Slot Canyons of the American Southwest California, Arizona, and Utah

Slot Canyons of the Slot Canyons of the American SouthwestAmerican Southwest

California, Arizona, and UtahCalifornia, Arizona, and Utah


Few places on Earth have such Few places on Earth have such beauty as the delicately sculpted beauty as the delicately sculpted and colored slot canyons of the and colored slot canyons of the American Southwest. American Southwest.

There are thousands of scenic There are thousands of scenic canyons in this region but most canyons in this region but most are relatively wide and often are relatively wide and often descend in steps through rock descend in steps through rock layers of differing hardness.layers of differing hardness.

In contrast, slot canyons have In contrast, slot canyons have vertical walls and may be vertical walls and may be hundreds of feet deep but only a hundreds of feet deep but only a few feet wide.few feet wide.



The general rock most slot The general rock most slot canyons are made of is canyons are made of is sandstone, in various shades sandstone, in various shades of red and orange.of red and orange.

It is the sunlight, shining It is the sunlight, shining down and reflecting along down and reflecting along the canyon walls that gives the canyon walls that gives the canyons their special the canyons their special beauty; the shadows and beauty; the shadows and colors change constantly as colors change constantly as the sun moves overhead.the sun moves overhead.


Most slot canyons are Most slot canyons are remote, hidden and difficult remote, hidden and difficult to reach and explore. to reach and explore.

The canyons tend to be dry The canyons tend to be dry for most of the year but for most of the year but receive occasional flash receive occasional flash floods of great force, most floods of great force, most frequently during the late frequently during the late summer months. summer months.

It is these sudden torrents of It is these sudden torrents of water, carrying logs, stones water, carrying logs, stones and other debris that have and other debris that have been cutting through the been cutting through the relatively soft rock for relatively soft rock for millions of years, resulting in millions of years, resulting in a great variety of colorful a great variety of colorful rock shapes and forms.rock shapes and forms.



In general, true slot canyons are In general, true slot canyons are found only on the many rivers found only on the many rivers and their tributaries that and their tributaries that ultimately flow into ultimately flow into Lake PowellLake Powell, , in Utah. in Utah.

There are three main drainage There are three main drainage systems; various creeks that cross systems; various creeks that cross Navajo landNavajo land south of the lake in south of the lake in Arizona, branches of the Arizona, branches of the PariaParia River River to the west, and branches to the west, and branches of the of the EscalanteEscalante and other rivers and other rivers to the north.to the north.

Most of these canyons occur in Most of these canyons occur in the same type of rocks; red the same type of rocks; red Navajo sandstone, which seems to Navajo sandstone, which seems to be particularly suited to the be particularly suited to the formation of slot canyons. formation of slot canyons.


A slightly different type of narrow canyon is found in the Kolob Plateau in A slightly different type of narrow canyon is found in the Kolob Plateau in and around and around Zion National ParkZion National Park, formed by tributaries of the Virgin River; , formed by tributaries of the Virgin River; these are a little wider and less winding but much deeper and often have these are a little wider and less winding but much deeper and often have water flowing through all or most of the year.water flowing through all or most of the year.

The plateau is also made predominantly of Navajo sandstone, which here The plateau is also made predominantly of Navajo sandstone, which here ranges in color from red to white. The canyons often have wonderful ranges in color from red to white. The canyons often have wonderful pools, waterfalls and narrow channels, which make them even more pools, waterfalls and narrow channels, which make them even more fascinating to explore.fascinating to explore.





Slot Canyons can be dangerous: Slot Canyons can be dangerous: there was a flash flood in there was a flash flood in August of 1997 in Antelope August of 1997 in Antelope Canyon that killed 11 people. Canyon that killed 11 people.

Similar incidents include the Similar incidents include the death of 5 people in the Zion death of 5 people in the Zion Canyon Narrows and 2 in Kolob Canyon Narrows and 2 in Kolob Canyon, also in Zion National Canyon, also in Zion National Park. Park.

While such fatal accidents are While such fatal accidents are rare there are several dangers rare there are several dangers that will be encountered during that will be encountered during the exploration of narrow the exploration of narrow canyons. canyons.


It is most important to know the It is most important to know the weather forecast - rain falling even weather forecast - rain falling even many miles away can collect many miles away can collect together, become channeled down together, become channeled down one course and turn a dry canyon into one course and turn a dry canyon into a fast-flowing torrent of water and a fast-flowing torrent of water and debris in seconds. debris in seconds.

It is a sobering sight in slot canyons It is a sobering sight in slot canyons to see huge logs wedged between the to see huge logs wedged between the canyon walls sometimes many meters canyon walls sometimes many meters above the floor, a testament to the above the floor, a testament to the power of the water. power of the water.

Often these canyons have sudden, Often these canyons have sudden, sheer drops of several meters and so sheer drops of several meters and so there is potential for accidents by there is potential for accidents by falling, or by jumping down, falling, or by jumping down, becoming trapped and unable to becoming trapped and unable to climb back out. climb back out.



Slot canyons can be remote places which may be unvisited for Slot canyons can be remote places which may be unvisited for days or even weeks. People who get hurt while in slot canyons days or even weeks. People who get hurt while in slot canyons may go for day without help!may go for day without help!

More unusual dangers include rattlesnakes, deep stagnant More unusual dangers include rattlesnakes, deep stagnant pools and quicksand, but at least getting lost once in the pools and quicksand, but at least getting lost once in the canyon is unlikely...canyon is unlikely...





Exploring a slot canyon Exploring a slot canyon can involve a short, level, can involve a short, level, half hour walk starting half hour walk starting from a roadside parking from a roadside parking area or a backpacking area or a backpacking trip of several days trip of several days requiring route-finding, requiring route-finding, rappelling, rock climbing rappelling, rock climbing and swimming skills, so and swimming skills, so anyone intending to anyone intending to explore such places explore such places should assess their should assess their abilities and select abilities and select canyons accordingly. canyons accordingly.



Technical slot canyons, Technical slot canyons, requiring rappelling, requiring rappelling, you will need you will need specialized techniques specialized techniques to get into them.to get into them.

These are much more These are much more difficult to get into! difficult to get into! They are even harder to They are even harder to get out of!get out of!






The End!The End!

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Slot Canyons of the American Southwest California, Arizona, and Utah