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| Hiking | 5.35 Miles |
995 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.35 Miles | 3 Hrs 42 Mns | | 1.54 mph |
| 995 ft AEG | 14 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Stopped by Peek-a-boo and Spooky gulches on our way home from a backpacking trip in Wyoming. These are super fun slot canyons to explore, some of the best in the world! The last time we hiked these was 2009, and a lot has changed since then, especially in terms of the amount of erosion observed in the slot canyons.
The hike begins with a flat walk across the top of the mesa, then a steep descent down to the (dry) creekbed. At this point, you are almost at the entrance to Peek-a-boo. Total distance to this point is around 1.5 miles. We started our hike around 11 AM, and it was already extremely hot. I can't imagine starting sometime in the afternoon. Even if the temperatures are only 90 degrees, you need to take the heat very seriously. I can totally understand why people die out there every year. Please read the sign at the parking lot, and please obey what it says. Specifically, it says to turn around if you don't have a full 4 liters of water per person. We've lived in AZ our whole lives and are extremely heat tolerant (also need less water than most people), and we drank almost every drop of our 4 liters per person. The amount that you will sweat is insane. This is due to the red rock, which absorbs heat and bakes you as if you were in an oven.
Okay, now that I have the safety stuff out of the way, let's get on to the actual gulches!
Peek-a-boo begins with a little climb up slickrock (sandstone in particular) to gain access into the slot canyon. If you can do this first 20 foot climb, you can do the rest of it with no issues. I recommend ensuring your hiking shoes are clean/dry, because any sand or dust will decrease your traction. Also, make sure to look for the handholds and footholds that have been carved into the rock. The are particularly helpful, especially as you get towards the top of the climb for the hands. Lastly, you may find it helpful to bring along a rope or rope ladder to assist in the climb. Obviously, this only works if the first person in your group climbs up first and then holds the rope (ladder) for the rest of the group. For us, my mom is scared of heights, so she was greatly helped by having a rope ladder. All it takes is 50 feet of static rope. You can look online for instructions on how to make one.
After you've successfully gotten into the canyon, take your time and enjoy it! The next 0.5 mile will go very quickly as you work your way through the canyon, so you definitely don't want to rush it. Peek-a-boo and Spooky and the best slot canyons I've ever visited, and I've been to a lot of slot canyons! In truth, words can't even describe the experience of hiking, climbing, and contorting your way through them.
A sincere word of caution: You need to be very physically fit to successfully complete this hike. And I don't just mean being skinny. I'd say you can probably be up to 200 lbs and still make it through. But in addition to being slender, you also must have upper body strength to be able to carry your backpack out in front of you, or behind you, when the canyons are too narrow for the shoulders to pass through. Little kids have a distinct advantage when it comes to navigating the canyons easily, which explains how we did this hike so easily as a family in 2009 (us kids were 7, 10, 14, and 16 at the time) and actually had more difficulty 12 years later as adults.
After you reach the exit of Peek-a-boo, turn to the right and follow the use path about half a mile to the entrance of Spooky. It is very important to note that these hikes are one way only. You cannot go up Spooky (you could in theory but the one obstacle would be very tough to get up; relatively easy going down). Likewise, you don't want to go down Peek-a-boo, only to find out at the end you can't make it down the last 20 foot cliff. Also, from a flow of human traffic perspective, if you're going the "wrong way" and you meet someone. One of you is probably going to have to back up for at least a quarter mile, just to find a spot wide enough to pass each other. Just please be considerate of others and do the loop in the clockwise direction--up Peek-a-boo and down Spooky.
Spooky is much narrower overall, with much of the canyon being necessary to carry your backpack rather than wearing it. This also means you'll be shuffling your feet, walking side to side, rather than taking normal steps with your shoulders square. We thoroughly enjoyed Spooky, especially "the exciting part" where you drop down about 30 feet vertical through gaps between boulders. Once again, we used the rope ladder for my mom.
The only wildlife we saw was a baby rattlesnake in Spooky Gulch--species yet to be identified. I'll be posting a triplog soon so y'all can help me out!
In conclusion, this is definitely a hike I'll do again any time I'm in the area and any time there's not a flash flood in the forecast. It's truly a special jewel in southern Utah, and I can't wait to go back! |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
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Based on his response it meant we had to accomplish our goal! Although we kept his warning about how a drizzle had caused issues for a boyscout group in Brimstone not too many year ago.
This Hike was a 3 for the Price of 1...A Real Bargain in Canyoneering 
This Canyon is seriously not for people with Claustrophobia...And unfortunately, this Canyon is not One-Way, so I was meeting people coming down...Luckily, there were a few Areas that were Wide Enough for people to squeak by each other...One Chockstone towards the End initially looked intimidating, but after taking a good look, it went pretty easy...And then I was out and heading up and around to descend down Peek-a-boo...
