Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly
- Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Hotels
- Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Resorts
- Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Cabins
- Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Resort
Best Pet Friendly Hotels in Escalante on Tripadvisor: Find 1,888 traveller reviews, 645 candid photos, and prices for 7 pet friendly hotels in Escalante, Utah. The hike to this slot canyon was beautiful! We saw so much wildlife and the cliffs and rock formations along the trail were amazing. The canyon itself was a bit difficult to find - might have been easier if we had been given better directions though.
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 Dog Friendly Hotels
Trail map (you can see my GPS went a little crazy in the slot canyon)
The Ultimate Guide – Dog Friendly Hikes in Escalante, Utah!
Share me on Pinterest!
What Makes it Great
This is a gorgeous, easy hike with a minimal commitment of less than three hours. During that time, you’ll enjoy shapely walls and delicate colors in the Navajo sandstone as it closes in around you. You’ll also peer down at lovely rocks that the orange-tinted creek has smoothed over time.
To get into Willis Creek Slot Canyon, simply park and walk into it from your car. No ropes, ladders or guides are needed, and there are no obstacles on the hike (except one spot, but there is a way to walk around it). Here's how you find the trailhead and more detailed information about the hike, to better help you plan great Willis Creek adventures.
As you venture into the narrows, you’ll start to hike over and on top of the creek. At the onset of the canyon, the walls are less than 25 feet tall, yet only approximately eight feet wide. However, the walls quickly grow to tower 100 feet above you and become less narrow. Colored with desert varnish, they stand to complement the sand and pebbles of the trail.
Continue along the narrows, which will dissipate at around 1.3 miles in. The trail along the creek continues for 2.4 miles at which point you will make a loop and turn around.
Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Resorts
Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Cabins
What You’ll Remember
The smooth and curvaceous rock walls of the narrows, which have been carved by thousands of years of flash floods; the color and the texture of said walls; feeling small as the narrows tower 100 feet above you; your desire to now become a slot canyon junkie.
Zebra Slot Canyon Dog Friendly Resort
Who is Going to Love It
Anyone who likes hugs, because slot canyons and narrows are like hugs from Mother Nature. Anyone who wants to experience slot canyons for the first time, or slot canyon veterans who want a mellow afternoon adventure with a big pay off. Anyone who loves taking pictures of incredible rock formations.
GPS Coordinates, Parking and Regulations
GPS Coordinates
(37.481550, -112.096136)
Willis Creek Slot Canyon is accessible year-round. Most people will enjoy visiting the area from late-March through September. Unlike many of the exposed attractions in the surrounding area, Willis Creek is cool and a mostly-shaded hike, which makes it a favorite even during hot summer afternoons. The area is dog-friendly, as are a few of the nearby hotels in Kanab.
There are no fees or permits required. Skutumpah Road is accessible to all visitor vehicles, but may be impassable when wet or it is has not been recently graded.