Weather patterns are growing more unpredictable nowadays, but I think you’re most likely to find dry conditions in mid to late June, and in early October. On other days you may only have to wade up to your knees, though depths will vary depending on recent rainfall. Sometimes the water is so deep that it requires some swimming! There’s always pools of standing, gross water at the beginning of the Zebra Canyon, and often some at Tunnel Slot too. Heavy rain in this part of Utah most often occurs in July and August! Salty snacks taste great in these conditions, and they keep your body chemically balanced, too.įinally, it’s extremely dangerous to venture into slot canyons when there’s heavy rain, for fear of flash floods. One gallon per person is a good rule of thumb.
It gets very hot out here in the summer, so be sure that everyone in your party brings plenty of water and stays hydrated.
You’re going to want some form of sun protection, like sunscreen and/or big hats and long sleeves. The majority of this hike is sandy and dry with no shade. Park on the right (west) side of the road, and the trail begins across the road to the east. High-clearance or 4×4 is obviously preferred.Īfter you turn off the pavement from Route 12, the trailhead is 7.8 miles down the road, immediately beyond the 3rd cattle guard. Otherwise, passenger cars can do okay in good, dry conditions, as long as you take it easy. Regardless, it’s important to note that the road becomes impassable when wet, even with 4-wheel drive. You’ll only have to drive on the dirt for about 8 miles, so this is one of the better hikes along Hole-in-the-rock for those in a passenger car. Here’s the checklist of things to know before you go. The second is to add the short Tunnel Slot via a lollipop loop, which brings the round trip up to 6.6 miles. The first is by simply doing an out-and-back trip to Zebra Canyon, which is 5 miles round trip. Grand Staircase-Escalante’s summer heat is no joke, either. Zebra slot canyon is one of many hikes to be found along southern Utah’s Hole-in-the-Rock Road, where many sandstone canyons feed the west side of the Escalante River.Īs always when exploring slot canyons, it’s important to be mindful of local rainfall. We took about 4.5 hours at a fun, casual pace. This may seem like a lot of time for fast hikers, but it allows for handling one-way traffic and photos in the extremely narrow Zebra slot canyon.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow at least 3 or 4 hours for this hike.
#ZEBRA SLOT CANYON FULL#
See full route description under item #1 below. Expect to see several other hikers, especially in spring and fall. ROUTE: Open desert terrain culminating in a narrow, wet, claustrophobic canyon.
Trailhead parking is on the right (west) side of the road, immediately beyond the 3rd cattle guard. Follow the bumpy dirt road for 7.8 miles. Turn right on the Hole In The Rock Road (BLM 200). From Escalante, drive east on Route 12 for 5 miles. MAP: Trails Illustrated shows the area but does not label Zebra Canyon (see map below)ĭESIGNATION: Grand Staircase Escalante National MonumentīEST SEASONS: year-round, but summer is hot and beware of flash floods in July and August!ĭISTANCE: 6.6 mile lollipop loop includes Tunnel Slot – a round trip only to Zebra is 5 miles.ĮLEVATION: trailhead 5,350ft – low point 5,150ftĪCCESS: dirt roads to the trailhead – high clearance is recommended, but passenger cars are often okay in dry conditions.ĭRIVING DIRECTIONS: Hike begins at the Zebra Tunnel Trailhead, 13 miles from the town of Escalante, UT. An athletic romp through Zebra slot canyon is the highlight of this 6.6-mile hiking loop through the desert of southern Utah.
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