16 Epic Slot Canyons in Southern Utah (accessible without a 4WD)
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 24 Jul 2025
Are you planning a road trip to the southwest and really want to experience those distinctive canyons you’ve seen pictures of, but don’t have a four-wheel drive car? If so, read on for the best slot canyons in southern Utah, each reachable without a 4WD, with detailed road conditions, hike length and difficulty, trailhead location and amenities, fees and more.
The towering, dramatic slot canyons of the American southwest are some of the most magical, iconic images of the region; think Windows screensaver kind of famous. Staring up at the narrowest strip of light through the smooth, scalloped rocks is one of those ‘can’t-miss’ moments on any Utah trip.
So, after two-ish years of hiking adventures in the region (as tourists with only a rental car), we’ve compiled a list of the absolute finest of these natural marvels in southern Utah and the surrounding area (all without the need for a four-wheel-drive vehicle).
These exceptional canyon hikes vary in difficulty – some are a *very* short, easy stroll, like the beautiful Singing Canyon along the Burr Trail near Escalante; others are a challenging half-day trek with significant elevation change and some scrambling, like Fiery Furnace and the Joint Trail, both near Moab.
All are non-technical, though – no ropes or equipment necessary. Each has relatively easy access, reachable without driving over sand dunes or tricky terrain.
So, get strapped in to read about some of our absolute favourite slot canyons in Utah, ones that we think are worthy of any road trip itinerary!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Slot Canyons in Southern Utah
WHAT IS A SLOT CANYON?
1. LITTLE WILD HORSE CANYON
2. WHITE DOMES TRAIL
3. JOINT TRAIL
4. ANTELOPE CANYON
5. JENNY’S CANYON
6. BUCKSKIN GULCH
7. ZEBRA SLOT
8. LEPRECHAUN CANYON
9. KANARRA FALLS
10. SINGING (LONG) CANYON
11. CATHEDRAL WASH
12. SURPRISE/HEADQUARTERS CANYON
13. COTTONWOOD NARROWS
14. FIERY FURNACE
15. CATHEDRAL GORGE STATE PARK
16. THE NARROWS
SOME BONUS UTAH SLOT CANYONS
UTAH SLOT CANYONS MAP
SLOT CANYON SAFETY
ROAD CONDITIONS
FINAL THOUGHTS
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What is a Slot Canyon?
A slot canyon is a narrow (typically, but not always, sandstone and limestone) channel, eroded over time by rushing water that is forced through a constricted area.
These distinctive geological features are found across the Colorado Plateau in the southwestern United States, specifically southern Utah, home to the densest population of slots in the world.
Slot canyons in southern Utah vary enormously in size and shape, but often share similarities, such as the characteristic smooth, undulating, water-worn walls. The width of the canyons are an appeal to many, with the sheer, soaring sides that obscure the skies; creating a unique, atmospheric experience that is rarely found in nature.
1. Little Wild Horse Canyon
This slot canyon is definitely one of our all-time favourite hikes (I’ve actually done the whole thing twice!). It’s spectacular, yet easy to access on paved roads and is a moderately straightforward route to reach the most exciting bits, which include narrow, swirling channels, dramatic rock textures and contrasting colours.
Where | Little Wild Horse Canyon is in the San Rafael Swell in South-Central Utah. The access road used to be unpaved, but it is now a beautiful, smooth road with a decent car park at the trailhead. It is also right next door to Goblin Valley State Park – consider combining both for a fantastic day or two. Visiting Little Wild Horse Canyon can also work as a day trip from Moab or Capitol Reef National Park.
About the Route
This is the most popular hike in the San Rafael Swell but doesn’t always feel as busy as it deserves to be.
Little Wild Horse Canyon is actually only half of the hike – there is also the adjacent Bell Canyon, which we absolutely loved, too. The route can be done as a loop, through one canyon and back through the other (who doesn’t love hiking a loop?).
We’d recommend starting in Little Wild Horse and finishing in Bell Canyon, because the link between the two is a steep and exposed (but pretty) four-wheel drive trail and I’d personally prefer to go down this, rather than up!
The full loop including Bell Canyon is about eight miles in total (12.9 kilometres), but a lot of people just hike as far into Little Wild Horse Canyon as they feel comfortable with, then turn around. The eight miles is moderate to difficult, with some scrambling, but is crazy beautiful and worth every minute. We urge everyone not to miss Bell Canyon, too!
Warning | this is a slot where several people have actually died, reasonably recently, due to flooding. I’ve been here three times and, one of those times, decided not to hike because of local storms and cloud cover. Please check the weather and if there’s rain anywhere in the vicinity, don’t go.
2. White Domes Trail
This slot canyon can be found in part of the White Domes Trail in Valley of Fire State Park. It is a short, but very scenic, introduction to slot canyons for anyone based in Las Vegas.
Where | Valley of Fire is a State Park around an hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada. All the roads are perfectly paved and you simply drive the scenic route down Mouse’s Tank Road until you reach the trailhead for White Domes. There is a decent amount of parking (it can get very busy during weekends and peak times) and restrooms.
About the Route
The loop route is only a little over a mile long and is not particularly challenging, however some of it involves walking through sand (nobody likes walking on sand, right?) and some big, rough steps on a decline. Overall, I would describe it as a fun family hike with some easy obstacles.
It gets super-hot in summer, so the park closes these trails between May and September – check the state park website for up-to-date information.
Travel tip | there is also another pretty section of the park with a shallow slot canyon, called Pastel Canyon. Online, people have recommended parking right next to the location on Google Maps, however parking is no longer allowed, so you must hike from the Fire Wave (which is also worth visiting).
3. Joint Trail
The Joint Trail is a small part of one of my favourite hikes ever (Chesler Park, Canyonlands) which has a genuinely exceptional, unique slot canyon section.
The entire Joint Trail is full of caves, odd looking slots and a tiny bit of scrambling. These slots are oddly straight walled and completely different to anything we’ve seen before. I don’t think my photos do it any kind of justice (they were taken a few years ago now).
Where | this slot canyon is part of the Chesler Park area in the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. Needles is a more remote region and takes about an hour and a half to reach from Moab (so factor in driving time). The nearest trailhead is called Elephant Hill which is down a three-mile dirt road (absolutely fine for two-wheel drive, low clearance cars – although check with the Needles visitor centre after heavy rain for road conditions).
About the Route
The entire walk around Chesler Park is a moderate 11-mile (17.7-kilometre) loop, with a small amount of elevation gain. If you just want to see the Joint Trail, the hike would still be around that length because it is roughly halfway.
There is another option, which is to drive to the trailhead of the Joint Trail with a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle (Needles day permit required). Needles is extremely popular for off-roading, so this is not an uncommon choice. Personally, I think you will be missing out on a spectacular hike, but the walk is fairly long.
Travel tip | we have done several overnight backpacking trips in Needles, including Chesler Park, which are some of our highlight moments in the southwest. If you enjoy camping, it’s worth trying for a backpacking permit for Chesler Park, or camping at the developed NPS Needles Campground. Both sell out quickly, though.
4. Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is an odd one, in terms of slot hikes. It is considered the most beautiful and famous slot in the world, however it is on Native American land just outside Page, Arizona, so is inaccessible without a tour. The tours are known to be packed, short, expensive, with very little time to really appreciate the canyon. However, it is also visually stunning!
We found a tolerable compromise and visited Canyon X (still geographically part of Antelope Canyon, but far less visited and a little more affordable).
I know I sound cynical, but I find that exploring nature whilst stood in a tight line of people is just not the vibe for me.
Antelope Canyon Options
All the Antelope Canyon tours are easily reached from Page, Arizona. There are lots of sections that you can visit, for example: Lower and Upper Antelope, Canyon X, Waterholes and Cardiac Canyon.
⬩ The first two are the famous ‘screensaver’ canyons but, in my opinion, are overpriced and way too busy (controversial, I know).
⬩ Cardiac Canyon is run by the same company as Canyon X and is longer, more strenuous and very quiet (it is pricey due to the length).
⬩ Waterholes looks decent but, once again, out of many people’s price range.
Cost | around $60+ including taxes/permits/fees for a one-hour tour of Upper/Lower Antelope. About $40 for Canyon X.
The hikes around the slots are generally very easy. Cardiac is longer – around 2.5 miles (4 kilometres), but the others are short. Lower Antelope has a few very easy ‘ladders’ that are more like stairs.
5. Jenny’s Canyon
This is a pretty slot canyon down a very relaxed walk within Snow Canyon State Park, in southwestern Utah. It’s very family friendly, tall and not excessively visited. This one has a huge effort-to-payoff ratio and really is worth the time if you are visiting the State Park. It’s just perfect for young kids.
Where | this slot canyon can be reached on a quarter-mile hike from the Jenny’s Canyon trailhead in Snow Canyon State Park, near St. George, Utah. There are a few car parking spaces in a pull-out on the side of the road. The car park was empty when we arrived but full with queues when we left twenty minutes later!
About the Route
This hike is sandy, almost completely flat and only about a quarter of a mile. Easy-peasy.
6. Buckskin Gulch
This monumental slot canyon is thought to be the longest in the world. It’s a masterpiece of nature, if you can call it that, with perfectly smooth, scalloped walls blocking light from above, with threadlike sunbeams highlighting the flawless sandy floor below.
The slot canyon goes on and on, occasionally opening into these colossal wide expanses, just to squeeze back down to a few feet across. It’s 14 miles (22.5 kilometres) of absolute hiking perfection.
Where | the Buckskin Gulch hike is located between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona, off Route 89, down an 8.7-mile (14-kilometre) dirt road. It begins at the Wire Pass Trailhead (the same place that the famous Wave hike begins). The road is not too bad (impassable when wet) but is a bit bumpy; we were grateful to have high clearance, although there were tonnes of low clearance sedans in the car park, so it’s definitely possible.
The hike is located in the Paria Wilderness, which charges a $6 fee (payable online in advance or at the car park on the day, fee is per person and per dog).
About the Route
This hike is extra-special.
It’s an out and back hike unless you have two cars and are willing to hike 28+ miles in one day (there is an exit at White House, out on the 89 towards Page). This means you can choose how long you hike for! Buckskin Gulch begins around 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres) from the trailhead, passing through another super scenic slot canyon called Wire Pass.
The beauty of this hike is that the longer you walk, the less people you’ll likely encounter. Once inside Buckskin Gulch, there is very little elevation change and lots of shade, making it a very pleasant, incredibly striking walk. The only thing to complain about is the sandy floor!
More info | if you’re interested, check out our post on why we think that Buckskin Gulch is the perfect photographer’s alternative to Antelope Canyon.
7. Zebra Slot Canyon
Zebra Slot is a narrow, claustrophobic slot canyon with distinctive stripey walls (which explains the name). It takes some acrobatics to get around this one and lots of people get lost before they even reach it!
Where | Zebra slot is located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, 7.8 miles (12.5 kilometres) down Hole-in-the-Rock Road, just outside the tiny town of Escalante.
The trailhead is clearly marked, with ample parking, but the road is famously rough. It’s not a difficult drive, and pretty much any car could make it, but it’s a washboard nightmare and you have to drive really slowly. It’s also impassable when wet and people have been stuck down there even in high clearance vehicles.
About the Route
We thought the walk to this slot canyon was really scenic and easy, however we also met three sets of people on route that had given up finding the slot entrance!
From the trailhead, the hike to the slot entrance is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometres), winding through a pretty valley with some interesting rock formations. Take a mapping app if you are concerned about getting lost, although the trail is well-marked until near the end. The location of ‘Zebra Slot’ on Google maps is correct, so I’m not sure how anyone can miss it (it’s easily spotted on Google Maps satellite view, too).
Once you reach the slot canyon, it is very narrow and tight. This means it can be difficult to get through and there’s a bit where you have to kind of lift yourself off the floor (I’m not keen on small spaces so I did not enjoy this, at all).
Travel tip | the slot is often filled with water, so be prepared with water shoes, or to get your feet wet. We just got wet – it was warm enough that we were basically dry by the time we returned to the car.
8. Leprechaun Canyon
This Utah slot canyon is an unappreciated treasure. It’s hidden down Scenic Route 95, connecting Hanksville and Monument Valley, which doesn’t see much traffic even on a busy day, and this slot canyon sees even less.
The scenery is dramatic, with smooth, curved, towering walls on either side, which narrow to almost a hair’s width at the top, leaving you in almost complete darkness. It’s impressive, photogenic and also family friendly.
Where | Leprechaun Canyon is around 30 minutes south of the quirky town of Hanksville and around 20 minutes north of the Hite Overlook, which offers incredible views of the Colorado River.
There’s a dedicated space for parking directly off the paved Route 95 (the whole road is really striking, with rust-coloured, looming cliffs – it’s worth checking out).
About the Route
This is an easy, if exposed, one-mile walk into the slot canyon section.
It’s a mostly flat, sandy path, with lots of random routes, all zigzagging down the canyon. Near the end, there is an option to go left, which leads to a dead end (unless you’re carrying equipment, anyway). Taking the right option will lead to the narrow part of the slot.
9. Kanarra Falls
This permit-only Utah slot canyon hike is a fantastic alternative to the crowds of the nearby Zion Narrows, albeit pricey. It’s a short, but sometimes strenuous, hike through a year-round flowing creek with roaring waterfalls, lots of plants and outstanding scenery.
For a more detailed description of this trail, check out our Kanarra Falls guide.
Where | the trailhead for Kanarra Falls is in the tiny town of Kanarraville, situated a little south of Cedar City in southwestern Utah. The access roads are all paved and the car park is spacious and flat (suitable for any vehicle).
About the Route
After the first (less interesting) 0.8 miles, the route directly follows the creek, crossing over the creek water many times until the canyon narrows. Around 1.5 miles in, there is no choice but to walk directly in the river, which was between ankle and shin deep for us.
The water was quite cold in July when we visited, but not uncomfortable. We chose to do this hike in trailrunners, which was a good choice.
Dotted throughout the far end of the canyon are a bunch of small waterfalls. The final one is at the point where you turn back, around the two mile mark. Generally, it’s a fairly simple hike, but does involve some elevation gain, river crossings, rocks scrambles and a bit of physical upper body effort. There were young kids when we visited who managed it though.
10. Singing (Long) Canyon
As with most of the super-accessible slot canyons, Singing Canyon is very short. It’s a little different to many others due to being road-adjacent, making it a great little photo stop and perfect for people who cannot walk long distances. It also kind of echoes, hence the name. Try singing in it.
Where | this canyon can be found right off the Burr Trail – a super-scenic (mostly paved) road trip in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, just off Scenic Byway 12 at Boulder. The slot is set into the cliff on a particularly picturesque section, called Long Canyon. Singing Canyon can be easily found on Google Maps, plus you can almost see it as you drive by!
About the Route
There isn’t really a hike here! This slot canyon is by the side of a road and you just walk across a wash to reach it. It is, at most, several hundred metres there and back.
11. Cathedral Wash
I’m not sure if this hike counts as a proper slot canyon, but it’s a spectacular, lofty, narrow canyon so I’ve chosen to include it. It’s also a super fun, scenic way to spend a morning and, best of all, it leads directly to the banks of the Colorado River! The trail follows a wash, all while traversing various obstacles and route-finding a way down. It’s a great hike.
Where | Cathedral Wash is near Lees Ferry, in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s just a tiny bit west of Page, but due to the geography, takes 45 minutes to drive. There is ample roadside parking at the trailhead – just remember to leave your America the Beautiful Pass or your Glen Canyon entry fee on the dash of your car.
About the Route
I actually found this hike a little bit taxing. It’s a seemingly obvious 3-mile (4.8-kilometre) return route that follows a meandering channel all the way down to the Colorado River. However, the way the rock has been eroded means there is a fair bit of figuring out how to navigate all the rock ledges.
We met some people on the hike that had actually turned back because they weren’t comfortable with some of the outcrops, although I don’t think it’s very athletic or risky – more of a puzzle. This hike was really hot in early May – take loads of water.
12. Surprise Canyon/Headquarters Canyon
These peaceful trails in Capitol Reef National Park are adjacent to each other in a lesser-visited area of the park. They might be considered slightly less spectacular than the images of places like Antelope Canyon and Buckskin Gulch, but they make up for it in pure serenity. We were the only ones at these canyons for the entire time, and the hikes are short and really entertaining!
Where | both canyons are located in Capitol Reef, just south of the Burr Switchbacks on the Notom-Bullfrog Road, a partly unpaved route that runs north to south through the park (and beyond). Access is easy, but unpaved. Most cars can navigate these roads, although they can become impassable when wet.
About the Route
These hikes are really easy at around 2-2.5 miles (3.2-4.0 kilometres) each, with minimal elevation change.
You can see a lot of the hike and the canyon entrance from the few car parking spots. The trails lead into the waterpocket fold, so the first mile or so (I’m guessing here) is mostly flat and open. If you have to choose only one, Headquarters Canyon has the more impressive ‘slot’.
13. Cottonwood Narrows
We were driving down the well-known Cottonwood Canyon Road in southern Utah, when I saw a small sign saying ‘narrows’. I suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to investigate, and this is how we found the Cottonwood Narrows!
This slot canyon is criminally underrated, in my opinion, with lots of different sections to explore, including some stereotype smooth-walled, narrow channels.
Where | the Cottonwood Narrows are located along the northern part of the unpaved Cottonwood Canyon Road, which connects Kodachrome Basin State Park to Route 89, between Kanab and Page. On Google Maps, it’s marked as ‘The Narrows North Trail Head’ and ‘Cottonwood Narrows, South’.
The road is unpaved but passable for a sedan (we saw a few down there) but would be better with high clearance. As always, it’s not a great idea to drive this route if it has rained.
About the Route
The Cottonwood Narrows is an easy, several mile hike with minimal elevation change.
If you want to be super quick, enter via the north trailhead (there’s a small arrow on the road that marks where to go in) and take the right fork as soon as you have an option. This leads to the tightest part of the narrows.
We choose to hike in (and park) at the south trailhead and walk to the north, wandering back along the road (and didn’t see another car the entire time). The road route is also scenic, so this wasn’t a chore!
14. Fiery Furnace
This might be a controversial one, because Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park is not customarily described as a slot canyon. However, it constantly feels just like a slot canyon, especially at the beginning of the labyrinthian mess of red fins. Then, later in the hike, you navigate at least four more really tight, epic sections that are definitely, validly described as slot canyons. We absolutely loved getting lost on this hike and were amazed by the scenery.
Where | Fiery Furnace is a permit-only area of Arches National Park in southeast Utah.
About the Route
Fiery Furnace is made from countless towering red ridges, creating a sort of maze. It’s difficult to describe because the National Park Service don’t provide a route or description, but it’s an adventure, end-to-end.
We’ve written far more about it on our dedicated Fiery Furnace hike post, but we thoroughly recommend this hike, not just because of the multitude of slot canyons! There are only 75 self-guided permits and 14 ranger-guided permits available per day (reserved online), so plan ahead for this one.
15. Cathedral Gorge State Park
Cathedral Gorge State Park is a small area in eastern-central Nevada that was originally a lakebed. This lakebed has long since gone, and in its place, these really strange, dramatic, bobbly clay slots. It’s awesome and super weird!
Where | So, this one is just outside Utah, in Cathedral Gorge State Park, Nevada. It is remote and not really near anywhere. The park is located around 1.5 hours northwest of St. George and more than 2.5 hours north of Las Vegas. Cedar City, Utah, is slightly closer if you are looking for a nearby place to stay, plus Cathedral Gorge has a nice campground, too.
About the Route
There’s not really any hiking, as such, to see the slots. Just wander around between the areas marked ‘Moon Caves’ and ‘Cathedral Cave’.
The park has a few nice, easy hikes, but the main attraction is the collection of strange slots. Don’t forget to check out Miller Point, too. It’s so remote out here that you might be exploring all on your own – we were!
16. The Narrows
This is an obvious (and possibly the most famous) entry on any list of slot canyons in Utah. The Zion Narrows are legendary, notoriously jam-packed full of people but also really spectacular.
We recommend heading there super early in the morning if you want some peace (be the first on the shuttle, so queue early) and note that it shuts for safety reasons when the river levels are too high (so have a back-up plan).
Where | The Narrows are in Zion National Park, with the trailhead at the furthest shuttle bus stop (Temple of Sinawava).
About the Route
Without a permit, it is possible to hike this route up until a point (about 4.7 miles in), then turn around and hike back.
The hike is through a river, nearly the entire way, so go prepared for cold-water conditions. Taking hiking poles/walking sticks can help, plus a dry bag for your gear. Some people swear by neoprene socks too (although I’ve never used these myself). There are outfitters in Springdale who can organise all the gear in advance for you if you intend to take on this trail.
I think the Narrows is visually incredible, but, personally I did not enjoy the hike itself due to the crowds. It’s a trail I did a fair few years ago now, and it will have only gotten busier over time.
Some Bonus Slot Canyon Hikes
Wire Pass, Utah
This slot canyon is literally on the way to Buckskin Gulch, above. It’s the actual route in – you hike it to reach Buckskin Gulch.
I was toying with mentioning it since lots of other people list it as a separate hike, but that’s just a bit cheeky, isn’t it.
So, if you are not feeling energetic enough to explore Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass is a fantastic alternative slot canyon that is perfect for kids and anyone not in the mood to hike too far in the desert.
Where | same trailhead information as Buckskin Gulch, above.
The hike | it’s an easy stroll, around 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres) down the route towards Buckskin Gulch and the Wave. You can’t miss it.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon has slot canyons. They’re not often talked about, but one of the prettiest places I have ever been in my life is Hermit Creek, leading to Hermit Rapids, at the bottom of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
I’m not going to write much about it here, but I’d encourage anyone fit enough (you don’t have to be *that* fit, just plan well), to hike into the canyon and check out the insanely beautiful inner canyon structures around the creeks.
For more information on visiting the South Rim, check out our detailed Grand Canyon itinerary and guide.
Spooky Gulch and Peekaboo
These slot canyons are well known for being claustrophobic and *extremely* tight. They even have a gap at the trailhead to measure yourself between to ensure you can squeeze through (see picture below)!
I watched a few videos of this hike and decided it was not for me. Not at all. I get panicky in small places, and being stuck between immovable rocks is my worst nightmare (plus I have no upper body strength and would, without a doubt, get stuck).
However, I’m mentioning these two hikes here because they are some of the coolest slots I’ve ever seen, and if you are braver than me, then you’ll no doubt want to give them a go.
Where | Hole-in-the-Rock Road, Escalante – just off Scenic Byway 12. The same road as Zebra Slot mentioned above, but the parking trailhead is 28 miles (45 kilometres) down, at 37.46557, -111.21213.
Travel tip | although we haven’t done the hike, we’ve driven out there and the road is *tedious*. It’s washboard bumpy hell! You can get most cars down there though, just schedule some extra time. Again, the road is impassable when wet.
Willis Creek
I’ve been desperate to do this hike, but every time we have been anywhere near it, the weather has turned and I’m not a fan of driving the unpaved road to it in the rain (or hiking into a rainy canyon, for that matter).
It’s a pretty, easy, family-friendly slot that looks brilliant though – only the road is a little worse for wear and we have never been keen on taking our rental car down it when the roads have been anything other than bone dry!
Where | near Kodachrome Basin State Park and Cottonwood Canyon Road, 9 miles (14.5 kilometres) south from Cannonville down a sketchy dirt road. There is a decent amount of dedicated parking.
The hike | the canyon is around 1.3 miles (2.0 kilometres) from the parking, and sometimes there is standing water. It’s pretty family friendly from what I gather (I’ll update more information on it when we finally get to hike it!
Slot Canyons Map
Below is a savable Google Map, marking the trailheads for each of the slot canyons in this post.
To save the map, select the star next to the title.
Road Conditions
Some of the slot canyons mentioned above are reached via unpaved roads. These roads are never too tough for a standard high clearance 2WD or AWD car, and almost always okay even for a lower clearance sedan. However, if there has been recent rainfall, some of these routes can become unpassable, which we’ve mentioned where relevant.
We’ve driven a selection of cars including sedans and an AWD Nissan Rogue to every trailhead mentioned below. If you are renting, we’d recommend a high clearance, SUV-style rental vehicle, if possible, as some of the roads can be a bit bumpy and it’s more comfortable.
Be aware that rental company insurance often does not cover vehicles on unpaved roads. Check your policy carefully and be aware that you may be responsible for vehicle recovery in case of a breakdown.
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Quick Note on Slot Canyon Safety
Flash floods pose serious risks when hiking in slot canyons. Rainfall, even from many miles away, can quickly overwhelm a slot.
Please check the weather carefully before entering any slot canyon. It’s a big risk during rainy weather and people seriously do die. Be particularly vigilant during monsoon season in the summer months.
Aside from flooding, these canyons can often be strenuous, sandy, require scrambling, be blocked by debris and have no water sources. The typically remote locations and physical attributes of these slots can make rescue attempts difficult.
Exercise more caution than you usually would when exploring these environments.
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR UTAH ITINERARY
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Final Thoughts
So, these are our favourite rental-car-friendly(ish) slot canyons in southern Utah.
I love hiking in the American southwest, but in particular, I love slot canyons. They’re just kind of enchanting and I feel overwhelmingly grateful to have explored as many as we have. Every one of these entries is an exceptional example of these incredible feats of nature.
On a separate note, we’ve found that one of the most frustrating parts of taking on an extensive road trip around the American southwest (as a foreigner) is not having an insured, four-wheel drive vehicle. This is why we wrote this list of accessible slot canyons in Utah! We hope it helps you plan a trip around one of our favourite outdoor areas on the planet – it’s absolutely incredible.
Have a fantastic trip!
For more information on southern Utah, have a look at our detailed road trip itinerary – it basically includes everything in this post, plus a whole lot more. For more individual posts about hiking and national parks, take a look at our American Southwest page.
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