4.7

3.5 miles - Loop Trail

Added by Rebecca Stubbs

The hike itself is a pretty easy 3.5 mile loop and great for kids though the canyons can get as narrow as 12 inches. We camped in a tent at the trailhead for free at the end of Dry Fork Road.

The trailhead is located on Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In the town of Escalante, you can visit the BLM Visitor Center to get information on the hike and water levels inside of the canyon. Peek-a-boo Gulch is located in the scenic Grand Staircase National Monument near Escalante, Utah and adjacent to Spooky Gulch. It is not to be confused with Red Slot Canyon AKA Peekaboo. These two slot canyon hikes are usually hiked together as a loop that totals in about 3.5 miles. The trail is not really long but it is a fun area to explore. It is a great hike for any skill level and for. The canyon is the first tributary joining Dry Fork of Coyote Gulch downstream of the usual entrance point to that canyon. Photographs 5 views of Peekaboo Gulch. Route Description There is usually a pool of murky water beneath the end of Peekaboo Gulch, which may be up to 3 feet deep, with a near vertical rock wall about 10 feet high beyond. One of the most spectacular slot canyon hikes in the entire world is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This is actually two separate slots combined into one hike. The first is called Peek-a-Boo and the second is called Spooky. The trailhead for these slot canyons is found 26 bumpy miles out Hole-in-the-Rock Road.

Explore 2 slot canyons in 1 hike. There is a little scrambling and climbing on this 3.5 mile loop.

This hike is located in the Grand-Staircase-Escalante Monument and the nearest town is Escalante, Utah. From Escalante, you take Hole-in-the-Rock Road 26 miles to the Dry Fork road turn-off. Ne occasion llc. The Hole-in-the-Rock road It is a dirt road, and while I did see some sedans and minivans, I suggest a vehicle with higher clearance/ 4-wheel drive. If you do not have a high clearance vehicle, it will just add an extra mile or so each way onto your hike because you will not be able go that last mile after you turn off the Hole-in-the-Rock Road.

This adventure is great because you get to explore 2 stunning slot canyons in one hike! It is a 3.5 mile loop so you go up one canyon and down the other. I highly suggest going up Peek-a-boo and then down Spooky. The obstacles in these canyons are easier when done in this direction. These canyons provide a great introduction to canyoneering. They are not too technical as there is no need for ropes. Pools of water are a possibility, however it was dry when I was there in May even with rain the day before. There will be some scrambling/climbing required and places where you need to take off your pack and turn sideways in order to fit through narrow passages. If you are claustrophobic this hike would not be for you!

From the parking lot there is a 3/4 mile hike across slick rock and sand to descend into the wash where the canyons are located. The trail will lead you straight to the start of peekaboo canyon which begins with a 15ish foot wall with hand/foot holes to get you up into the canyon. After that you follow the canyon up to the top, follow the cairns across the plateau for about 1/2 mile and you will be led right to the top of spooky canyon. Then you just go down this canyon, follow the wash back to the start of peek-a-boo and then follow the same trail that you came in on back to the parking lot.

The loop hike takes around 3 hours for the average hiker. If you really wanted to, you could do one without the other, just go up one and back down, but the canyons are so drastically different from each other, I highly recommend doing the loop and seeing both of them! Peek-a-boo is smooth sandstone with arches, and large 'bowls' that you have to climb up and over whereas Spooky is narrow, with an area of rock falls that you need to 'chimney down' and the walls are very bumpy.

Hiking

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Reviews

Martin Petranov

4 months ago

Very helpful

Thank you for the nice and detailed description of the trail !

5.0

Madison Sankovitz

Explorer

🥇Top Contributor

over 2 years ago

Beautiful

Exploring two slot canyons in one hike was cool. I scrambled and climbed a little bit on this 3.5-mile loop.

5.0

Matt Purciel

Explorer

🥈 Contributor

about 4 years ago

Great hike!

Both of these slot canyon are worth exploring and each have their own characteristics! But we had a little trouble finding Peekaboo and ended up at Spooky first. To do the loop make sure to head left/down right after the trail starts! We ended up following the cairns straight and ended up in a wash farther down the canyon. I would also recommend searching for the GPS coordinates so you don't miss the entrances.

5.0

John Maurizi

Explorer

Peek A Boo Slot Canyon Trailhead South Rim

🥇Top Contributor

about 4 years ago

Bypass the 15 foot wall to enter Peek-A-Boo!

Many people avoid entering Peek-A-Boo slot canyon because of the daunting 15 foot vertical wall that must be climbed to get into the slot, or water in front of of the wall. Rightly so! With no rock climbing experience, this can be a frightening and dangerous venture. My last trip I found a solution to avoid the wall! Facing the wall, look to the left. There is a sand dune that runs along the side of the wall. You will see an unmarked social trail ascending the sand dune and appears to wander away from the slot. Continue following this social trail until you are at a high point and can see a trail leading back toward the direction of the slot canyon. The trail is marked with cairns above the sand dune. This will lead directly back to the slot at a point that is easily down climbed. Once in the slot you can explore to the right which leads back to the wall you by-passed. That direction has several potholes, usually filled with water and several small arches stretching over the slot. To the left, the slot is easier with hardly any climbing and not very deep. You eventually exit the slot after a short distance.

5.0

Jake Thurman

over 4 years ago

Awesome!!!

Great hike!!! First time hiking in slot canyons and I loved it!! Incredibly beautiful and not difficult at all. Would absolutely do again! If you're in Escalante this is s must do!!!

Peek A Boo Slot Canyon Trailhead Trail

5.0

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Spooky Slot Canyon Trailhead

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Peek A Boo Slot Canyon Trailhead Hike

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Peekaboo Slot Canyon Trailhead