Dry Wash Slot Canyon experiences:    “Peek-a-Boo” Slot canyon

Utah has many slot canyons some are very popular and some are lesser known. Kane County is home to several wonderful slot canyons.

The trailhead for the popular Peek-a-boo and Spooky slot canyons is out on the Hole in the Rock road about 31 miles from its junction with Hwy 12 at about 5 miles east of the Southern Utah town of Escalante. This road is a major gravel road that has experienced enormous numbers of visitors and is extremely wash-boarded.

Once at the trailhead which has a restroom one simply follows the trail along the rim of Dry Fork Wash for just under a mile before dropping down a side canyon into the bottom of the wash. From this point there are a few options to explore. One, going upstream for about a ½ mile will treat you to a shallow but interesting narrows section of Dry Fork. This can be enjoyed and then simply return back the way you came. 

Two, following the more obvious trail across the wash and slightly down stream it will lead you to the mouth of Peek-a-Boo Slot canyon. Which is in the wall of the canyon where a small side canyon drains into the wash. Accessing Peek-a-Boo requires climbing up a steep slab of stone about 20 feet to access the canyon. With some effort and maybe help from the many others trying access the slot most should have no issues gaining access.  (For those unable to climb the slick-rock an easier access can be found by simply going left up around the sandy slope to reach the top of the slot canyon portion and then turning right until you encounter the wash above then follow it down through the slot.)

 Peek-a-Boo Slot is characterized by having a number of natural bridges one right after the other in quick succession providing for a “peek a boo” type experience. There is some scrambling required after the entry climb but is manageable. If water is present it may be difficult to traverse without getting muddy. After a few hundred feet the slot opens up and one can climb out or continue ¼ mile to the end of the stone sides of the canyon passing a few tighter sections along the way.

At this point you will have three choices. One, you could return the way you came. Two, you could turn left and return back along the side of Peek-a-Boo canyon staying on the sandy areas until you come to a sandy slope which drops back down into Dry Fork reaching the bottom just upstream of where you entered Peek-a-Boo canyon. One could then simply follow the trail back to the parking lot. Or third, turn right and follow the trail that leaves the wash and goes cross country east towards the drainage that contains Spooky slot canyon. It is a little over a third of a mile from where you leave the one wash before you reach the next wash it is very obvious and cannot be missed. The BLM recommend this as a loop hike with traffic going up Peek-a-Boo Slot and going down Spooky Slot canyon this is because of the difficulty in passing someone in Spooky Slot canyon. 

I’ll discuss the challenges of Spooky Slot canyon in an upcoming post. Happy hiking.