Slot canyons, easy, north Arizona, south Utah

Upper Antelope canyon is level, you just walk right in, and doesn't require any climbing. The roughest part of the tour will be the truck ride along the dry river bed to the canyon.

About an hour north of Capitol Reef are two great places. Goblin Valley State Park is very unique and we actually enjoyed it more than Cap Reef. Just about 5 minutes from that is Little Wildhorse Canyon(not to be confused with Wildhorse Canyon). Super easy and you can go as far as you like. I haven't been to Antelope Canyon and it may be better than this one. But, this one doesn't require a guide. If you look on http://www.toddshikingguide.com/ he rates Lil Wildhorse as one of his favorite hikes(he doesn't rate them high unless they deserve it). I say don't miss Goblin Valley and Little Wildhorse. Both are Great!!! You would want to allow an hour or two at each place. The Goblins are best at sunrise and sunset. There is absolutely nothing to eat or drink for several miles, so be sure and take plenty of food and drinks. Star gazing as with most of Utah is great. The campground there looked nice, if you happen to be camping. I can't imagine an easier slot, much less one that packs this much bang for the little effort you put into it. You can do an entire loop. We did about 2 miles and turned around. The first mile is really the best. You can hike slots in mid-day as they have a lot of shade. It gets pretty tight in a couple of spots, but nothing bad at all. No climbing. I do remember going under one big rock, though.

Be sure and eat homemade pies in the Gifford House and picnic area with the deer at Cap Reef. There are a couple of decent slots at Cap Reef, but not as good as Lil Wildhorse.

Below are some photos from this past Oct. Lil Wildhorse and Goblins are at the end. Cap Reef is the beginning. The hike to the petroglyphs are pretty difficult.

http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/AA782A321D7B?c=pw59560&CS_003=4433951

I'll agree with the recommendation for Upper Antelope Canyon.

However, you cannot drive there yourself. You can catch one of the tours from Page, Arizona.

Try to catch a tour that gets you to the canyon by midday. The canyon is awesome with the bright sunlight shafting directly downward into the narrow canyon.

BRING FLASHLIGHTS. I carry a miner's light which substitutes as a flashlight as well as night reading light. You can get these in any sporting goods store like REI.

Also bring a walking stick if you feel you need another "foot" for balance. There are some very narrow parts in the canyon.

Of all the canyons I've been to in the West, the slot canyons remain the most vivid of memories.

I'll third Upper Antelope Canyon. You can either get a tour from Page or just park in the Antelope Canyon parking lot and get a guide to drive you in from there. The canyon is on the Navajo reservation, so you can't just drive yourself all the way in.

Lee Ann

Both times we went to upper antelope, we just drove up to the gate, paid to get in and went to the table and paid for our tour. You don't have to book a tour in Page.

I don't think you would need a flashlight at upper antelope. We didn't see anyone who had one either time.

Antelope Canyon doesn't require a flashlight.

It's absolutely stunning but I don't consider it a classic slot canyon. It's more of a novelty. Don't miss it if you get the chance.

If I was taking somebody thru the area who wanted to see a slot canyon, I'd take them to Antelope Canyon as one of the sights along the way but still look for a slot canyon.

I have a great slot canyon that nobody goes to and nobody mentions. The hardest part is the 10 mile dirt road drive below Cannoville. The town is on Rt 12 just east of Bryce Canyon. You'll pass right thru it.

Willis Creek is a series of slot canyons and you go as far as you like then turn and go back. There are also a couple of very small (about 10ft) waterfalls. It's level and there's a little creek that you just walk back and forth over.

You can stop in the Cannonvile visitors center for instructions.

Take a look.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/grand-staircase-hiking.htm

I don't understand the trailhead instructions.

From the Cannonville visitors center you go south a few blocks. The road forks. Left goes to Kodachrome State Park and Grosvenor Arch. Right goes to Skutumpah Road. About 10 miles down the road there's a parking lot on the right. If you went down a hill and over the creek then you went too far. Just back up. I understand there's now a sign at the parking lot that wasn't there before.

I'll be back in Utah next weekend with my daughter and one of our stops will be Willis Creek.

Myer,
Can you give me a estimate of how long it might take me to get to Willis from Bryce Lodge? I looked at the photos of the link and this does look like an awesome hike. Did you encounter other people there or have it to yourself?

spiro,

When we went it had just drizzled and got quite cool. There's a visitors center on the main street in Cannonville and they checked the map and said the weather looked ok.

The hike is very easy and we just hopped back and forth over the stream. We could have just walked in it since it was an inch high at most. It was definitely an inch or so higher on the way back. Must have been raining somewhere up the line.

When we were there I heard a noise in front of us and then two people on horses coming towards us. Apparently this girl had hired a guide and that's where they went. Didn't see anybody else. The parking lot was unmarked (I spoke to the visitors center and they told me there's now a sign) but there was a register box. When we signed in I looked and there were several names that day.

From Bryce Lodge it's about 10 minutes to Rt 12. Then about 15 minutes or so to Cannonvile (east towards Escalante). Then about 9.5 miles down Skutumpah Road. This is a dirt road with some small hills and some easy curves if I remember correctly. So if it's wet you won't be able to drive it. Check with the visitors center.

There were also a few small waterfalls (very small - less than 10ft).

I think I saw a couple of Youtube videos also.

I'll be in Utah with my daughter in a week. I'll report back.

Whether one needs a flashlight or not really depends on age. On the couple of occasions when I've been at Antelope Canyon, even though it was midday with maximum sunlight, there were still a few darker areas and I was glad to have my miner's light. One time there was an elderly gentleman who just couldn't see the small rounded boulders/rocks in the darker spots and he was afraid to keep going for fear of twisting an ankle.

Since the OP says they're between the ages of 64 and 76, I'd still suggest bringing some flashlights.

OOh, Upper Antelope is wonderful. We visited in the spring and got some awesome pictures. Four 60 to 66-yr.-olds found it easy going. You will love it! It is just outside of Page, AZ and there is a lot of information and photos on the internet.

Thank you so much to all you kind travelers who provided such expert and helpful info. Given your encouragement, we four, who are all as ancient as the rocks of Utah, have definite plans on prancing through the slots of Willis Creek and Little Wild Horse. It will take some rushing - off the route we originally planned - but we're hoping to reach Antelope also. We're also adding Goblin, Kodachrome, and Grosvenor Arch, which we wouldn't have known about without your mention of them.
We leave soon, but if there are other must-sees that haven't been mentioned, I'd love to know of them.
At 76, I'm looking forward to the experience of my life. Again, our profound thanks to each of you. Brennan

I was quite disappointed in Kodachrome Park. It really wasn't very much.

Grosvenor Arch is worth it if you haven't seen an arch. If you've been to Arches NP then I wouldn't bother.

Willis Creek is a very easy hike/walk. Both Willis Creek and Grosvenor Arch require a 9 - 10 mile dirt road drive. Willis Creek is on the right fork beneath Cannonville and the other two are on the left fork.

I'd really like to hear what other think of Willis Creek as I don't know anybody else who's been there.