Peekaboo Slot Canyon Trailhead
Distance: 5.5 miles (8.9 km) overall
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. The Peek-a-boo Loop is a hiker and horse trail that winds around hoodoo formations below Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Views along this trail include the popular Wall of Windows, The Three Wisemen, The Organ, and The Cathedral as well as eastward views beyond the canyon toward the Aquarius Plateau, Canaan Mountain, and the Kaiparowits Plateau.
Hiking time: About 3 hours
Best season: April–October
Difficulty: Moderate
Water availability: None
Topo maps: USGS Bryce Point; Trails Illustrated Bryce Canyon National Park
Peek-A-Boo is a slot and corkscrew, and Spooky Gulch is a narrow slot canyon. It is worth noting, due to the restrictive nature of the some of the spaces in Spooky, this canyon is better suited for smaller body types. Adding to the cool factor of this destination is that it’s a loop — which is rare for these parts. 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.
Jurisdiction: Bryce Canyon National Park. See Appendix A for more information.
Finding the trailhead: From the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, drive south 1.6 miles to a turnoff for Inspiration and Bryce Points. Follow road signs to Bryce Point and park in the designated area. The Bryce Point trailhead is at the north corner of the parking lot.
Peek A Boo Slot Canyon Trailhead South Rim
Trailhead GPS:37.604028, -112.156667
Peek A Boo Slot Canyon Trailhead Trail
The Hike
The Peek-a-boo Loop is a hiker and horse trail that winds around hoodoo formations below Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Views along this trail include the popular Wall of Windows, The Three Wisemen, The Organ, and The Cathedral as well as eastward views beyond the canyon toward the Aquarius Plateau, Canaan Mountain, and the Kaiparowits Plateau.
At one point the path passes through a man-made arch and into a small grotto with large hoodoo walls towering above. The trail descends through this cavern via a series of short switchbacks. At the bottom of the switchbacks, it emerges from the cavern with a close-up view of the Wall of Windows to the right. The trail briefly traverses the base of the Wall of Windows. Looking up at the canyon rim from here, hikers can see grottos in the cliffs.
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.