Hiking Utah's Spooky and Peek-A-Boo Canyons
Beginner Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
May 19, 2009
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is 1.7 million acres of rugged yet amazingly beautiful land located in Southern Utah. The area is unique for its remoteness and was one of the last places to be mapped in the United States. The Escalante area is popular for its canyons and slots and offers dozens of fascinating canyons to explore. Most of the canyons require a great deal of technical ability and experience or the use of a guide service. Spooky and Peek-A-Boo Canyons are the least technical canyons and are a great introduction to canyoneering and the incredible beauty of the canyons of the Escalante.
Spooky and Peek-A-Boo Canyons are a relatively easy day hike. Most people make the hike into a loop and hike up Peek-A-Boo Canyon and then travel down Spooky Canyon. Some also hike up and down both canyons or do the loop in reverse. For extra large people or those prone to claustrophobia – it would be a good idea to head up Spooky canyon and only travel as far as comfortable. The loop is roughly 3 miles and can easily take a few hours.
Hiking Peek-A-Boo Canyon
From the Dry Gulch trailhead, a short climb down the slickrock takes you into the sandy bottoms of Dry Fork Gulch. Follow the cairns (small rock piles placed to point out the trail) to the entrance of Peek-A-Boo canyon. The most difficult sections of Peek-A-Boo are right at the start. A bit of scrambling is required to get into the canyon and foot and hand holds have been notched into the rock. Some webbing or short rope can be helpful in aiding small children into and out of the canyon.
Keep hiking up Peek-A-Boo until the slot ends. Halfway up the canyon it becomes shallower, but the canyon becomes deep again so keep hiking up until you reach a more obvious end and a large juniper tree. Either hike back down Peek-A-Boo or follow the sandy path and cairns to the top of Spooky Canyon.
Hiking Spooky Canyon
Spooky is the deeper, narrower of the two and in some sections only a foot-wide requiring the hiker to shuffle sideways through it. The top of Spooky is in a very wide wash that soon narrows up into a slot. There are some more difficult spots requiring the hiker to navigate around and under chockstones (boulders that have fallen and lodged themselves into the narrow canyon) – children and the less agile may need assistance getting through these sections.
Alternatively, the bottom entrance to Spooky is located a 5-10 minute hike down from the entrance to Peek-A-Boo.
Getting to Spooky and Peek-A-Boo Canyons via the Dry Gulch Trailhead
Travel East on Scenic Highway 12 from Escalante to the Hole in the Rock Road. Take a right on Hole in the Rock Road and travel 26.2 miles to a signed turnoff for the Dry Fork Trailhead on the left-hand side of the road. Keep left and follow the road to the trailhead. The Hole in the Rock Road is a graded dirt road and can be rocky and sandy in spots. Although 4X4 vehicles are recommended, most passenger cars do fine on the road but may scrape bottom in some sections.
The canyons are best visited in spring and fall or early in the morning during summer months. Always be aware of the weather conditions and never enter a slot canyon during stormy weather. Although flash floods can happen anytime of the year, hiking in July, August, and September carries the greatest risk. Always hike with plenty of water in the desert and keep an extra supply of water and food in your car. Exploring Spooky and Peek-A-Boo canyons are definitely fun and suitable for all ages but make sure to read the BLM safety tips before you go.
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