This was the first of two planned hikes today. The drive there was like entering someone’s back yard – a really really huge and deserted back yard! Initially we planned to hike this as the intended loop but after speaking with the Ranger at Goblin Valley State Park Entrance where we paid our admission he stated he always hikes back the same way as the loop canyon, Bell Canyon is in his words, is boring, compared to Little Wild Horse Canyon.
We left the Rangers station for the trailhead – an easy 5 mile or so drive – saw some just absolutely mind blowingly cool campsites tucked up near the high walls of rocks on the way there….just way too cool. At the trailhead there was a sign in sheet – not everyone was signing in tho. I began to wonder if the fee we paid wasn’t necessary?? Since we were going back to hike Goblin Valley anyways it really didn’t make a difference to us. We got there fairly early and that WAS a bonus. A couple of Aussie ladies had started out about 30 minutes before we did and there were 2 older dudes who started out about when we did.
We came to our first decision point. A basically 6-7 foot dryfall with a small piece of driftwood in it to assist decent and a few small rocks to assist in ascent. My buddy Matt hopped down and I followed – he then kinda shimmied himself up the first part of the dry fall and I threw his pack up to him – I tossed my pack to him and then tried to get my old short fat arse up there and with a helping hand from him I was able to make the first part – then there was another scramble again about 6-7 feet that I tried my level best to make my way thru but there was just no way. As I stood looking at this obstacle I suddenly noticed the two older dudes just walking on by about 50 or so feet above me!!! Obviously I am not old enough to gain wisdom!! We later chatted with them and they said they watched me do the first dryfall and decided there had to be a better way. Sure enough just to the left of the dryfall is a faint trail that heads up and along the dryfall and eventually descends down to the beginning of either Little Wild Horse (to the right) or Bell Canyon (to the left).
So down back into the dryfall I go and back out the way I came in – I find the trail and I get almost to the top of it and realize, hey my pants are wet! I look down and sure enough in my scrambling I managed to get my very first hiking injury! Cool!!! I get to use this stinking first aid kit I been hauling around all over the state of Utah!!! I clean up two small scrapes that gave up a fair amount of blood and patched em up. Head down and met up with Matt and off we went up Little Wild Horse.
It starts out kinda bland – I was wondering what all the fuss was and then it got fun. Lots of small scrambles over medium and large sized rocks and then……..the first actual slot canyon – the walls were carved out like a master sculptor had been working on this for several lifetimes. The width varied from less than shoulder width to about 10+ feet. My camera was exploding as was Matts. Then it opened up a bit and then it closed right down again and again and again…..I would guesstimate the canyon walls were at least 100+ feet high in some spots maybe even higher in others and my mental DVR just popped a breaker. I reset it and then popped another. Quite honestly the best hike I have ever experienced so far. The length was only maybe 4 miles or so from trailhead to the end of the Canyon – quite possibly the craziest and coolest 4 miles I have ever walked. No forget that it WAS the coolest.
Along the way we passed the Aussie ladies and that was it – we had the whole dang thing to ourselves and it was heaven. Too bad it was slightly overcast or the images would have even made Ansel happy! We finally reached the end and took a short break for some food – we were loaded to bear and could have easily done this without the day packs we had. I am sure if it was warmer it would have been a different story.
As we headed back it all seemed totally different – the mental DVR that had been reset just exploded again. Going back was like hiking a whole new canyon – each bend was different than the one before it. The water rushing through this canyon has created an awesome Natures Masterpiece. Sadly as we headed back we ran into multiple groups of people so the solitude was lost but the initial hike in was A-1.
A number of firsts – my first injury, my first slot canyon, my first mental DVR explosion and my first OMG I AM SO COMING BACK HERE MOMENT. While the Grand Canyon does hold its sway over me my first slot canyon was a wild and unforgettable experience.
FINALLY almost 2 years later - I added the images.....
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Out of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most.....
Route Editor
Route Scout
I suddenly noticed the two older dudes just walking on by about 50 or so feet above me!!! ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
Obviously I am not old enough to gain wisdom!! 
We later chatted with them and they said they watched me do the first dryfall and decided there had to be a better way. Sure enough just to the left of the dryfall is a faint trail that heads up and along the dryfall and eventually descends down to the beginning of either Little Wild Horse (to the right) or Bell Canyon (to the left).
I get to use this stinking first aid kit I been hauling around all over the state of Utah!!! 
I clean up two small scrapes that gave up a fair amount of blood and patched em up. Head down and met up with Matt and off we went up Little Wild Horse.
I reset it and then popped another. Quite honestly the best hike I have ever experienced so far. The length was only maybe 4 miles or so from trailhead to the end of the Canyon – quite possibly the craziest and coolest 4 miles I have ever walked. No forget that it WAS the coolest. 
