![]() ![]() Cool.Īs soon as we set foot in the slot canyon and took a peek around the corner, we were immediately struck by the curve of the rock, smoothed by water, wind, and time. Shane, with his longer legs, basically walked into the canyon without any trouble. I admit I psyched myself out a bit, but I eventually found my footing, tossed my backpack up over my head and into the canyon, and shimmied myself upward. I entered the canyon to face my first-ever rock climb. Many people on AllTrails said this part of the hike was the most challenging, and I’m inclined to agree. Eventually, we retraced our steps, found the trail again, and continued to the entrance to Peek-a-Boo - an opening on top of a small canyon wall that we needed to climb. The cairns veered left to a place where we could safely traverse the edge of the small cliff we were walking along, and - well - we took a right. ![]() ![]() Shane and I only lost the trail once when we were supposed to venture off the dirt path for the first time and begin a slanted descent down rock and loose sand. On this trail, hikers are expected to follow small cairns. The weather was chilly, but there is very little shade on the trail out to the slot canyons. Even when hiking during the first week of December, water is vital. Right before hitting the trail, we encountered a sign stressing the importance of bringing adequate food and water. There is also a register in which visitors can write down their information in order to help emergency responders if they need to be rescued - this includes their name, where they’re from, their vehicle description, and their estimated time on the trail. There is a fenced parking area with bathroom facilities. The trailhead for Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch is easy to find. I couldn’t help but continue the tradition as Shane and I drove down the dirt road, fields of December grass and herds of cattle on both sides of us, a line of mountains to our right. We never stopped needing to feel the canyon rush by us. Since I had started working at Zion, my friends and I had been in the habit of turning up the heat in my little Jeep Renegade and rolling down the windows even as winter crept in and the desert heat dissipated. The drive out to the slot canyons on Hole in the Rock Road was beautiful. Though Shane and I were novice explorers, we both felt relatively confident in our ability to traverse the slot canyons, even if our pace would be slow. I’d placed the Peek-A-Boo and Spooky slot canyons in the area on my list to explore after I spoke with a few of my friends who had completed it during the previous summer. I’ve always loved hiking, and my time spent in Zion improved my stamina and confidence, but I had never attempted a slot canyon before. It was my first time exploring land cared for by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The most memorable stop was down a desert road named Hole in the Rock Road outside Escalante, Utah, where we hiked through Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch. Recently, I was able to plan a road trip through the surrounding areas before heading home for the winter holidays with my friend, Shane. Follow cairns and rock formations to reach the entrance of Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon.Since July 2021, I’ve been living and working as a housekeeper in Southern Utah at Zion National Park.From the trailhead, hike 1.5 miles through the Dry Fork Wash to reach Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon.Turn left and continue for 3.2 miles to the Dry Fork Trailhead. Drive 26 miles south on UT-12 to Hole-in-the-Rock Road.To reach Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon from Escalante: Turn right onto Hole-in-the-Rock Road and continue for about 26 miles until you reach the Dry Fork Trailhead.Head south on UT-9 for approximately 40 miles.To reach Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon from Zion National Park: Follow cairns and rock formations to reach the entrance of Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon. From the trailhead, hike through the Dry Fork Wash to reach Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon.Turn left onto Hole-in-the-Rock Road and continue for about 26 miles until you reach the Dry Fork Trailhead.Turn right onto UT-9 and continue for approximately 19 miles.To reach Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon from Kanab: ![]()
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