canyons. Including Round Valley Draw, Tunnel Canyon, and Zebra Canyon to name a few. It’s like a slot canyon haven. After visiting Buckskin Gulch I’ve become kind of obsessed with slot canyons. While Buckskin was the biggest and Round Valley was the funnest, Zebra Canyon is definitely the prettiest. Zebra Canyon Zebra and Tunnel Slot are both unique and distinct spots. Often photographed, Zebra lives up to its name with amazing pink stripes. Tunnel Slot, as the name implies, is a short section of slot resembling a tunnel.
Peek-a-Boo Canyon, Dry Fork Narrows and Spooky Gulch are three easily accessed slot canyons from the Dry Fork Trailhead off Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Don't miss them if you made it this far into Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
After a great start with Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons, I continued down Hole-in-the-Rock Raod for more infamous canyon experiences. Referencing the fantastic book, Hiking the Escalante by Rudi Lambrechtse, I discovered extensive non-technical canyoneering hikes in the area and this one at the Dry Fork Trailhead couldn't be missed. This includes Peek-a-Boo Canyon, Dry Fork Narrows and Spooky Gulch.
Getting to Dry Fork Road and Spooky Canyon, Peek-a-Boo Slot and Dry Fork Canyons
As of June 2019, Hole-in-the-Rock Road is definitely passable by 2-wheel drive cars all the way to Dry Fork Road but with a few caveats. (Call the inter-agency center for up to date details) After the turnoff for Zebra Gulch, the road becomes exceptionally washboard. I noticed at least one person changing a flat; not exactly uncommon out here. The road was in otherwise good shape but very slow going.
From the beginning of Hole-in-the-Rock Road as it turns off from Utah Route 12, its 26 bumpy miles to Dry Fork Road. Low clearance vehicles should drive the road to the first bend and park in an unmarked parking area on the right. Past this point, the road is sandy and rocky- high clearance only. The 1.0 mile from the 2-wheel drive parking area to the actual trail-head is an easy hike but tough drive.
Hiking into Dry Fork and the Dry Fork Narrows
Half the adventure is getting to the trailhead! Now that I made it, I filled up on 3 liters of water and set off. There's a small sign in sheet at the trailhead.
Like so many adventures in Utah, this is more of an informal route than a trail. The popularity of the canyons hasn't lead to a single established trail. I relied heavily on my GPS. From the 4 wheel drive parking area, I descended steep slickrock, finding a switch-backed route using several cairns. I picked up a route in the sand that eventually lead down a side canyon into Dry Fork. An ammo box at the bottom served as a register and I knew I found the right place. Here's a map of that route and the canyons that awaited:
Dry Fork Narrows/Slot Canyon
Once reaching Dry Fork, there were three options. I liked the progression of Dry Fork Narrows first, then Peek-a-Boo Canyon, then Spooky Slot. It starts from least claustrophobic to most or least slot-like to most.
![Tunnel slot canyon Tunnel slot canyon](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134190147/301738465.jpg)
Dry Fork Narrows is immediately to the left. I walked up the canyon which progressively narrowed. Gazing upward, it amazed me how these canyons form. Steep walls and a fairly flat bottom formed a nearly perpendicular box. This canyon wasn't as sinuous as other slots but just as entrancing.
For roughly 0.5 miles, the canyon remains narrow. About 3/4ths of the way through it became very muddy and a bit of a scramble. I encountered some sort of desert toad in the water at one point. But what really halted further travel was a Midget Faded Rattlesnake. They are common enough in this area that most guidebooks reference encounters similar to the one I had. So I turned back!
Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon
Peek-a-Boo Canyon was fantastic! Extremely narrow and with all kinds of unique natural features like arches and natural bridges. From the entrance of the Dry Fork Slot, I walked down Dry Fork for about 10-15 minutes until the obvious entrance of Peek-a-Book appeared on my left.
Its a hands-and-feet scramble to get into Peek-a-Boo. Somebody's cut some finger holds and steps into the canyon so people can get in (not sure if I agree with that practice). In either case, its not terribly difficult by rock climbing standards
Some further, less exposed scrambling lead me to a pair of natural bridges which were phone to gaze upon and photograph. How much time did it take for them to form?
This pattern of rock-hopping and stopping to admire natural features continued for about 45 minutes. After about a third of a mile of this, an easy exit appeared on the right. I dropped my pack here and continued exploring up canyon. I regretted I did this as I found the actual end (or beginning) of Peek-a-Boo Canyon after another 30 minutes of slithering through the slots. The guidebooks were confusing about where to exit.
Tunnel Slot Canyon Escalante
I tried finding a clear route from the exit of Peek-a-Boo Canyon to the entrance/exit of Spooky Gulch but was unsuccessful.
Peek-a-Boo Gulch/Canyon
Of the three I did, Peek-a-Boo was the tightest and longest squeeze. I found and overland route from Peek-a-Boo canyon's exit to the entrance of Spooky Canyon at Dry Gulch. It quickly got tight.
Walking Spooky Gulch was like being underground. It was dark, a bit damp and disorienting. The book says 10 inches of horizontal space here. I'm glad I dropped my daypack at the entrance. Also, I'm glad I set a time with somebody off site just in case I got stuck. Lots of people travel this cave but the need for safety measures persist.
It took about an hour to go from one end of Spooky Canyon to the other. I didn't bring a flashlight but there's a section with rock fall that creates near total darkness. Bring a light source! Some sections also required more significant scrambling so be prepared for that too.
The exit point of Spooky Gulch wasn't so difficult to find and I made an overland loop back to the entrance to save time. Some people simply hike back through the gulch I noticed.
Guidebooks mention nearby Brimstone Canyon as another slot nearby. This particular section of Grand Staircase-Escalante probably has the highest concentration of individual slot canyons in the whole region.
I returned the way I came, constantly looking at the map and GPS to ensure I was on the right route. In spite of the area's increasing popularity, even experienced hikers like myself get lost from time to time! Enjoy yourself but be prepared!
Zebra Slot & Tunnel Slot Grand Staircase-Escalante NM |
April 16, 2014
Yesterday's visit to the tourist-infested Calf Creek Falls area was just a warmup; today it is time to venture down the hideous Hole-in-the-Rock Road to the first of several scheduled trailheads. Compelled to travel at as little as 10 miles per hour in places due to washboarding of the road surface, my Outback is delighted when I stop to park after just eight miles of torture.
Not much activity at the trailhead... | and no identification, either |
Clouds are abundant, but non-threatening. For me, it always is difficult to predict what will happen to the weather around here.
Getting started
Before long, the trail reaches a rocky area sporting some predictably interesting formations.
That fence isn't guarding much of anything
As I reach another open area, I know that the first objective is over in that next rock outcropping.
Heading for the distant slickrock
There it is — an opening in the rock just where it is supposed to be:
Approaching Zebra Slot
Tunnel Slot Canyon
Just inside the entrance, a little puddle is easy enough to inch around.
A minor obstacle
Claustrophobic, yet exciting
I must admit that being in here alone is a bit eerie. I'm no fraidy-cat, but I cannot help being reminded of the commemorativeplaque down at Lower Antelope Canyon showing the names of the eleven people who drowned in a flash flood there in 1997, while in the company of the resident guide (the only survivor). Today's skies are sufficiently inclement that, when I encounter a section of canyon that would necessitate a scramble though a section just six inches wide, I decide to proceed no further.
Some nice photos are going to be missed
A Moqui marble was here | Multi-colored stones |
I breathe just a bit more easily after exiting the slot.
Off to the next attraction
Just half a mile around the corner is the entrance to a scenic wash with rock walls steep enough to prevent climbing in an emergency, but I'll venture in anyway.
It is beautiful in here | Entrance to Tunnel Slot |
Some neat stuff around the opening
It's time to go in...
..or is it?
Oops! No sooner do I enter the slot than I encounter a puddle more than a foot deep, and there's no way around it. A strong canyoneer could inch his way over it, I suppose; but I am not one of those. Thwarted again!
![Zebra and tunnel slot canyon Zebra and tunnel slot canyon](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134190147/740430102.jpg)
Heading out already
Well, that's too bad; it wasn't far to the other end. When visiting slotcanyons in the springtime, one must be prepared to deal with water hazards.
Patterns
According to my research, there is some special stuff above the upper end of Tunnel Slot. Today I cannot get through it; but by returning to the mouth of the canyon I should be able to go up and around, and I do. Locating the objects of my search proves easy, because they are all over the place:
Moqui marbles ⇔
The spherules are iron oxide concretions — a sort of hematite 'glue' around a sandstone center. They weather more slowly than the surrounding stratum, finally detaching from the host rock as it erodes away. These geologic phenomena were predicted to exist on Mars; and in fact such 'Martian blueberries' were discovered at Meridiani Planum.
Moqui marbles had substantial spiritual significance to the Hopi Indians. Nowadays any interest tends to be purely commercial, and that is principally why it is illegal to remove these or other materials from federal parklands. I will content myself with a few photographic memories.
Upper Tunnel Slot Canyon is a contorted sandstone maze, seemingly unable to make up its mind.
Reminiscent of The Wave down near Buckskin Gulch ⇔
Heading back down beside the deep wash
Sporadic plant life |
Former plant life
Now that I know the lay of the land, it is easy to shortcut back across the open area.
Landmarks can be helpful |
More patterns
Tunnel Slot Canyon Escalante
The threatening sprinkles have arrived. I really need to get a poncho long enough to cover my lumbar pack, thereby solving several issues. As it is, I wrap my rain gear around my camera and carry it under an arm as I scurry down the last mile of path to the trailhead. Just now, four hikers appear -- the only humans I have seen today.
Trying to beat the rain
Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyons
§: This nearly level walk served as a good initiation to the wonders of Escalante. Although my canyon explorations were curtailed by prevailing conditions, visiting all the fantastic rock formations was a lot of fun, and observing my
- Trailhead: 8 miles from SR-12 on Hole-in-the-Rock Road
- Distance: 7½ miles
- Elevation: 5400' to 5200'
- Hikers: 4
- Rating: 5 (more in drier weather)
Scenery |
Difficulty |
Personality |
Solitude |