Tunnel Slot Hike

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I think I found my new favorite place to hike, photograph and explore; The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). It’s a huge area of land on the Utah and Arizona Border. From my brief adventures to the Devils Garden, Old Paria and Coyote Buttes I have a great admiration for the area and look forward to future trips here. The week I traveled deep into the GSENM to Zebra and Tunnel Slot canyons.

From the parking area (directions below) you head East onto a well traveled trail that takes you about 2 miles in to the edge of Harris wash. From hear it becomes your choice; head up the wash to Zebra Slot, or head down towards Tunnel slot. I chose Zebra first because I was really excited to climb into it, but I was curious to find some Moqui Marbles. Moqui Marbles are these amazing rocks that are like natures M&Ms. The chocolate coating is lava rock and the center is sandstone. I read about them while researching this hike and are supposed to have spiritual qualities.(Zebra Slot, Left)

Including Round Valley Draw, Tunnel Canyon, and Zebra Canyon to name a few. It’s like a slot canyon haven. After visiting Buckskin Gulch I’ve become kind of obsessed with slot canyons. While Buckskin was the biggest and Round Valley was the funnest, Zebra Canyon is definitely the prettiest. We visited Zebra Canyon and Tunnel Canyon in one hike. The “tunnel” is a long narrow slot over 200-ft. Long that is usually filled with water. Much of this route is exposed with little or no shade. Be sure to carry plenty of water. The route is best hiked in the spring and the fall. The video of my 9-day, 153-mile loop hike around the Burr Trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park. The windy/cold May 2016 trek through the land of slot canyons and wide-open vistas features Big Horn Canyon, Zebra Slot, Harris Wash, Choprock Canyon, Lower Muley Twist, Upper.

I made my way slowly up the very sandy Harris Wash and made it to the entrance to Zebra Slot. I was looking forward to hiking deep into the slot canyon, but quickly realized that was out of the question. Zebra Slot was full of water, up to my chest before I decided to back out. I didn’t think to bring a dry bag for camera equipment. I wasn’t expecting water, especially this much. So I stashed my gear and waded back into the slot even further. More water and narrowing of the canyon, deflated I headed towards Tunnel Slot.(Harris Wash, Right)

Tunnel Slot Hike Grand Canyon

Hike

I hadn’t planned to hike to Tunnel Slot when embarked today but after the Zebra I was fired up. About a mile down the wash I barely spotted a small cairn on the left side of the wash leading me up a side canyon. The canyon floor was soaked with water and I feared the worst ahead. As I reached the entrance to Tunnel Slot I was ready to get wet again. The cool part of Tunnel Slot is that it’s only about 100ft long, so wading into the water was less of a mystery than Zebra was. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak… A really interesting Slot canyon, a very narrow opening at the top and a wide tunnel where flood water flow through. Making my way through Tunnel slot the Canyon started to open back up. Time to head back to the other side of the slot canyon and sat down for a quick snack before hiking the 3 miles back to the car. (Tunnel Slot, Left)

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-Jon

Directions: From Escalante, Utah, take the main road, Highway 12, east through Escalante. The road will head in a southeastern direction. Follow Hwy 12 for five miles, and as the highway makes a left curve, the unpaved Hole in the Rock Road will be on the right side of the road. From here you will head southeast on the unpaved Hole in the Rock Road for approximately 8 miles. Turn right into a small dirt lot, no official trailhead for tunnel or zebra slot canyons, but a well traveled trail can be found a crossed the road to the eat.

Tunnel Slot Hike Game

Slot

Tunnel Slot Hike Grand Staircase

Youtube Video:

Tunnel Slot Hike Trail

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