Zebra Slot Canyon: A Beautiful Utah Hidden Gem

Zebra Slot Canyon is one of the more unique but also less traveled slot canyons in Utah. It gets its name from the unique, zebra-like striping along the rocks walls that make up the canyon. This slot is also located off one of the most adventurous road in Utah, making it the perfect stop on any road trip!

Visiting Zebra Slot Canyon comes with plenty of dangers being a slot canyon as well as a harsh desert landscape, so being prepared and knowledgeable about what you may encounter is key to safely making this hike. This trail guide will help you be prepared before you go so you can truly enjoy hiking to Zebra Slot Canyon.

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Things to Know About Zebra Slot Canyon

• This hike is completely exposed to the elements until you reach the slot canyon. There is very little shade provided outside of the canyon walls. In order to reach the slot canyon, hikers must walk across sand and desert. If it is hot out, there is a high risk of dehydration, heat stroke or sun burn.

• The slot canyon is extremely narrow. At one point we had to put our backpacks and hats above our head to squeeze through. I am a very petite person so be mindful of hitting through the canyon. You can still enjoy and reach the beginning no matter your size, but the farther in you go the narrower it becomes.

• At one point in the canyon there is an area you will have to climb up over the rock to continue on. It is a bit of a climb and where I choose to turn around. I didn’t want to risk climbing it and have an injuring with my mom on the trip. Continue at your own risk and make sure you’re comfortable not only getting up, but back down.

• Know the dangers of flash flooding and entering slot canyons. The greatest risk for flash flooding is spring months, but they can happen any time of year. It is causes when heavy rain or snow melt farther up congregates in the canyons, causing them to flood. Getting stuck in a flash flood in a slot canyon can be extremely dangerous and deadly. Just because the area of Zebra Slot Canyon is rain free does not mean further up the slot canyons water source is. You can always call the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center for up-to-date information and safety.

• Not only do slot canyons have the risk of flash flooding, they can have water pool for months at a time in them after heavy rain or flooding. It is very common for people to continue through slot canyons but walking or swimming through the water. It can be very dangerous to do this and should only be done with experience and extensive slot canyon knowledge. The water has been recorded waist to shoulder depth.

• Zebra Slot Canyon is located of Hole-in-the-Rock Road, an outdoor lovers ticket to adventure. This road is full of amazing trails, unique rock formations and must see sights. You could spend weeks exploring off Hole-in-the-Rock Road. If you have the time I would highly suggest spending at least a few days adventuring around. I was only able to see two stops along the way and have been wanting to get back here for years.

• There is a second slot canyon near Zebra Slot Canyon that you can add on to this hike. It is called Tunnel Slot and can be added on making this a loop trail. It will add 1.4 miles to the hike. You can use the AllTrails guide here.

Before You Visit Zebra Slot Canyon

Be sure to know and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles on trail. It’s so important to help protect these beautiful places we love and enjoy. Make sure you know these principles before going out on a hike.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare: Always check for current weather updates and educate yourself on trail conditions prior to starting a hike. Look for recent reviews or call the local ranger station for up-to-date trail information like closures, recent wildlife and road conditions.

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to the trail. Avoid going off trail unless it’s to go to the bathroom. You can capture amazing photos from the trail. Do not cut switchbacks. Stepping off trail can cause years of damage with just one simple step. Camp in exciting campsites rather than over vegetation.

• Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash and food scraps. Never toss food items on the ground. It is harmful to the wildlife. Properly dispose of human waste by digging a cat hole at least 6 inches deep and burying human waste. Bring a wag back to pack it out in fragile alpine terrain. Never leave toilet paper or feminine hygiene products behind. Being a bag and pack them out to dispose of properly. Same goes for dog poop. Properly burry it or pack it back out to dispose of. Do not leave dog poop bags on the side of the trail. They are easy to forget, animals can get into them and other hikers don’t want to see them.

• Leave What You Find: Do not take objects like plant off trail with you. Preserve nature by not marking on rocks or harming any natural objects. Never pick wildflowers. It is illegal in many states.

• Minimize Campfire Impacts: Check and follow all local wildfire regulations. Use exciting fire rings and keep fires small. Put fires out properly by dousing will multiple gallons of water. Coals should be cool to the touch before walking away.

• Respect Wildlife: Never touch, feed or approach wildlife. Give a minimum of 25 yards to all wildlife and a minimum or 100 yard for predators and larger wildlife. Wildlife are not like house pets. They can spook easily or feel threatened. Stay in your car if wildlife is near the road.

• Be Considerate of Others: Respect other hikers by allowing those that hike faster to pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way, so safely step aside for them to pass, unless they offer to stop first. Limit noise and use headphones. Keep groups under 8. Say hello to a fellow hiker!

Zebra Slot Canyon Location

Zebra Slot Canyon is located outside of Escalante, Utah. It is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, an area of land that spans 1.87 million acres in southern Utah. The town of Eacalante is located off of UT-12 and sits between Capital Reef and Bryce Canyon National Park.

To reach Zebra A lot Canyon, turn into Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Escalate, it is a washboard dirt road, but the section to Zebra Slot Canyon is doable for most cars if you take your time. Hope-in-the-Rock road does worsen as it goes and eventually becomes a road only for high clearance 4×4 vehicles.

The trailhead parking lot is roughly 23 minutes out south of Escalante and just 8 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road. It is a large dirt field to the right of the road. Be sure to have your directions going or pay attention to the mileage so you don’t miss it.

Best Time of Year to Hike Zebra Slot Canyon

Hiking to Zebra Slot Canyon is an amazing year-round trail, but it will be extremely hot in the summer months. I you choose to do this hike during the summer, go early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. It can be extremely dangerous to hike mid-day here.

On the opposite weather side is flooding in the slot canyons. In the late fall through spring months the slot canyons can flood and have water pool inside of them. Although a flash flood could happen any time of year, the pooling of water is more common in the winter months.

In order to avoid extreme heat of getting to the slot canyon and it being impassible with water, the best time to go would be April and May in the Spring or September through October in the fall.

Zebra Slot Canyon Trail Information

The trail for Zebra Slot Canyon begins across the street from the parking lot along Hole-in-the-Rock Road. The trail is an easy and flat trail that meanders through the desert and in and out of sandy wash. There are a few larger trees for share along the way, but it is mostly an exposed trail. As you enter the sandy wash multiple times, be sure to pay attention to where the trail exits again.

For the most part it is extremely easy to spot and thankfully if you miss it you can continue down the sand until the next intersection. At one of the sections through the wash there is a tall metal fence. This is a cattle fence and can seen like you acidently reached a dead end or when the wrong way. TO the right there is an area you can safely get through the fence. It was designed for people to use and you are allowed ot pass through it.

As you near Zebra Slot Canyon, the wash widens and is a sandy hike for the remainder of the trail. As you enter Zebra Slot Canyon the walls will begin to move near each other and increase in height. The trail also narrows the farther in you go. Visitors can heard teh famous zebra stripped section without any major squeezing or climbing. If you wish to explore further into the slot canyon from here, know it will be very tight.

When I climbed through this section I had to turn my feet or have them go up the wall slightly as i climbed. They did not fit flat and straigth ahead. At one point I had to carry my backpack and my hat above my head to make my presence as tiny as possible as i wiggle through.

After the beautiful zebra stripes, there is a section of the slot visitors will either need to climb up and over to continue or turn around. I choose to turn around because i wasn’t overly comfortable trying to climb up or down it with my mom, but would have given it a go with my husband. So follow your comfort levels

As you leave to return to the parking lot pay extra close attention fro the trail out of the wide sandy wash as it is easy to miss. The smaller wash the trail intersects with does cross paths Hole-in-the-Rock Road, so worst case if you get off trail you can walk up the road to the parking lot.

What to Bring Hiking to Zebra Slot Canyon

Below is gear you should carry with you to Zebra Slot Canyon to ensure your safety and comfort on the trail. Never underestimate the desert and always be over prepared in the harsh environment.

The 10 Essentials

No matter the length of difficulty of a hike, you should always carry a backpack with the 10 essentials. You can learn more about these item in my “The 10 Essentials” guide. This hike is a more difficult hike and if there were an emergency and you had to get help on trail you will want to have these items on hand. In addition, you can always help a fellow hiker in need.

Technology

If you have the means, it’s so important to carry a satellite communications device with you into the backcountry. This will allow you to get ahold of emergency services should you need it but also communicate with friends or family off trail. Having a paper or downloaded map you can use to find the trail will help you if you accidentally get off trail or follow the wrong one. I always predownload my AllTrails maps when I’m still in cell service. I also use a Garmin watch to track mileage and elevation on the trail so I can properly determine where I am on the hike. This hike is well out of cell service and the conditions on this trail can be extremely dangerous. Using the items above is important to staying safe in an emergency.

Hiking Shoes

Always wear proper shoes when hiking. This means trail runners or hiking boots because they will provide the best traction over rocks and loose terrain. Sandals and tennis shoes are not great footwear for the trail, even if it is hot outside. There are also poisonous reptiles in the Utah desert, so wearing closed toed shoe on trial will protect your feet should you accidentally come across one. This trail can be wet and rocks will be slick so shoes with good traction will be best.

Sun Protection

This hike is extremely exposed the entire way, so bring and use proper sun protection. I always pack sunscreen to reapply throughout the hike as needed. Bring a hat  to help keep the sun of your face and neck. Wearing a sun shirt to help protect  skin from harmful UV rays will help prevent sunburns and heat stroke. Even on a cloudy day you can get a sunburn so always be prepared.

Water and Electrolytes

This trail does not have any water sources along the route and dehydration in the desert is deadly. It’s so important to stay hydrated hiking, no matter the time of the year. Plan to have one liter of water per 2 hours of hiking. I also bring electrolyte snacks on every hike I go on. I like using my bladder to make sure I’m consuming enough water since it’s easier to drink from. A large water bottle is a great option if you don’t like bladders. Even though there is no resupply options on this trail, I always carry my water filter with me. 

Reminders

• Be prepared for anything as this trail has zero resources and is exposed to the elements. It’s aways better to turn around than push yourself and end up in danger. Going prepared with plenty of water, proper clothing and knowing the risks is key to having a safe hike in the Utah desert.

• Zebra Slot Canyon is extremely narrow, making it difficult to pass through in sections. Be prepared to squeeze your way through this slot canyon if you wish to continue. You can also enjoy the beauty of the canyon without continuing further into the slot if it is too narrow for your comfort.

• Hole-in-the-Rock Road is truly one of the most amazing places to explore in Utah if you have the proper vehicles and time. I would highly recommend spending time out here if you can and explore more of the trails. There are other slot canyons, epic viewpoints of Lake Powell and endless adventuring awaiting.

I hope this guide helps you with your adventure to Zebra Slot Canyon! Slot Canyons are one of the fun and epic things about exploring Utah. This slot canyon may be short, but it sure is a beauty worth visiting. If you have any further questions or want to share your experience after, please leave a comment below!

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