1. Hike Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail Utah
2. Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail Utah National Park
3. Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail Utah Lake

Located within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Willis Creek is a relatively easy slot canyon hike that is an enjoyable outing both for those who are new to slot canyons and to the seasoned veterans. Utah is the state that has the largest concentration of slot canyons in the world. Willis Creek is a very accessible slot canyon that people of all ages can enjoy – there is no serious climbing or technical skill needed to hike through it. Willis creek is also easy to drive.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park, Utah

Slot canyons are one of natures creations so unique and stunning that they draw you in and get your imagination flowing; you just feel like you have to explore them. Willis Creek Slot Canyon is conveniently located near Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah; inside the borders of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park. Utah is the state that has the largest concentration of slot canyons in the world. Willis Creek is a very accessible slot canyon that people of all ages can enjoy – there is no serious climbing or technical skill needed to hike through it. Willis creek is also easy to drive. The 1 mile hike each way is leisurely if you’re only interested in the slot canyon section of Willis Creek. The official trail is just over 4 miles round trip but departs from the canyon just 1 mile in.

After experiencing the very popular yet overcrowded Antelope Canyon and canyons at The Narrows in Zion National Park I was determined to find a more secluded and tranquil slot canyon experience. The slot canyon at Willis Creek did not disappoint! After a short 7 mile drive through a rough and sometimes steep, hilly dirt road in a little Hyundai car (and a slight detour.. damn you Google Maps!) we made it to designated parking and found the starting trail marker. Upon first entering Willis Creek it’s not very impressive, and I began to wonder if I’d be regretting the out-of-the drive we’d taken to get here. But about 1/4 mile into the hike the canyon walls engulf you and the creek steadily narrows creating an eery yet beautiful surrounding.

Hiking Willis Creek Slot Canyon is easy. Of all the slot canyons that we’ve been to in the Southwest (and there have been dozens), this one, by far, gives you the most bang for your buck. It’s easy to get to and, even though it requires driving on a dirt road, a standard automobile should have no problems. In the shadow of Bryce Canyon National Park, however lays one of the easiest slot canyons to hike through: Willis Creek. Willis Creek is a tributary of the Paria River, and starts out on the flat sandy benches above Indian Hollow, just south of Cannonville.

The creek bed is dried up in many places and rarely ever more than an inch or so deep, although a few small pools of water along the way dampen my feet – never anything big enough to swim or lay in. The water was a welcome relief from the heat of the sun and helped wash away a growing layer of sweat from my skin. The canyon’s sandstone walls are carved up with cracks and waves of contrasting textures from thousands of years of flash flooding and water erosion. When the sunlight hits at just the right angle the contrasting colors are brightly illuminated and full of stunning patterns – so beautiful I stared so long that I sent myself into a near hypnotic state of concentration and observation.

The width of the creek narrows and expands along the way from around 50 to as little as 5 feet, and the canyon walls reach as high as 100+ feet straight up. To get an idea of just how high the canyon walls surrounding us are, check out how small my hiking partner looks in the picture below.

As the canyon narrows it becomes only a few feet wide in some places.

We walked slowly as to fully take in and enjoy the surroundings, and why not? How many times will the opportunity to visit such a wonderful place come around? With three hours of walking along the creek we encountered only 4 other people for brief moments as they passed by. This is one of the favorite hikes I’ve done in my lifetime and I highly recommend visiting before there’s a paved road and it meets the same fate as Antelope where the hoards of crowds make it impossible to truly enjoy to its fullest. As of now there are no fees or permits required for parking or entering the trail. The dirt road however would be impassible during bad weather, on otherwise normal conditions you can make it with a low clearance car. Use caution before entering, as with any slot canyons they can become a death trap if you get caught trapped inside during a flash flood with nowhere to escape.

See More of Willis Creek Slot Canyon

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• Trail Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Length: 2-4 miles round-trip
• Permits/Fees: None required.

Prepare for the season you visit – it gets hot, bring ample water. It can also be sunny, be sure to protect yourself from over exposure.

Starting from Cannonville, Utah:

1. Drive 3 miles South of Cannonville on Cottonwood Road (400).
2. Turn right on to the Skutumpah Road (500).
3. Continue 6 miles West on Skutumpah to Willis Creek.
4. Park at a flat area on the right side of the road.

Added by Sam Watson

Easy access. Awesome slot canyon experience. Easy to hike (no ropes required). Dog friendly. Out-and-back hike. 4 miles roundtrip.

Willis Creek Slot Canyon begins at the Willis Creek Trailhead, located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The trail is very easy to find and follow. It begins winding through junipers for several hundred feet before dropping gradually into a wash, at which point it meets up with Willis Creek. Be ready to get your feet wet, because the creek and the trail are interwoven for the rest of the hike. Almost immediately after joining up with the creek, walls of winding sandstone rise sharply up from either side of the trail, creating a great slot canyon experience. This is a fantastic hike for families, those with dogs, or anyone who wants to experience an excellent slot canyon without having to use ropes. The creek winds through alternating sections of slot canyon and washes for several miles. Most hikers enjoy Willis Creek as an out-and-back hike, walking until they feel ready to turn back (roughly two miles out, two miles back).

Getting there: Willis Creek is accessible from the Willis Creek Trailhead, located nine miles from the town of Cannonville, Utah. There is a BLM Visitor Center in Cannonville, which is a great place to stop in to get information about the current conditions of Willis Creek and surrounding areas. Drive south on Main Street until Cottonwood Road splits off to the right. This is a dirt road, and might be difficult to drive in wet conditions. Follow this for six miles until you reach a small parking lot that has a sign for Willis Creek. Park here, and have fun on the hike!

Willis Creek is dog friendly, so bring your dog if you so choose. Just remember to clean up after them so as to preserve the experience for others. Like all slot canyons, be sure to check the weather prior to hiking. If there is any chance of rain, save Willis Creek for another day. Flash floods are a possibility if rain is in the forecast, and can be deadly. Stopping in at the BLM station before hiking will give you all the information you need in this regard.

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Reviews

Justin Schaefer

🥈 Contributor

Hike Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail Utah

over 2 years ago

Great hike

Easily accessible (we were able to drive to it with a Hyundai Elantra). The hike itself was very easy for all fitness levels, was not crowded, and had beautiful scenery!

5.0

Kelley Dodge

🥈 Contributor

almost 4 years ago

Easy Slot Canyon

Very easy to get to and nice that you can walk right into the slot canyons unlike others where you need ropes or rappelling gear. We were one of two groups on the trail all day. It's a nice, quiet escape from the crowds at Bryce Canyon.

5.0

Reid Gulley

about 4 years ago

great family hike

Dirt road with a couple steep grades. Great hike hopping back and forth over the stream. Wonderful terrain and color. Slot sections are impressive easy walking, not the super narrow shimmy sideways between the sides slots. Bring some snacks and enjoy.

4.0

Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail Utah National Park

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Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail Utah Lake

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