Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park

1. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park
2. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Reservations
3. Slot Canyon Zion National Park Narrows
4. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Camping
5. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Parks
6. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Hiking Trails

3.2 miles 200 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail

Added by Spencer Rudy

Red Hollow is a short, easy, and scenic slot canyon just outside of Zion National Park, Utah. This is a good slot canyon for beginners with easy scrambling in some places.

Red Hollow Slot Canyon is a wonderful beginner slot canyon just outside of Zion National Park. Ever hear of Orderville? It’s a tiny town east of Zion near Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. On a recent trip to this section of the state we hiked this really cool slot canyon and it was definitely a winner with our boys. The Narrows is the most popular hike in Zion National Park, and one of the world's best slot canyon hikes. It is pure fun and can be tailored to suite any ability level. The trail is basically the Virgin River. The canyon is so narrow, the river covers the bottom in many spots, which means you have to wade or swim to proceed.

The trailhead is about 18 miles from the eastern entrance of Zion National Park, located in the small town of Orderville. In Orderville, the streets aren't marked too well, so follow the road that goes past the cemetery and the school, 100 East. When the road Ts, turn left. The road ends in a sandy dirt road, and you can either park near the paved road or you can drive down and park by the fence if you have a 4x4. Once you reach to fenced in water tower, head down into the wash and follow it toward the red and white cliffs. The trail is exposed to the sun in the wash, but once you get into the slot canyon it is cool and shady.

The slot canyon goes about a mile in before you have to turn around. The red walls rise up above you and the trail is fairly narrow. There are some sections in this slot canyon where you will need to climb over some boulders, but it is nothing too hard. The canyon twists and turns until it reaches a dead end and you have to head back out. Be aware that if there has been rain recently, the canyon might be filled with water. If there is water in the canyon, only enter if the level is low and you know advanced canyoneering skills such as stemming.

The Subway- Next to the Zion Narrows, the Subway is the most well known slot canyon is Zion National Park. This canyon involves mandatory cold water swims and climbing down at least two sections where a 50 ft. Gear will need to be sealed in a dry bag. Slot Canyonson the East side of Zion National Park.

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Reviews

Stavros Mitchelides

about 3 years ago

Super fun hike!

Did it today as I'm staying in a hotel nearby and heard about it. There are 3 difficult rope climbs that will be impassible for some people...huge boulders blocked the way up and ropes were put in to get over them. THe first is about 20' high and the second is about 3/4 that. The last rope ascends what looks like a 50' climb, I only made it half way up that last rope because I was worried about damaging my camera. Amazing hike, I'll post about it on my blog this week at www.welovetoexplore.com!

5.0

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×The land east of Zion National Park and the Kolob Terrace is generally lower and the mountains less sheer, but the cliffs and mesas are made of the same Navajo sandstone - white at higher elevations and red lower down - and these too contain interesting slot canyons, though not as deep as the more well known gorges to the west, and without streams running through. Two of the best are the upper and lower forks of Sand Wash (known collectively as Red Cave), which is a short drainage beneath the Elkheart Cliffs, at the east side of Long Valley and opposite the tiny town of Mount Carmel Junction.
Both branches form slot canyons about half a mile long and less than a meter across in some places, with nice swirling red rocks quite similar to some of the canyons around Page, Lake Powell. The two forks may have chokestones and muddy pools, and the upper branch has several dryfalls of up to 10 feet making it harder to explore, but a lot can be seen without too much effort.

Topographic Map of Sand Wash

Photographs

16 views of Sand Wash (Red Cave).

Location

The Elkheart Cliffs are the conspicuous red escarpment that borders US 89 to the north and east for 15 miles either side of Mount Carmel Junction, separated from the highway by several miles of sandy, bushy terrain. The two branches of Sand Wash/Red Cave start at the base of the cliffs, join a couple of miles south of Mount Carmel, then after a short distance the combined channel meets the east fork of the Virgin River.

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park

There have traditionally been two ways to reach Red Cave, either by hiking up Sand Wash for 3 miles starting from US 89, or by walking along a rough track that leads close to the northern fork. The highway option is easiest though this does cross private property, and the route is currently (2020) not open. For this, vehicles should be parked at the east side of US 89, 0.5 miles north of Mount Carmel Junction, where a small track leads down to the river, which at this point is usually 6 inches deep though can be fast flowing and several feet deep after recent rains. The suggested parking area is just opposite the end of Sand Wash, so the route is simply down the track, across the river then up the wash to the junction of the two forks, then along either branch to the start of the narrows. There is a private residence on the north side of the wash, close to US 89, and several no trespassing notices are posted along the wash, but walking up the streambed was previously thought to be acceptable.

Route Description

The right fork (Lower Sand Wash) becomes a slot canyon quite abruptly, where the wash emerges from a narrow opening in red cliffs, 2 miles from the junction with the upper fork. Right from the start the canyon is deep and enclosed, damp, gloomy and cold, since the dark red walls rise up and overhang above, blocking most of the sunlight. But after only a short distance, progress is blocked by a dryfall of 15 feet, which can only be passed by walking back to the start, up the slope on the south side, following a faint path above the canyon for about 5 minutes then back down into the narrows. Downstream, the canyon closes in quickly with boulders and small drops preceding a larger drop, and this section is just one of five good stretches of narrows, separated by more open parts of about equal length - total distance over half a mile. All the slot parts have a few chokestones above small pools, requiring climbs of 4 to 6 feet; nothing too difficult. The rock walls are dark red, or lighter orange in places, quite smooth, curving, crossed by thin strata, and most of the passages catch the sunlight quite well, making for good photographs, and in the upper part of the canyon, several patches of dark green moss provide a nice color contrast. Floods bring large amounts of sand through this canyon, as well as boulders, so conditions and hence ease of exploration can vary.

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Reservations

Slot Canyon Zion National Park Narrows

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Camping

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Parks

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Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Hiking Trails