Big Horn Slot Canyon

Northwest fork Big Horn Canyon

This canyon system has many branches with vistas in each of them.  In fact there is enough land to spend a week covering different side canyons.  This hike covers the best section of slot canyon and includes a nice hike through the upper section of Harris Wash, a major drainage into the Escalante River.  In this slot, you will find super narrow passages, a section of tunnel like narrows where the ceiling is choked with brush and debris.  There are so many unique qualities to this canyon red swirling colors, hoodoo formations, and the occasional Peregrine falcon nesting site.  The hike is moderate with one or two tricky manuevers in the slot canyon to keep you on your toes.  The upper slot section is strenuous.

How to get there:  East of the town of Escalante head down the Hole in the Rock road for roughly 3.5 miles.  Park your car just before the cattle guard where it crosses Harris Wash which is full of dead Tamarisk trees.  On the opposite side of the wash there is a corral to know if you have gone too far.

The Trail:    The first 1.5 mile is an uneventful stroll following upper Harris Wash south past some thick brush which is avoided by hugging the north side of the wash.  At about 1.5 miles you arrive at an old sheep corral that has not been used for decades.  At this point you can enter the wash that should be dry and sandy.  Continue down the wash until at mile 3.o you will arrive at Big Horn Canyon.  Turn Left (North) and head up .2 of a mile where the canyon splits.  To the left (Northwest fork) is the really narrow fork.  It is relatively short and is really picturesque.  The whole of the slot can be avoided by leaving the wash right at the break of the fork with the Southwest fork and hugging the rim.  It is said that more goodies are found up past the slot.  The Northwest Slot is surely worth the trip.  The Southwest fork is more well known and has some of the most beautiful rock formations found in the area.  While not known for being extremely narrow, this is still a worthwhile area to explore.  The canyon above the southwest fork splits 3 to 5 more times and each fork provides more interesting desert scenery.   By about mile 4.0 you have pretty much ran out of narrows and the canyon widens as it goes through more interesting rock strata.  But as it widens, its probably a good place to turn around and make your way back out the way you came in.  The canyon can also be accessed from the Old Spencer Flat Road.  Which means you can also do Big Horn from the top down with a car shuttle.

• Moderate hike with one strenuous section
• 5-8 hours in length
• No water on hike so bring plenty
• Intimate slot canyon combined with big views

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  Swirling rock formations in Big Horn

Nice Texture in Big Horn