I can’t speak for the rest of the team, but this was my first experience hiking a slot canyon. And believe me when I say my mind was completely blown away! If you plan on hiking the whole loop, which we would definitely recommend, we would suggest starting the hiking through Bell Canyon and then coming back down through Little Wild Horse Canyon. The slots in Little Wild Horse get much tighter than those in Bell Canyon, so you’d be saving the best for last! Between the canyons the trail opens up to the desert for a ways and gains some elevation, so you can see some beautiful desert scenery.
Although the hike is not extremely difficult, we would not recommend hiking the entire loop if you have small children. Keep in mind it is an 8 mile hike if you decide to commit to the whole loop. Both of the slot canyons begin relatively soon after the trail head, though, so if you just want to enjoy the slots without committing to a 4 hour hike, you can always hike in as far as you are comfortable with, enjoy the amazing geology in the area, and turn around whenever you feel inclined.
Before planning your trip down, keep in mind that it is a desert hike so pack plenty of water and a lunch. We camped next to the trail head the night before so we could start the hike bright and early to avoid the midday heat. Try and pick a day where the forecast predicts some cloud cover and mild temperatures. It will be much easier to enjoy the views if the weather is on your side!
Another tip- check to see if it has rained recently. Although it is a desert, we managed to hike relatively soon after some flooding. Although we enjoyed wading through some deep puddles past our knees and bouldering our way around water that had pooled in between the slots, the trail was extremely muddy in places, which can became a slight hazard.
This is now one of my favorite hikes, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Either before or after your hike we would also recommend checking out Goblin Valley, maybe take a look at the Goblins Den. It is a ton of fun to explore and make your own path through the “goblins.”
- To get to the trailhead, drive south towards Hanksville on Highway 95
- Turn west onto Goblin Valley Road
- Before entering Goblin Valley State Park, turn west onto the dirt road. It will lead you right up to the trailhead
- Signs identify the trailhead and vault bathrooms are available to you before you start your trek
- Hike up the river past the bathrooms and follow the signs throughout the hike
Trail Length: 8 miles
Time: Approximately 4 hours to complete the entire loop
Difficulty: Moderate