8 Best Slot Canyons In Utah – The Hidden Gems!

Recently we went on a big road trip around the American Southwest, seeing many of the best slot canyons in Utah along the way, and then we put together this guide!

Slot canyons are natural rock passageways with all different colors of red, yellow, pink, and purple, and some of them are so tight and awkward you have to walk sideways or crawl, like a playground for grownups. It’s a fun and unique hiking challenge.

There are a bunch of amazing slot canyons scattered across the southern half of the state of Utah, and you can even see some great slot canyons near Zion National Park or Moab, if you’re willing to drive a bit.

The hikes on this list are our favorites in Utah because they’re especially accessible, photogenic, colorful, or interesting!

What Is A Slot Canyon?

A slot canyon is a narrow passageway formed in rock (usually sandstone) that’s been eroded by water over time, eventually creating a keyhole-like crack in the rock that’s just wide enough for a person to fit through.

There are more than 1,000 slot canyons in the desert of Utah, which actually has the highest concentration of slot canyons in the world. Some of them are difficult to navigate and require technical skills, but many are family friendly and easy for beginners to hike.

Side note: Always be aware of the weather forecast before entering a slot canyon. Do not enter if rain is in the forecast, even if it’s outside of your immediate area. Flash flooding can be very dangerous in a slot canyon.

1. Red Hollow Slot Canyon

The Red Hollow Slot Canyon is a short and easy hike in Orderville, Utah, not too far from the popular Zion and Bryce national parks.

It’s a very photogenic hike, with nice red rock colors and steep canyon walls. As a bonus, Red Hollow Canyon is easy to reach and great for kids.

There’s one very tight slot that’s great for chimneying or stemming, where you place your back against one wall and then push your feet on the other wall to cross the gap. This type of maneuver was new to us, but we had a lot of fun learning how to do it.

Even though Red Hollow is very short, it’s great for pictures. All in all, this was one of our favorite Utah slot canyons!

2. Buckskin Gulch

Buckskin Gulch is the longest slot canyon in the United States, and it’s believed to be the longest slot canyon in the world, at 21 miles!

It’s located by the Utah-Arizona state border, so you can reach it in 1 hour of driving from the town of Page, Arizona, or about 2 hours from Zion National Park in Utah.

The Buckskin Slot Canyon is great for photos, and it’s also notable for having some Native American petroglyphs that are easy to reach.

The best way to visit this slot canyon is by entering from Wire Pass, that way you get to see two slot canyons for the price of one!

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

3. Wire Pass Slot Canyon

Wire Pass is a side canyon that intersects with Buckskin Gulch, and it’s actually easier to enter Buckskin through this route, since you spend much less time walking in the hot sun.

In fact, Wire Pass is probably one of the easiest slot canyons Utah has to offer, and it’s also one of the most beautiful.

We thought the slot canyon section at Wire Pass was even more photogenic than Buckskin itself. It’s narrow and the colors are terrific. There’s even a little wooden ladder that’s great for pictures.

Best of all, this slot dumps you right at the intersection in Buckskin Gulch where you can see some petroglyphs on the canyon wall. It’s definitely one of the top Utah slot canyons!

Difficulty: Easy

4. Zion Narrows

Of course I have to mention the mother of all slot canyons, the Zion Narrows!

This is a giant gorge with walls a thousand feet tall, and the Virgin River flowing through it. Hiking the Narrows involves walking in water, and it’s 16 miles total.

The good news is that the Narrows is open to all fitness levels because you don’t have to hike to the end of the gorge. You can stop and turn around whenever you want.

It’s possible to hike the entire Narrows in one full day if you get a permit in advance, but most people just go partway and then turn back (no permit required for that).

The bad news is that the Narrows is getting extremely popular. The crowds kind of ruined it for us. If you’re really intent on seeing the Narrows without crowds, I’d recommend getting a permit and hiking it from the top down. Otherwise, you may want to go to one of the other places in this Utah slot canyon guide.

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

5. Red Canyon Slot / Peekaboo Kanab

Not to be confused with the Peekaboo Canyon of the same name in Escalante, the Peekaboo Red Canyon is actually another slot near Kanab, in southern Utah.

If you’re looking for Zion slot canyons, this one is close to that area and it definitely belongs on your list! It’s just a 1 hour drive from Springdale and Zion National Park.

The main challenge with this slot is the soft and deep sand on the road leading to it. You’ll need a true 4 wheel drive vehicle (not just AWD), and even then you’ll want to air down your tires and keep up momentum to avoid getting stuck in the sand.

Lots of people get stuck here because of the tricky conditions. Because of this, most people visit the Peekaboo Kanab slot with a Jeep tour or UTV tour where a professional company does the driving for you. I’ll include some tour recommendations below.

Some of these tours also combine the slot with a visit to the nearby Great Chamber, which is a photogenic cave-like spot near Kanab that’s also challenging to reach without a true off-road vehicle.

Alternatively, you can hike approximately 8 miles roundtrip to the slot from the 2WD parking area, and some people do this, but it’s a bit of a tough slog because of all the sand. You’ll need a map, sun protection, and lots of water.

The slot itself is beautiful and easy to walk through. It’s well worth the effort. This one is great for all ages, and it’s definitely one of the most photogenic slot canyons near Zion National Park!

6. Kanarra Creek & Falls

The Kanarra Slot Canyon is unique on this list because it also has two waterfalls inside! This is one of our favorite Utah canyons, and it’s just a 1 hour drive from Zion National Park.

The first waterfall is near the start of the slot canyon, and it’s easy to pass thanks to a new metal ladder that was installed by the city of Kanarraville. The second waterfall comes into view a bit later.

Overall, I’d probably rate this hike as easy, even though it’s a bit longer and has more elevation gain than the other hikes in this Utah slot canyon guide.

Nowadays you have to pay for a permit to do the Kanarra Creek hike because of its popularity, and there are a limited number of permits available per day. These sell out often, so you’ll want to plan ahead.

Difficulty: Easy

7. Jenny’s Canyon

Jenny’s Canyon is a family friendly little slot canyon in southern Utah that’s perfect for the kids. You can reach it in just 5 minutes of walking!

This slot is located in the Snow Canyon State Park near St George, about 1 hour from Zion or 2 hours from Las Vegas. The rock walls are full of photogenic little caves and cavities that the kids can play in, and when you get done at the slot, there’s also an overlook that is pretty easy to hike up.

The only disappointment with this slot canyon is that it’s so short, and you reach the end after only walking about 500 feet. Parking is also very limited at the trailhead, although it tends to free up often since the hike is quick.

Overall, it’s a remarkable little slot canyon, and it’s well worth a visit if you’re near the Snow Canyon State Park!

Difficulty: Easy

8. St George Narrows

If you’re claustrophobic, stay far away from the St George Narrows! I debated whether or not to include this slot canyon in the list, because it’s so tight you could almost call it a crack rather than a slot canyon.

Compared to most slot canyons, this passageway is paper thin. Even if you’re a small person, you will absolutely have to walk sideways to get through the crack, and it’ll still be tight. It’s a fun challenge if you’re feeling brave!

This slot is part of a free park area that has restrooms and plenty of parking, just outside of the town of St George in southern Utah. Even if you’re not up for squeezing through the slot, there are some other rock features here that are good for climbing and photos as well!