Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons

The rock entrance into Peek-a-Boo Slot

Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons were something we had been anticipating since we arrived in Utah.  They are located in Coyote Gulch  about 26 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

At beginning of Peek-a-Boo

Beginning of many tight squeezes

From the trailhead we had to descend approximately 700 ft  down to a dry riverbed and then hike along the riverbed until we reached the entrance to the first canyon, known as Peek-a-Boo.    The entrance up into Peek-a-Boo was much more difficult than I thought it would be.   It was a huge sandstone rock that a few steps had been carved into, but they were pretty worn and there were no hand holds.  Luckily for us, there was another family there and they helped pull me up.    Then we finally got started.

Double arch inside Peek-a-Boo

It was amazing, so narrow and with lots of scrambling up and over boulders.  Laia has no fear and was right there with us.

Peek-a-Boo

We got to the end of Peek-a-Boo and ended up back in the open desert.  There are rock cairns identifying the route across the desert to another canyon but we lost sight of them, so thank God we had  a topo map on our phone.   We corrected course and after about half a  mile we found the entrance to the slot canyon known as Spooky.

The colors of Peek-a-Boo

You may need to enlarge this to get the entire effect

This one was indeed lives up to its name, for almost immediately after we entered it we encountered a huge obstacle,  a very large drop of about 15 ft.  There was another couple attempting it when we arrived.

“You might as well smile” Leonard told me, as I wondered how I was going to get out of this predicament. Thank God for long legs!

The man had made it down but the woman was stuck up above and he couldn’t reach up to her to help her down.  Leonard helped her down and then passed Laia down to them.  He made it down and then it was my turn. Somehow I did it without injuring myself.   Wow, I didn’t read anything about this on any trip report.

The canyon then went from narrow to narrrower.    Sometimes only a shoe width (or Laia width) wide.

The slots of Spooky

And she’s off!!

The slots of Spooky

Spooky

The hike back up out of the canyon was not such a great experience.  It was brutal.  Of course it was blazing hot by then, we still had water but it was a huge climb out and poor little Laia had to be carried part of the way.  She had finally reached her limit and the sand was hot, even with her booties on.     We all perked up when we got back in the car and after a days rest we’re ready for the next adventure.

What an incredible experience!