September 11, 2025
During the Summer of 2021, I watched a video from some wandering YouTubers I follow, Adam and Kathryn where they hiked the Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch slot canyon trail in Kanab, Utah. So inspired, that’s when I became determined to visit southern Utah.
Christy and Hayden left Thursday morning, Brandy was hard at work so I wound up taking the trip on my own.
The trailhead was just over an hour away from the AirBnB, much of that time was spent crawling at a snail’s pace over some terrific off-roading terrain. Truly, the approach to the trailhead was just as exciting at the hike itself. I arrived at the trailhead, registered at the log and headed out on my way.
The walk to the slot canyon was fairly lengthy, about a mile and a half into the 2.8 miles of the total one-way trip (5.6 miles total, out and back.) That first mile and a half was through a dry river bed that was carved into a shallow canyon, but was quite wide- far too wide to be considered a “slot canyon”.
It was a typical, sunny, Southwestern day: warm, sunny and clear blue skies overhead.
A mile and a half into the hike, the walls suddenly closed in on the trail and before I knew it, I was able to stretch my arms out and touch both walls of the canyon at the same time.
I immediately came across a downed log that was wedged between the two walls of the canyon. It was in that sweet spot that would be equally difficult to go over or under. A couple approached from the opposite direction. The man opted to go over, the woman went under. After watching the two different approaches, I opted to go over.
I continued through the amazingly wonderful and claustrophobic canyon, stopping frequently for pictures.
I quickly reached “the ladder”, a log ladder that lowers hikers down a sudden 10 foot drop in the canyon floor. I climbed down the ladder and continued along my way.
I wasn’t on the trail much longer before I came to sudden further narrowing of the canyon walls and another sudden drop in the floor of the canyon, this one only about 40 inches or so. I was intrigued and wanted to continue but ran into a heavy mental block. The canyon was so narrow that when I was facing straight ahead down the slot, my shoulders were both touching the walls of the canyon. I could have taken my pack off and turned sideways to shimmy through this exceptionally narrow section- I could see that the walls widened a little beyond this point- and second, I felt comfortable lowering myself down the drop but wasn’t sure how getting back up would be on my way back.
Being alone, I didn’t want risk getting stuck, either wedged in the narrow walls or unable to climb back up the drop down. Out of an abundance of caution, I elected to turn back.
I was extremely happy to have been able to see the portion of the slot canyon that I did see, but was slightly disappointed I only saw about a quarter mile of it.
The slot canyon will be there though, there’s nothing stopping me from going back with someone and trying again.
Pictures from this hike are here, on my Photo Diary.
Further Adventures
I had also planned on taking a couple more hikes on this day, including a hike to see The Nautilus, which the trail appeared to be closed and I didn’t want to trespass, and Paria Townsite, which turned out not to be the ghost town I was imagining based on descriptions I’d read online. The drive in to the townsite was still fun though, as adventurous as the drive to the Wire Pass trailhead. I at least did get some additional steps and pictures while at Paria Townsite. I also stopped by a nearby cemetery where 13 pioneers and Paiute are memorialized.
Those pictures are here, on my Photo Diary.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, I put in over 15,000 steps, Clyde and I were both coated in red dust and I felt absolutely amazing, having finally crossed off a terrific item off my to-do list.
Which reminds me, I really should update that…
…anyway, after a return trip to Zion National Park on Friday, September 12, we packed up Saturday and made our way southeast to Albuquerque for the last stop of the Escape the Corn Sweat 2025 Summer Tour. I will go ahead and make a very brief post about it, and the return trip home, which saw more excitement than the actual stay in Albuquerque, but we will get to that soon.
Until then!
-Phil