The Southwestern United States is home to thousands of sinuous slot canyons that provide a truly unique and photogenic hiking experience. While it’s fun to explore slot canyons, it’s important to practice Leave No Trace and basic slot canyon safety when hiking through one. This guide shares tips and best practices so you can have the best slot canyon adventure possible.
Slot canyons are some of my favorite desert hikes because they’re scenic and typically get you off the beaten path. There’s also something about hiking through narrow rock walls that allows you to really connect with the Earth, which is an awe-inspiring experience.
While slot canyons are beautiful, they’re shaped over time by flash floods, making them a great reminder of how powerful nature can be. That’s also why it’s so important to treat slot canyons with respect and explore them safely. Keep reading for you ultimate guide to exploring slot canyons safely while hiking in the desert.
1. Check the Weather
Remember the first Leave No Trace principle – be prepared. This requires you to take action and make decisions before you ever hit the trail. Before you head out on a slot canyon hike (or any canyon hike), it’s incredibly important to check the weather to ensure you’re safe and prepared.
If there’s rain in the forecast anywhere in the vicinity of where you’re hiking, then reconsider your hiking plans. Flash floods can be triggered from rain MILES away from where you’re hiking. Even if there are blue skies above you, if you see storm clouds in the distance you should avoid entering a slot canyon.
During the summer afternoon monsoons are very common across the Southwest. These are major storms that can pop up seemingly out of nowhere. They drop a huge volume of water in a short span of time, which provide the perfect conditions for flash floods to develop.
When to Explore Slot Canyons
I personally find that winter is the best time of year for slot canyon adventures if you’re hiking a dry slot canyon. Heavy rain isn’t common, especially in the high desert areas around Southern Utah where I typically recreate. Snow showers in the desert rarely have enough precipitation to trigger a flash flood, however if heavy snow accumulates it could trigger flooding if it melts quickly.
Ultimately, flash floods can happen anytime of year if the conditions are right, so don’t forget to check the weather before heading out. Also, keep an eye on the sky and know when to turn around!
BLOG POST RECOMMENDATION: Learn why winter is the best time of year to visit Moab, Utah!
2. Know What Type of Terrain to Expect
There is a wide spectrum of terrain out there when it comes to slot canyons. Some are always dry. Some have deep pools of water during certain seasons. There are non-technical slot canyons that you can easily walk through. There are highly technical slot canyons filled with steep drop offs, chokeholds, and other obstacles that require canyoneering gear to navigate. And then there are slot canyons in between that require some scrambling or stemming without technical gear. It’s important to do thorough research and know what to expect before you head out to a particular slot canyon.
I’m not into canyoneering, so all of the slot canyon hikes on my blog are considered non-technical slot canyons. This means that you do not need canyoneering gear, like ropes, a harness, and helmet, to navigate through them.
There are some slot canyons where you can easily walk up from the bottom or “exit” of a more technical slot. In these types of canyons you hike until you reach a tall pourover or other obstacle that you can’t navigate around.
RECREATE RESPONSIBLY: Carving into rocks on public land is considered vandalism. Never carve into slot canyon walls!
Many slot canyons require you to scramble to navigate over rocks, or climb up/down drop offs. Some popular slot canyons have ladders and carefully placed logs to help you navigate through more technical terrain, but keep in mind that flash floods can change the conditions in a slot canyon, so what’s available may change over time.
If you want to explore technical slot canyons and do not have the equipment or experience needed to navigate one safely, I recommend hiring a local guide:
3. Dress & Pack Appropriately
Gear for Exploring Slot Canyons Safely
It’s important to dress appropriately and carry the proper gear when exploring slot canyons, especially if you’re on a longer hike. Make sure to pack the 10 essentials, including a headlamp. It can be dark inside of a slot canyon and if you find yourself out later than expected having additional light may be necessary.
Water is the biggest essential when hiking in the desert. The best practice is to carry 1L of water for every hour of hiking you plan to do, but you might need more or less depending on the time of year. During warmer months also carry electrolytes to replenish the salt lost from sweating.
If the slot canyon you’re exploring requires canyoneering you’re obviously going to need to carry a lot more gear, including a harness, helmet, rope, rappelling device, gloves, carabiners, and safety equipment. It’s a good idea to carry a rescue kit that includes a knife and GPS communication device, like a Garmin inReach mini, however you may not always have satellite coverage inside of a narrow slot canyon.
Dressing for a Slot Canyon
Many slot canyons have approaches that involve hiking over exposed stretches of open desert terrain, but even on a warm day things will cool off inside the canyon. Layering is key to a successful slot canyon adventure. During cooler months you want to make sure that you wear or pack appropriate layers to stay warm, like a puffy jacket or fleece pullover. Slot canyons that involve tight squeezes or lots of scrambling may scratch up your clothes. Wear durable clothing or clothes that you don’t mind potentially ruining.
When it comes to footwear, I recommend wearing the type of hiking shoe that feels best for you. I personally like trail runners, like the Altra Lone Peaks, because they make it easy to stay flexible and navigate through tight spaces, but any hiking shoe with good traction will work. Also make sure to wear moisture-wicking socks and bring an extra pair of socks in case they get wet.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you prepare for a slot canyon adventure. Don’t forget your camera to document the experience and have a great hike!
Pin It For Later:
