Southern Utah and northern Arizona have some of the most beautiful slot canyons in the world.The stunning warm colors, and erosion carved shapes of their Navajp sandstone cliffs, draw adventurers and artists from all over the world.
Slot canyons are formed by the action of flash floods, windstorms, and erosion on sandstone rock. Exploring these canyons can involve hiking in waist-deep water, scrambling over boulders, or using rappelling and other rock-climbing techniques. The best time of day to be in a slot canyon is between 10a-2p when there is direct sunlight on one wall reflecting against another wall. Sunlight slips through the slot, creating incredible lighting effects as it reflects off the multi-colored sandstone.
Getting caught in a slot canyon during a flash flood can be fatal. Sometimes after a thunderstorm, the ensuing floods totally rearrange the floor of a canyon. Some months of the year are less likely to have flash floods, making them a safer time to explore the canyons. The National Weather Service is the best source of information about thunderstorms and the possibilities of flash floods.
The hike up the north fork of the Virgin River into the Zion Narrows to an area called 'Wall Street" has been rated #5 in the National Geographic ranking of top 100 adventures. Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in America- and as such is considered one of the premier canyoneering destinations in the country. It is also a very colorful and picturesque hike. Antelope Canyon, located on Navajo land, near Page Az, is just a short hike. But it is one of the most photographed natural areas in the world. While not a slot canyon, The Wave shares some of the same geological characteristics. People come from all over the world to see The Wave. Access to the North Coyote Buttes Wilderness area - where The Wave is located - is controlled through a backcountry permit lottery.
