Fast access to Escalante slots?

June 18, 2007 10:59 AM

Searching flickr for Escalante slot reveals incredible photos of various slot canyons in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. If I arrive in Escalante on Thursday night and wish to sleep in Salt Lake City on Friday night (meaning I can get there at any late hour), will it be possible to hit some slot canyons?

The guidebooks I got out of the library (Fodors and Moon) are vague about specific hikes to get to the slots. I'm 35 and in good shape so I can tackle a good hike, but given the time constraint I'd prefer to err on the side of accessibility.

posted by forallmankind to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

Where are you coming from, to arrive in Escalante on Thursday night? If you can get yourself further south, you can spend the noontime in the mother of all slotcanyons, Antelope Canyon, in Page, AZ.
posted by notsnot at 12:06 PM on June 18, 2007

Yes, it definitely depends on where you plan on entering the park. Some of the best slots require hours of driving to be reached. The monument is VAST. You probably know this- but PLEASE bring a lot of water, more than you think you need... it is very hot and very dry- and if you are planning a noontime hike you will be hit with the height of desert sun... (some of the slots, while shady, require a bit of a hike to reach....)
posted by mistsandrain at 12:12 PM on June 18, 2007

If you've never done canyon hiking, then I'd strongly suggest a guided hike. I can speak from experience, never underestimate a canyon.

Once you're in, the sides are usually too steep to climb out so the only way out is to hike through. You can't backtrack because it's too steep and those boulders you scrambled down are impossible to scramble back up. The sides are vertical, so daylight disappears earlier than you'd expect. The sun can be a killer and if there are pools you have to hike through, the water is very, very cold. An injury in these circumstances can be disastrous. Finally, there is always the risk of a flash flood from a thunderstorm that's miles away.

The most stress-free way to enjoy a canyon is with an experienced guide who'll do all the worrying.
posted by TorontoSandy at 2:45 PM on June 18, 2007