The land east of Zion National Park and the Kolob Terrace is generally lower and the mountains less sheer, but the cliffs and mesas are made of the same Navajo sandstone - white at higher elevations and red lower down - and these too contain interesting slot canyons, though not as deep as the more well known gorges to the west, and without streams running through. Slot canyons can be found in Capitol Reef, Escalante, the Grand Canyon, the San Rafael Swell, Lake Powell, the Paria River and Page, but Zion possesses one of the areas richest treasure troves for intrepid explorers willing to match their wits, their legs and their fingers against Mother Nature.

1. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park National Park
2. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park South Rim
3. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park
4. Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Hiking Trails

The Narrows is the most popular hike in Zion National Park, and one of the world's best slot canyon hikes. It is pure fun and can be tailored to suite any ability level. The trail is basically the Virgin River. The canyon is so narrow, the river covers the bottom in many spots, which means you have to wade or swim to proceed. Red Hollow and Spring Hollow: slot canyons near Zion National Park, Utah Red Hollow and Spring Hollow The Elkheart Cliffs, a few miles east of Zion National Park, harbor several narrow canyons - Sand Wash/Red Cave is the largest but two other good short slots are found nearby.

×The Elkheart Cliffs, a few miles east of Zion National Park, harbor several narrow canyons - Sand Wash/Red Cave is the largest but two other good short slots are found nearby. Red Hollow, east of Orderville and easily reached from US 89, has narrow, vertical-walled passages through deep red rocks, most of which is hikeable from the lower end though an unclimbable dryfall means that the full length can only be explored from above, using ropes.
Three miles north, just south of Glendale, Spring Hollow contains a shorter narrows section, usually with a shallow stream flowing through, that ends in an enclosed chamber beneath a pretty waterfall. Access to this is no longer possible, however, since the previously-used approach, from the lower end, crosses private land.

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park National Park

Topographic Map of Red Hollow

Location

Red Hollow is the main drainage emerging from the Elkheart Cliffs due east of Orderville, a small town on US 89 five miles north of the junction with UT 9 from Zion. A half mile dirt track leads towards the cliffs and the mouth of the canyon, starting at 100 E St in town; south one block then left (along Red Hollow Drive), a road that soon becomes unpaved then a bit rough and sandy, including one crossing of a streambed, so 4WD may be needed. The track ends by a fence in front of a water tank, from where the wash is a short walk downhill.

Photographs

7 views of Red Hollow and Spring Hollow.

Route Description

Red Hollow

The stony wash splits after a short distance upstream, at the base of the Elkheart Cliffs. The right branch enters a V-shaped, white-walled ravine that gains height steadily and is not narrow, while the left fork forms a more enclosed red rock gorge that becomes a slot after 1/4 mile. This canyon is deep from the start and soon is just a few feet across and sheer walled, without any overhanging rocks so the passageways are well lit, but not particularly distinctive as the rock is uniform in texture and grey/dark red in color - no delicate curves or decorative strata. The slot curves gently while remaining generally straight and has a few chokestones up of to 6 feet, though nothing too difficult until a higher fall of 25 feet on top of which are several webbing attachments for those descending from above.
Graffiti carved on some parts of the walls and abundant footprints suggest the canyon is often visited. The lower narrows, up to the dryfall, can all be seen in half an hour and while not especially pretty, Red Hollow makes for an enjoyable quarter day hike. Although the canyon is dry much of the year, at some times a fair amount of water might be present, making conditions rather more difficult.

Spring Hollow

The Spring Hollow creek emerges from quite a narrow opening at the side of the low cliffs that line this part of the Virgin River valley, above which is a straight passage through white/light brown rocks. After two bends and a quarter of a mile of canyon, the creek enters a shady chamber where the water falls 20 feet into a shallow pool, cascading down a wall of horizontal, thin-layered strata; a photogenic scene. Away from the waterfall, the rocks are carved with hundreds of inscriptions, mostly quite recent but some dating from the late nineteenth century, such as from several members of the Kent family.

Similar Canyons

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park South Rim

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Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park

Slot Canyons Near Zion National Park Hiking Trails

Explore Zion like never before with one of our Zion National Park guided canyoneering tours. Take advantage of this unique canyoneering opportunity to travel through Zion’s slot canyons like a pro. Are you a beginner looking to learn the ropes? Sign up for our rappelling class to get a better feel for the territory before jumping in! With half and full-day tour options, as well as a climbing wall and combined rappelling and jeep tours, we have the perfect adventure options for all ages and skill levels. Book your Zion National Park canyoneering tour today!