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. Willis Creek Slot Canyon If you are visiting Bryce Canyon National Park and would like to experience something different, then we recommend visiting delightful Willis Creek Slot Canyon. When you go, you will see first hand how this small creek created a stunning geologic dreamland. Hiking Willis Creek Slot Canyon is easy. Willis Creek Slot Canyon is located in Kane County in Kanab! It's a super sweet slod canyon that's more of a walk-as-far-as-you-want hike. We’d been told by the Activity Spot in Ruby’s Inn that Willis Creek Slot Canyon was THE coolest family-friendly hike. So, of COURSE, we had to go. Willis Creek Slot Canyon, Cannonville: See 114 reviews, articles, and 190 photos of Willis Creek Slot Canyon, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 5 attractions in Cannonville. The trailhead for the Willis Creek slot canyons is located along Skutumpah Road. From U-12 at Cannonville, Utah, take Cottonwood Canyon Road south. In about 2.8 miles, you’ll come upon two dirt roads on the right. Skutumpah Road is the second dirt road.

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.

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.

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Willis Creek Slot Canyons Utah Resort

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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.

Willis Creek Slot Canyons Utah

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.

What Makes it Great

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.

Willis Creek Slot Canyons Utah Map

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.

Willis Creek Slot Canyons Utah Ski

Willis Creek Slot Canyon Utah

GPS Coordinates, Parking and Regulations

Willis Creek Slot Canyons Utah Restaurants

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.