Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park

Slot canyons offer an intimate experience on a small scale versus an overwhelming experience on a massive scale. The granddaddy of all slot canyons is The Narrows in Zion National Park. Walls rise nearly 2000 feet and are only 30 feet apart at the extremes. Other slot canyons have a different appeal and are unique in their own way. However, the slot canyon ends at 1.4 miles. Beyond this, the canyon widens and even though its scenic, it can get monotonous. If you do not have a GPS with you, once you get to this gigantic rock in the creek, the slot canyon portion of the hike is over.

1. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Colorado
2. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Visitor Center
3. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Camping
4. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Hiking Trails

The hike typically starts off of Route 89 just south of Mt. Carmel Junction and heads west down the East Fork canyon for many winding miles until you reach the border of Zion National Park. 'The Barracks' refers to the golden section of the hike where the walls are tall and narrow, much like the more popular Zion Narrows (North Fork) route. 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.

×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.
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

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Colorado

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 Visitor Center

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Camping

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Hiking Trails

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