Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons are two beautiful and exciting hiking destinations located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, USA. You can hike both as a loop like we did or two separate hikes.
How to get to Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons trailhead
The trailhead for Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons is located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, USA. Here are the directions to the trailhead:
- From the town of Escalante, take Highway 12 east for approximately 26 miles until you reach the town of Boulder.
- In Boulder, turn south on the Burr Trail Road and follow it for approximately 26 miles until you reach the intersection with the Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
- Turn left (east) onto the Hole-in-the-Rock Road and continue for approximately 8 miles until you reach the Dry Fork Road on your right.
- Turn right onto the Dry Fork Road and follow it for approximately 1.5 miles until you reach the trailhead.
- The trailhead is marked by a small parking area on the left side of the road. There is no fee to park or hike in this area.
Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons loop hike
Here is a detailed description of each section of the hike:
Trailhead: The hike starts at the Dry Fork Trailhead, which is located off Hole-in-the-Rock Road. From the trailhead, hikers will follow a sandy trail for approximately 1.5 miles to reach the entrance of Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon.
Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon: This section of the hike is approximately 0.5 miles long and takes about an hour to complete. The entrance to the canyon is marked by a short climb up a steep sandstone slope. Once inside the canyon, you will see several narrow slots and tight squeezes between the towering sandstone walls. There are also a few steep drop-offs that require careful navigation. The highlight of this section is the famous “Peek-a-Boo” arch, which is a natural arch that spans the top of the canyon.
Dry Wash: After completing the Peek-a-Boo section, you will see the trail on the right. Follow the trail for approximately 0.5 miles to reach the entrance of Spooky Slot Canyon.
Spooky Slot Canyon: This section of the hike is approximately 0.3 miles long and took us about 40 minutes to complete. The entrance to the canyon is marked by a narrow crack in the sandstone that requires hikers to shimmy their way through. Once inside the canyon, you will be crawling through extremely narrow slots and tight squeezes that can be challenging and require some physical effort.
Return: After completing the Spooky Slot Canyon section, keep walking walking in the Dry Fork Wash for about 0.5 mile. You will pass Peek-a-Boo Canyon then Dry Fork Slot Canyon and after short hike up the hill will get back to the Dry Fork Trailhead.
Overall, the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons are a thrilling and unforgettable hiking experience that showcase the natural beauty of Utah’s slot canyons. It’s important to be prepared with appropriate footwear and clothing, plenty of water, and sun protection for the exposed sections of the hike.
