Tunnel Slot Canyon

1. Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyons Escalante Utah
2. Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyon Trails
3. Tunnel Slot Canyon

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Slot canyons are nice because you don’t have to make very many decisions in them. Carved by wind, water and dinosaur tears, slot canyons can be hundreds of feet deep and so narrow you have to cram yourself through sideways. (There’s one near Zion called Fat Man’s Misery.). Grand-Staircase Escalante is filled with slot canyons. Including Round Valley Draw, Tunnel Canyon, and Zebra Canyon to name a few. It’s like a slot canyon haven. After visiting Buckskin Gulch I’ve become kind of obsessed with slot canyons. While Buckskin was the biggest and Round Valley was the funnest, Zebra Canyon is definitely the prettiest. The Subway- Next to the Zion Narrows, the Subway is the most well known slot canyon is Zion National Park. This canyon involves mandatory cold water swims and climbing down at least two sections where a 50 ft. Gear will need to be sealed in a dry bag. Slot Canyonson the East side of Zion National Park.

Pine Creek flows through a long straight canyon in the southeast section of Zion National Park towards UT 9, the Zion-Mt Carmel highway, where it is joined by Clear Creek, an even longer tributary that runs alongside the road eastwards through a fantastic red and white landscape of sheer cliffs and huge domed rocks. As Pine Creek flows under the highway, just before the start of the long tunnel that separates this area from the main valley, it enters a half mile section of deep narrows, which has become most popular technical slot canyon in the park. This cannot be explored without rappelling equipment since the creek quickly drops far below ground in a series of sheer falls, but for regular hikers it is worthwhile just to walk along the canyon rim and peer into the swirling depths.

Topographic Map of Pine Creek

Location

The upper end of the slot canyon may be entered by walking down the sandy banks at the far side of a small carpark just before the east entrance of the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel, and opposite the start of the popular Canyon Overlook Trail. If the carpark is full, as is often the case, there are other places to leave vehicles a little way further along the main road. For those descending the whole canyon, a car shuttle may be needed - either that or hitch-hiking through the tunnel back to the trailhead.

Permit

A $30 Zion National Park entry fee is required to reach this area, plus a permit for all those who rappel into the canyon (2020 fees: 1-2 people: $15, 3-7 people: $20, 8-12 people: $25) - according to new regulations introduced in 2000 and subsequently extended, this is necessary for all slot canyon exploration within the park that involves overnight back-country travel and/or rope-assisted climbing. Permits may be obtained up to three days in advance, from one of the two park visitor centers, or online.

Route Description

Pine Creek is quite interesting upstream - after a short walk from the carpark the drainage forms a deep section in which pools persist most of the year, and the long Clear Creek tributary also has many narrow places. In the other direction, the true slot canyon begins directly under the road bridge but very soon a dryfall puts an end to easy progress. A belay point on the right indicates the only way to continue - with several long ropes (up to 150 feet) and rappelling experience all of the short but deep slot can be explored, until it opens out into a boulder filled ravine which widens further to the wide valley beneath the rock formation known as Great Arch, as the stream meanders towards its confluence with the East Fork of the Virgin River. Up to six rappels are required, plus downclimbing over several chokestones and at least one swim through a 50 foot long pool of water (except maybe during long, dry periods in midsummer) that remains icy cold all year, but Pine Creek is a good place for beginner canyoneers as it is easily accessed and closely monitored by the NPS. A fine overview of the slot can be obtained by walking along the Canyon Overlook Trail, high above the narrows.

Similar Canyons

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Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyons Escalante Utah

I think I found my new favorite place to hike, photograph and explore; The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). It’s a huge area of land on the Utah and Arizona Border. From my brief adventures to the Devils Garden, Old Paria and Coyote Buttes I have a great admiration for the area and look forward to future trips here. The week I traveled deep into the GSENM to Zebra and Tunnel Slot canyons.

From the parking area (directions below) you head East onto a well traveled trail that takes you about 2 miles in to the edge of Harris wash. From hear it becomes your choice; head up the wash to Zebra Slot, or head down towards Tunnel slot. I chose Zebra first because I was really excited to climb into it, but I was curious to find some Moqui Marbles. Moqui Marbles are these amazing rocks that are like natures M&Ms. The chocolate coating is lava rock and the center is sandstone. I read about them while researching this hike and are supposed to have spiritual qualities.(Zebra Slot, Left)

I made my way slowly up the very sandy Harris Wash and made it to the entrance to Zebra Slot. I was looking forward to hiking deep into the slot canyon, but quickly realized that was out of the question. Zebra Slot was full of water, up to my chest before I decided to back out. I didn’t think to bring a dry bag for camera equipment. I wasn’t expecting water, especially this much. So I stashed my gear and waded back into the slot even further. More water and narrowing of the canyon, deflated I headed towards Tunnel Slot.(Harris Wash, Right)

I hadn’t planned to hike to Tunnel Slot when embarked today but after the Zebra I was fired up. About a mile down the wash I barely spotted a small cairn on the left side of the wash leading me up a side canyon. The canyon floor was soaked with water and I feared the worst ahead. As I reached the entrance to Tunnel Slot I was ready to get wet again. The cool part of Tunnel Slot is that it’s only about 100ft long, so wading into the water was less of a mystery than Zebra was. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak… A really interesting Slot canyon, a very narrow opening at the top and a wide tunnel where flood water flow through. Making my way through Tunnel slot the Canyon started to open back up. Time to head back to the other side of the slot canyon and sat down for a quick snack before hiking the 3 miles back to the car. (Tunnel Slot, Left)

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Directions: From Escalante, Utah, take the main road, Highway 12, east through Escalante. The road will head in a southeastern direction. Follow Hwy 12 for five miles, and as the highway makes a left curve, the unpaved Hole in the Rock Road will be on the right side of the road. From here you will head southeast on the unpaved Hole in the Rock Road for approximately 8 miles. Turn right into a small dirt lot, no official trailhead for tunnel or zebra slot canyons, but a well traveled trail can be found a crossed the road to the eat.

Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyon Trails

Youtube Video:

Tunnel Slot Canyon

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