Zebra Slot: SummitPost.org: Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. In drier conditions, it might take only 30 minutes to head up the slot until you reach high, sheer walls that will require rope to climb and which take you to a couple of potholes that mark the upper end of the canyon, anyway. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons, located in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Utah. This is a 6.7 mile loop hike with 500 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 3-5 hours to complete. Zebra Slot Canyon is a very fun, family-friendly (we brought our 10-month-old) hike in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. It's less popular than Peek-a-Boo Canyon or Spooky Canyon, which means you don't have to deal with as many crowds. The hike is not as scenic as some, but it's still a very pretty and picturesque canyon and is very much worth the hike. Dogs over 70-75 pounds will definitely not fit through the Spooky Slot Canyon. If you still want to bring your dog, make sure they wear a dog harness to help pull them over obstacles and to lower them down the 15 ft drop. A short and very narrow slot canyon leading to the colorful strips of Zebra Slot Canyon. A fantastic hike with amazing views at the end!
Hiking Zebra Slot Canyon
Drive East of Escalante, UT on HWY 12, then turn right onto Hole in the Rock Road. Reset your odometer and drive 8 miles. The TH/parking lot is right at a cattle guard, and the trail starts on the East side of the road.
Here is a driving map.
Distance: 5 miles RT
Elevation gain: flat, 23 ft
Time: 2-4 hours
Dog friendly? Yes, off leash but read advisory below
Kid friendly? Yes, but read advisory below
Fees/Permits? None
Can I bring my dog here?
Though dogs are allowed off leash, and we brought ours along, I wouldn’t recommend taking dogs here. Zebra slot canyon is very narrow; there are also several tight obstacles they need assistance with – the hardest is getting them over a really narrow section at the bottom. We had to sit cross-canyon (legs and back agains the wall), and let the dogs walk over our laps to get across! Another option would be to bring them, but then each hiker goes one by one to get to the end, then comes back and trades off watching the dogs at the canyon entrance. If you still want to bring your dog, make sure they wear a dog harness to help pull them over obstacles.
Is this a good hike for kids?
Kids who are comfortable with tight spaces and scrambling will have fun and do well. They will need help getting over/through the tightest sections.
What should I bring?
Each person should carry at least 2-3 liters of water. The simpler & lighter you go, the easier it will be getting through the canyon. We opted to leave our packs at the canyon entrance so we didn’t have to worry about carrying them through. The best section is really short anyway, and you should need anything out of your pack for 15-20 minutes. Also don’t wear your “nice” hiking clothes – the canyon walls will scrape your clothes and they can get torn. Dress in layers – even in January we were down to tank tops when popped out of the canyon into the sun.
The parking area is big, and is right on the other side of the cattle guard off Hole in the Rock Road (HITR), on the West side fo the road.
The trail starts on the East side of HITR road.
The trail is very easy as it meanders through Sage & Juniper trees – pass the No Collection sign.
As you can see the trail is very exposed – no shade for the entire hike. Make sure you carry sunblock, plenty of water, and a hat, even in Winter.
Hike past the Wilderness Study Area sign, and you will now be in a dry wash called Halfway Hollow.
Cut through the gate either right through the swining ladders, or off to the right, where you can move a gate to get through.
You should now be hiking through some amazing red rock country!
Once you reach the large, dry Harris Wash, head left. You can either walk through the middle of the wash, or off to the side on the right through some sage brush. Either way it’s slow going since it’s thick sand.
Entrance to Zebra. The temperatures weren’t even that hot, yet Charlie decided to take a break in the shade. We dropped our packs right around the corner so we didn’t have to shimmy through the slot with them on.
@adventuresofpollyandmac gets a boost from her mom as the canyon narrows.
I think they are all saying, “ME FIRST!” This was one of the toughest sections to get them over because the ground was too narrow for even us to put our feet. We had to put our backs and legs against the walls, then let the dogs walk over our legs!
Same tough spot, but looking back to the others as they get the last dog, Copper, across. He was the hardest since he is the biggest dog at 80 lbs.
The canyon stays narrow, but this time the dogs can make it through themselves.
And after one last boost up for Charlie, we found the best section. It’s even more amazing in person! The end of the canyon is only about 10 ft behind me. To be honest, it’s a long, dry, sandy hike to get to for such a short section of the zebra stripes. This was my second time here, and I finally got to see the best part, but wouldn’t do this hike again.
Zebra Slot Canyon Dogs Pictures
Trail map (you can see my GPS went a little crazy in the slot canyon)
Zebra Slot Canyon Dogs Allowed
The Ultimate Guide – Dog Friendly Hikes in Escalante, Utah!
Grosvenor stockton poker. Share me on Pinterest!
Zebra Slot Canyon Dogs For Adoption
On most Southern Utah bucket lists, you’ll find the local favorite one-two punch of Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons. These magnificent hikes, located in the Dry Fork area of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument area, can be done individually, but they make for a killer loop you can tackle in one afternoon of adventure. Once you’re in, all you have to do is walk through a scenic paradise of red and purple rock.
From the trailhead, get into Dry Fork Wash via moderate scrambling down some short cliffs and following cairns as needed. Once you’re off the cliff and into the sand dunes, you’ll hike along the creek wash until you see the mouth of Peek-a-Boo. There are hand and foot cut-outs in the rock to help you get up and into the canyon.
Once you leave Peek-a-Boo, keep hiking (longer than you think you should, most likely) until you come to a juniper tree, then follow the trail and cairns leading to the right and the entrance of Spooky Gulch. Scramble down a mellow rock face to get into the canyon. It soon tightens up, and you’ll be having a good time navigating the confines of this fun canyon. The loop generally takes about 3-4 hours depending on pace and skill level.
From the trailhead, get into Dry Fork Wash via moderate scrambling down some short cliffs and following cairns as needed. Once you’re off the cliff and into the sand dunes, you’ll hike along the creek wash until you see the mouth of Peek-a-Boo. There are hand and foot cut-outs in the rock to help you get up and into the canyon.
Once you leave Peek-a-Boo, keep hiking (longer than you think you should, most likely) until you come to a juniper tree, then follow the trail and cairns leading to the right and the entrance of Spooky Gulch. Scramble down a mellow rock face to get into the canyon. It soon tightens up, and you’ll be having a good time navigating the confines of this fun canyon. The loop generally takes about 3-4 hours depending on pace and skill level.