Zebra Slot Canyon Trail Intermediate. Zoom in to see details. Map Key Favorites Check-Ins. 2.6 Miles 4.2 KM Point to Point. 5,337' 1,627 m High 5,153' 1,571 m Low 110' 33 m Up 213' 65 m Down 2% Avg Grade (1°) 12% Max Grade (7°).

• Zebra Canyon Zebra Canyon is a photographer's dream. Shape shifting walls undulate in synchronous waves so narrowly spaced that sunlight refracts as if inside a prism, bouncing between stripes of pink and magenta, accented by an interplay of water, sand, and sky. This is a slot canyon, meaning the rock walls constrict to less than arm's length apart. While it takes a skilled photographer to.
• Zebra Canyon and Tunnel Slot is a great hiking trail in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near the towns of Escalante and Boulder, Utah. Zebra Canyon and Tunnel Slot Distance: 5.3 - 7.2 miles (round trip) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, near Escalante in South Central Utah.
• Follow the trail to the mouth of Zebra Slot Canyon. The trail can be seen on the satellite view on Google Maps. This is what the mouth of Zebra Slot Canyon looks like. Inside Zebra Slot Canyon.
• But small discoveries like these can be quite enjoyable. Crawling through the striped sandstone of Zebra Canyon offers a pleasant break from hiking the unshaded Harris Wash. From Escalante's Hole-in-the-Rock Road, a trail along Halfway Hollow leads to Harris Wash. This popular route straightens out most of the riverbed meanders.

What Makes it Great

Zebra And Tunnel Slot Canyon

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.

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.

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

Zebra Slot Canyon Map

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.

Photos and words by Dylan H. Brown

Just outside of Escalante, only a short 5-mile drive down the Hole-in-the-Rock Road, tucked in the expansive sedimentary rock of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the most stunning slot canyons around, Zebra Canyon.

Although there is no trailhead marker, the parking lot and trail are fairly easy to find. The parking lot is directly after the second cattle guard down the Hole-in-the-Rock rock at approximately the 5-mile mark. From there, directly across the road, the trail begins.

Slot Canyon Utah Map

The first part of the hike goes through undulating rabbit brush covered sand dunes, until the trail drops into a wash. From there, the canyon deepens and about a mile into the hike, the canyon walls begin to display amazing textures. No need to rush straight to Zebra, as these canyon walls are visually appealing.

As the wash begins to widen, follow the trail to the left as it leads onto a bench. A short while later, you will come to Harris Wash (the lower part of Alvey Wash). Walk upstream to the next confluence, which will come in from your right (north). This is Zebra Canyon. Don’t let the extremely wide sandy wash fool you – at the head of this wash the canyon narrows considerably, turning into the slot known as Zebra (as seen on the right).

As the canyon deepens, the walls begin to form unique textures.

Zebra Slot Canyon Trail Map Grand Canyon

Water shoes and quick-drying shorts are recommended for this hike, as it is common for Zebra to hold water late into the season.

The first couple hundred yards typically holds water late into the season, so be sure to be prepared to wade. It shouldn’t be any deeper than waist high. As always, consult the visitor center in Escalante for the latest conditions: +1-435-826-5400.

The canyon will make a 90-degree turn to the right not too long after the water. This is where the canyon gets its namesake.

There are a couple pour-offs at the end of the canyon that provide a unique vantage of the canyon, but a series of potholes at the end block the exit.

As with all slot canyons, be courteous to others and leave the big, hulky backpack in the car.

This is an out-and-back hike, so to return, just retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Zebra Canyon gets its name for this 40-foot section.

Summary:

This is a short day hike into one of the most photogenic canyons around. The initial hike-in is moderately easy and should only take a few hours maximum to reach the slot. Once the slot begins, it quickly narrows to only a couple feet wide, so be prepared to squeeze through a couple tight spots and in occasions, possibly utilizing a second person to pass a backpack. Be sure to bring at least 2 liters of water per person, as water is very scarce.

Zebra Slot Canyon Trail Map

Getting there:

From Escalante, head east down Highway 12 to the turnoff for Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Drive down Hole-in-the-Rock Road for approximately 5 miles. Park directly after the cattle guard on the right (this is the second one you will cross after turning onto the Hole-in-the-Rock Road). Cross the road and follow the trail to the slot canyon.

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