How To Hike Peek-A-Boo & Spooky Gulch Slot Canyons In Utah…
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Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon within the Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is a pure marvel 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, slender passageway flanked by sheer rock partitions. Two of essentially 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 average to strenuous hike, however I felt utterly beat up after it, and I’m an skilled hiker and fairly match.
So I wished to put in writing this information of my expertise climbing these two iconic canyons, so as to go in ready and understanding 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 by way of Decrease Dry Fork Narrows Canyon in Escalante, Utah.
It’s marketed as a reasonably difficult hike, however we personally don’t assume you need to underestimate it.
The path additionally passes via very slender canyons, which is the entire level of the hike – so it’s not really useful for these with claustrophobia or a concern 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 slender, the canyons have traces 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 vast.
Chances are you’ll have to squeeze between rocks in some areas, or climb up over the slender sections to get via.
Though, one vital factor to notice, I used to be hungover on this stroll. Not a wise concept in any respect.
As a lot of the hike includes quick 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 parking zone on the finish of Gap-in-the-Rock Highway. It’s best to observe that low clearance automobiles are higher to park within the first parking space as you want to 4X4 to achieve the second.
When you attain the parking space, you already you understand you’re in for a deal with. The views are spectacular and in line with Utah being essentially the most colourful place on the earth.
You hike down into the valley and for as quick second stroll beneath the shade of a rock overhang and fairly timber.
It will get complicated right here. There’s a spot the place you’ll be able to go in two totally different path 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 slender 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 doubtless ignored crimson canyon. We solely handed one couple on the best way in who informed us what it was and to maintain strolling because it was fairly cool.
In case you are quick 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 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 limitations.
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, however 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 means I used to be going again down that means.
Regardless that a girl informed us how slender Spooky Canyon was on the loop stroll out, I knew I’d slightly tackle the 12 inch slender area than attempt to get again down that if we chickened out of Spooky and rotated to return the identical means we got here.
After we completed with a number of of the rock scrambles we got here to a slender 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 slender half was nonetheless to come back. This was claustrophobic and tiring sufficient.
Fortunately, we got here to a piece 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 sincere, I don’t even know the place the Peek-A-Boo Canyon completed and Spooky started. However, we expect it was about this level.
Simply once we thought the tight canyons have been accomplished with our quick Spooky Canyon we came across 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 can 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 solution to climb up and push their canines up after which we set to work to crawl on down
Craig went first to assist the children. How he received 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 means was higher, till I shouted out,“Don’t come this manner Anne. I’m at the moment sitting on Craig’s head attempting to get down.”
We lastly all made it down and entered essentially the most slender a part of the canyon. This have to be the spooky half. It was bums and boobs in to sneak our means via.
We have been twisting our our bodies, climbing down into tight areas, after which, the worst occurred – two folks got here from the opposite path.
There’s no means they will move us. Besides on their finish, there was no means they might move us.
It will get deeper and tighter from right here on finish, they informed us. And you’ve got about one other 1/four mile to go.
I felt the already tight partitions closing in on me. The concern 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 slender little canyon at one stage.,
The children bravely whispered that they too felt scared. However, all of us pulled along with deep breaths, and stated, “We’ve received this! We’ve come this far. Turning again will probably be worse. Let’s push on.”
We discovered a bit of nook the place we may squish our our bodies up towards to offer the fellows area to slip via – hugs on the best way previous.
One needed to climb over our mates ducked head simply to make it via. This was a journey for sitting on folks’s heads!
That was probably the narrowest a part of the canyon and didn’t final for too lengthy. It widened a bit of and the sunshine began to brighten as we made our means although.
It was a reduction once we lastly all made it out again into the sunshine and vast open areas of the wash. We counted our bruises and scrapes and gathered collectively for a gaggle photograph 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 canines on this path. We noticed fairly just a few canines and all of them regarded fairly distressed. It’s not straightforward even for people who can cause and consider what is going on and why.
- If you may get away with climbing and not using a backpack, it’s a good suggestion. These canyons are slender and haven’t any room for luggage in your again. You’ll be carrying it by your aspect. We did it and it labored advantageous, however if you’d like one much less stress this can assist.
- Overlook the AWESOME Kelty child climbing carriers. We used these on a regular basis with our ladies and cherished them. I don’t even know the way you’d get that via 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 could 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 may 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 suitable of that. It’s finest that you simply flip left and begin in the beginning of Peek-a-Boo. It’s the place you climb up. You’ll most likely see folks doing it. Don’t go proper. That takes you to the tip of Spooky Canyon – the narrowest half and towards nearly all of visitors. There’s a part that’s unimaginable for folks to move each other,. I don’t know why they don’t have an indication directing everybody the a method.
- Regulate the climate. Flash Flooding can happen and if it does say your prayers since you aren’t going wherever however beneath.
- It’s pretty 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 will discover our favourite climbing gear right here
Gap within the Rock Scenic Byway Highway
The 57 mile lengthy Gap-in-the-Rock is a gravel and dust street that follows the route taken by Mormon pioneers in 1879-80.
They have been looking for a brief lower throughout the Colorado River between group 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 best way 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 also be in style,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 will see that 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 useful for 4WD excessive clearance. Our mates made it via with their 2WD van and we noticed a great deal of different 2WD, and even an RV that made it via. You’ll want to scope it out beforehand.
You may at all times stroll that mile in if want be or hitch a journey. It would add fairly a bit to the already three.5 mile strenuous journey.
There is no such thing as a entrance price or allow required to hike both of those trails.
Flash floods are widespread between June, July, and August, so examine the forecast if you happen to plan to hike in the summertime months.
Pack gentle as you’ll wrestle to squeeze heavy baggage via the slender canyons!
Video: Spooky and Peek-a-Boo Canyon:
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Last Ideas
So there you may have it, that is the right way to hike the Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument, by way of 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.
Properly-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?
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