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Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon within the Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is a pure surprise in Utah to not miss!
It’s nicely definitely worth the hour-long drive down a gravel washboard street, aptly named Gap within the Rock Highway, about 26 miles from the city of Escalante.
In case you didn’t know, Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument is 1.9 million acres of canyons, cliffs, and rugged landscapes in Southern Utah.
Inside this space, are what are generally known as slot canyons – a protracted, slim passageway flanked by sheer rock partitions. Two of probably the most well-known on this area, are the aptly named Peek-A-Boo and Spooky Gulch canyons.
Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyon is famous in a vacationer brochure as being reasonable to strenuous hike, however I felt fully beat up after it, and I’m an skilled hiker and fairly match.
So I needed to jot down this information of my expertise mountain climbing these two iconic canyons, so as to go in ready and realizing what to anticipate!
About Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch Canyons
Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch canyons are accessible on a 6.2 mile (10 km) loop path through Decrease Dry Fork Narrows Canyon in Escalante, Utah.
It’s marketed as a reasonably difficult hike, however we personally don’t assume it’s best to underestimate it.
The path additionally passes by means of very slim canyons, which is the entire level of the hike – so it’s not really helpful for these with claustrophobia or a worry of tight areas.
Here’s a map of the route:
Peekaboo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch Canyon are distinctive in that they have been made hundreds of years in the past by flash flooding. In addition to being uniquely slim, the canyons have strains carved into the delicate sandstone by water.
The Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon is about half a mile lengthy, and Spooky Gulch Canyon is about 6 miles lengthy, together with Dry Fork Trailhead. Spooky Gulch Canyon is the narrowest, with some sections solely 10 inches extensive.
You could must squeeze between rocks in some areas, or climb up over the slim sections to get by means of.
Though, one vital factor to notice, I used to be hungover on this stroll. Not a sensible concept in any respect.
As a lot of the hike entails brief explosive actions to climb up rocks, my coronary heart, lungs and abdomen have been in bits attempting to manage!!
Decrease Dry Fork Trailhead
The path head begins 1.7 miles from the car parking zone on the finish of Gap-in-the-Rock Highway. You need to be aware that low clearance autos are higher to park within the first parking space as you should 4X4 to succeed in the second.
When you attain the parking space, you already you’re in for a deal with. The views are spectacular and in line with Utah being probably the most colourful place on the earth.
You hike down into the valley and for as brief second stroll below the shade of a rock overhang and fairly bushes.
It will get complicated right here. There’s a spot the place you’ll be able to go in two totally different course with no directions as to what path goes the place.
We went left and ended up in a quiet canyon that went from a large deep sand path to a slim slot canyon.
We did a little bit of spider strolling on the canyon partitions over some water to discover additional in till we reached a cease. We thought this was a enjoyable journey, however we hadn’t even made to Peek-a-Boo and Spooky but.
This was just a few unnamed and possibly ignored pink canyon. We solely handed one couple on the way in which in who advised us what it was and to maintain strolling because it was fairly cool.
If you’re brief on time you’ll be able to skip this because it’s nowhere close to adventurous as the opposite ones. Or, if you’d like a extra sedate slot canyon mountain climbing expertise, this may be the one for you. So flip left.
In any other case flip proper to go to the beginning of the Peek-a-Boo loop path.
Peek-A-Boo Canyon
Peek-a-boo was the canyon that had a whole lot of the excessive rock scrambling.
We would have liked the assistance of everybody in our group to push and pull one another up and over partitions and water gap obstacles.
It began with a steep climb up a rock face and into the canyon.
Fortunately, some steps have been carved into the rock face to assist, nevertheless it was slick rock so slippery and it required a big leg span and burst of vitality from deep inside to rise up.
I knew as quickly as I used to be up there was no method I used to be going again down that method.
Despite the fact that a girl advised us how slim Spooky Canyon was on the loop stroll out, I knew I’d quite tackle the 12 inch slim house than attempt to get again down that if we chickened out of Spooky and rotated to return the identical method we got here.
After we completed with a number of of the rock scrambles we got here to a slim part, which we thought on the time will need to have been the 12 inch half!
Clearly our measurement abilities have been out because the actually 12 inch slim half was nonetheless to return. This was claustrophobic and tiring sufficient.
Fortunately, we got here to a bit separating the 2 canyons that opened as much as a large open areas and spectacular surroundings.
Spooky Slot Canyon
The trail started to get narrower once more as we discovered Spooky Canyon.
To be trustworthy, I don’t even know the place the Peek-A-Boo Canyon completed and Spooky started. However, we predict it was about this level.
Simply once we thought the tight canyons have been carried out with our brief Spooky Canyon we stumbled on one other part of the canyon. Now we had reached the true spooky half.
A crowd of individuals gathered round what regarded like boulders to scramble over. Besides the boulders have been coveting a drop down into the canyon. You may both drop down or climb as much as spider stroll between the canyon openings.
That simply wasn’t an possibility for us so we waited for the crew of individuals coming the opposite technique to climb up and push their canine up after which we set to work to crawl on down
Craig went first to assist the youngsters. How he bought down on his personal with out assist, I don’t know.
He picked the toughest half to go down. Whereas I used to be serving to get Kalyra down and Craig caught her and pulled her down the others labored out a passage down that was higher because it had a ledge midway down you possibly can step on down.
It was too late for me, I had already began the slide down, Anne was questioning if my method was higher, till I shouted out,“Don’t come this fashion Anne. I’m presently sitting on Craig’s head attempting to get down.”
We lastly all made it down and entered probably the most slim a part of the canyon. This should be the spooky half. It was bums and boobs in to sneak our method by means of.
We have been twisting our our bodies, climbing down into tight areas, after which, the worst occurred – two individuals got here from the opposite course.
There’s no method they’ll go us. Besides on their finish, there was no method they might go us.
It will get deeper and tighter from right here on finish, they advised us. And you’ve got about one other 1/4 mile to go.
I felt the already tight partitions closing in on me. The worry of going deeper into tighter areas and having little air to breathe churned my abdomen and I felt I used to be going to throw up within the slim little canyon at one stage.,
The youngsters bravely whispered that they too felt scared. However, all of us pulled along with deep breaths, and mentioned, “We’ve bought this! We’ve come this far. Turning again shall be worse. Let’s push on.”
We discovered a bit nook the place we might squish our our bodies up in opposition to to provide the fellows house to slip by means of – hugs on the way in which previous.
One needed to climb over our mates ducked head simply to make it by means of. This was a journey for sitting on individuals’s heads!
That was probably the narrowest a part of the canyon and didn’t final for too lengthy. It widened a bit and the sunshine began to brighten as we made our method although.
It was a reduction once we lastly all made it out again into the sunshine and extensive open areas of the wash. We counted our bruises and scrapes and gathered collectively for a bunch picture of victory.
What about that mad journey! We survived Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyon!
Issues to Know Earlier than Climbing Dry Fork Slot Canyons
- We don’t assume it’s a good suggestion to take canine on this path. We noticed fairly just a few canine and all of them regarded fairly distressed. It’s not simple even for people who can cause and consider what is occurring and why.
- If you may get away with mountain climbing with out a backpack, it’s a good suggestion. These canyons are slim and haven’t any room for baggage in your again. You’ll be carrying it by your aspect. We did it and it labored nice, however if you’d like one much less stress it will assist.
- Overlook the AWESOME Kelty child mountain climbing carriers. We used these on a regular basis with our ladies and cherished them. I don’t even understand how you’d get that by means of the canyon. We noticed a child being carried in a single as we have been strolling out of the path. Oh boy. We knew their hike can be restricted.
- It’s best to start out the canyon hike from the left hand aspect. It’s complicated once you first come out of the path all the way down to the canyon starting. You possibly can go fast left to an unnamed canyon which is fairly cool. Or you’ll be able to go proper to the doorway to Peek-a-Boo. That’s the start of the loop path which is able to come again out to the correct of that. It’s finest that you just flip left and begin at first of Peek-a-Boo. It’s the place you climb up. You’ll in all probability see individuals doing it. Don’t go proper. That takes you to the top of Spooky Canyon – the narrowest half and in opposition to the vast majority of visitors. There’s a part that’s unimaginable for individuals to go each other,. I don’t know why they don’t have an indication directing everybody the a technique.
- Regulate the climate. Flash Flooding can happen and if it does say your prayers since you aren’t going anyplace however below.
- It’s beautiful and funky within the canyons, however the hike out and in is uncovered and it will get HOT. Take loads of water, sunscreen and a hat. You’ll find our favourite mountain climbing gear right here
Gap within the Rock Scenic Byway Highway
The 57 mile lengthy Gap-in-the-Rock is a gravel and grime street that follows the route taken by Mormon pioneers in 1879-80.
They have been searching for a brief reduce throughout the Colorado River between neighborhood sin the middle of the state of Utah and the 4 Corners space.
It’s a preferred drive for the surroundings – it was lovely on the way in which into the slot canyons – and the varied factors of curiosity.
Most notable are the Dance Corridor Rock and the Gap-in-the-Rock on the finish of the street within the Glen Canyon leisure space and by the Colorado River.
Satan’s Backyard can be standard,which we supposed to go to, however have been too worn out after the slot canyons.
The Higher Dry Fork Trailhead is the place you can find the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyon. It’s about 26 miles down Gap-in-the-Highway.
The final mile of the street to the trailhead is really helpful for 4WD excessive clearance. Our mates made it by means of with their 2WD van and we noticed a great deal of different 2WD, and even an RV that made it by means of. Remember to scope it out beforehand.
You possibly can at all times stroll that mile in if want be or hitch a journey. It should add fairly a bit to the already 3.5 mile strenuous journey.
There is no such thing as a entrance payment or allow required to hike both of those trails.
Flash floods are frequent between June, July, and August, so examine the forecast in case you plan to hike in the summertime months.
Pack mild as you’ll battle to squeeze heavy baggage by means of the slim canyons!
Video: Spooky and Peek-a-Boo Canyon:
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Last Ideas
So there you’ve gotten it, that is learn how to hike the Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument, through Decrease Dry Fork Narrows trailhead.
We positively suggest incorporating this into your Utah street journey. It was one in all our favourite locations we visited in Utah.
Nicely-traveled mates of our mates, Mike and Anne from Honeytrek, labelled it as their favourite hike in Utah. We’d agree with that assertion, would you?
