Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons

One of the most spectacular slot canyon hikes in the entire world is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This is actually two separate slots combined into one hike. The first is called Peek-a-Boo and the second is called Spooky. We are going to share all the details of our experience hiking Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons to help you know if this hike is right for your family.

IMG_8494
Our boys LOVED Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons. They are a tight fit!

Words of Caution

First, let me give a bit of a warning. Everything we read online said that this was easy and very doable for families. Even the ranger at the Visitor’s Center said, “Oh, easy. No problem even for the three year-old.” We disagree. If you have children under 8, it is our recommendation to avoid Peek-a-Boo and Spooky. This distance on this hike might not seem daunting (a little under 4 miles), but the hike is strenuous, and it is easy to get lost and run out of water.

Directions

All the roads in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are nasty. High-clearance vehicles won’t help with the washboards, but they will keep you from dragging the oil pan through the rocks. This is a bit of a concern on Hole-in-the-Rock Road, but it becomes a huge concern as you near the trailhead.

After 26 miles on Hole-in-the Rock Road, there is a turnoff to the left for the trailhead (the right goes to Batty Caves). The road goes for just under a mile and arrives at a small parking lot. If you have any doubts about the clearance of your vehicle or your driving ability on rough roads, park here. A very rough, uneven road with a 6 inch rocky lip lies between you and the trailhead. This road runs nearly a mile and is listed as 4WD only. We made it in our van, but Mom was too frightened and holding on too tightly to take any pictures. After a half mile, you’ll see a second parking lot, this one full of trucks.

At the far end of the parking lot, you will find the trail head sign.
At the far end of the parking lot, you will find the trail head sign.

Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon

The trail leads down to the bottom of the canyon, and it is quite steep, and there is a bit of scrambling, but it is accessible to most active people. When you reach the canyon floor, you’ll follow the wash for about a quarter mile to the entrance to Peek-a-Boo slot canyon. You will see a slot canyon just before Peek-a-Boo. This slot canyon is called Dry Fork, and it isn’t very narrow so most people skip it. After passing Dry Fork, you will walk just a few minutes to the Peek-a-Boo slot. You can’t miss it because there is a 10 foot climb into the canyon and someone has carved steps in the sandstone.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 2
You will head down the slick rock for the first 1/2 mile. Watch for the cairns. They will be very important on this adventure.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 3
It is a straight down walk to the canyons. We passed someone breathing pretty hard that said, “If you hike down, you’ll have to come up. Don’t do it!” We laughed and kept going.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 4
Soon you will come to a sandy trail that leads to a wash down below.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 5
The wash walks along this wall for a little bit before it opens to the canyons.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 6
You will see this canyon on your left. It is Dry Fork and is often skipped because it’s not very narrow, but if you want to explore it, it’s the first one you come to.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 7
Instead of going left into Dry Fork, follow this wash straight ahead. The Peek-A-Boo opening is right in front of you in that rocky wall.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 8
Here it is: Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon. You will climb in here. Look closely and you can see steps someone has carved in the sandstone.

This is the first bit of scaling that you have to do, and it isn’t difficult, though if you’ve brought the under eight years old crowd, it will be a minor challenge. After the climb, there is a beautiful view up the narrow slot, and you can see arches spanning the corkscrewing canyon.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 9
Everyone was able to climb up the opening, but the younger kids did need some help.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 10
It is amazing to come up and see the arches right over the canyon. You will walk right under them. It’s a pretty awesome place.

I won’t attempt to describe every obstacle that you encounter, but there are many as you climb Peek-a-Boo canyon. One of them is a small shallow pool of water (only about 6 inches). Because of the lay of the rock, it is nearly impossible to stay dry. We did find a way, but it required Dad straddling the pool and lifting all of our family up into a small notch and then pulling himself up. Even though you’re going to get your feet wet, you want solid shoes with comfortable socks. Later in the summer, this water is probably dried up.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 11
Dad was a great sport and kept us all dry. His arms were sure tired the next day though.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 12
Right after you cross the water, you will walk under the arches. It was wonderful.

Peek-a-Boo canyon is very narrow, slimming down to about 16 inches at its narrowest point, which forces you to turn sideways as you pass through. The real fun of this canyon is the obstacles that you’ll have to conquer to get to the top. It’s only about a half mile through the canyon, but it’s not comparable to a half mile on the racetrack. It’s strenuous to climb, pull, duck, and scramble upward. After much climbing, you’ll finally summit and find yourself on top of the butte.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 13
There are some places you will climb under instead of over.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 17
Things definitely got tight!
Peek A Boo & Spooky 16
The canyon is beautiful. We were there at the worst time of day for pictures, but we loved walking through this canyon.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 15
Here is our dad squeezing through a tight spot. Wait until we show you Spooky, which is actually much narrower!
Peek A Boo & Spooky 14
The boys loved climbing through here. It was definitely a workout going through Peek-A-Boo.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 18
We came out into the open and thought we were heading out of Peek-A-Boo, but then we came to another part of the slot canyon before you turn toward Spooky.

Spooky Slot Canyon

When you reach the top of Peek-a-Boo, turn to the right and follow the few cairns strewn along the trail. This is more difficult than it might seems as trails run all around and there are not many stone markers to follow. A friend of ours got lost and wandered for several hours in this area. Toward the end, we stopped by one cairn and couldn’t see the next. It was further to the left than where we had been walking so be careful and go slowly. Finally, you’ll find yourself at the top of Spooky slot canyon.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 19
Here is the end of the Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon. Once you walk out of these rocks, follow the Cairns to the right.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 20
You walk across open slick rock and sandy terrain as you cut across to the back of Spooky. Go slow and look ahead to where the next cairn is so that you don’t get lost.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 21
The last cairn is near this drop down into Spooky. The entrance is to the right at the bottom of this sandy trail.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 22
Spooky begins much narrower than Peek-A-Boo.

Spooky is much narrower and darker than Peek-a-Boo. You’ll also encounter the obstacles going down, and they aren’t quite as technical. Still, there are several extremely tight spaces that close down to fewer than twelve inches! There is no way you’re shimmying through with a backpack, and you’ll wish you’d taken that dime out of your back pocket before you get through the narrowest part.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 27
The narrowness of Spooky is what makes it fun.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 30
There is our dad walking sideways carrying the backpack behind him so he can fit through.

The major obstacle in Spooky is a drop of about 10 feet. There are several holes that lead down, but the one you want is on the far left side of the canyon as you face downward (see the video). If you’re an adult, you should easily be able to put your hands on the sides and lower yourself to a shelf at the halfway point, and then drop down the last few feet from there. If you’ve got kids, you’ll need to shuttle them with another adult, handing them down through the hole, then climbing down and handing them again. It isn’t easy, and it isn’t particularly safe, either.

Spooky travels for about the same half mile as Peek-a-Boo, and it is breathtaking. We’ve been in other slot canyons, but nothing as narrow and amazing as this one. At one point we passed someone coming up the canyon. The only way this was possible is that they straddled up the walls and we passed below them.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 25
When we came to this rock fall, we weren’t sure what to do. Look in the left and find an opening. Then drop down into the canyon.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 23
The rock walls are so interesting in Spooky Canyon. Our son described them as “warty.”
Peek A Boo & Spooky 24
There are places to go under obstacles in this canyon, too.
Peek A Boo & Spooky 29
When the canyon is tight for the kids, you know you are in trouble! But it’s so much fun!!
Peek A Boo & Spooky 32
I made it…barely!!

When you come out of Spooky, it is easy to get lost as trails lead in several directions. We turned right, and that is a mistake. You need to turn left and head back to the wash. Once you reach the wash, head right. You will follow this wash for a while, and then come to a cairn that marks the trail that leads you back to Peek-A-Boo. This trail winds back around past the beginning of Peek-a-Boo and eventually to the parking lot.

Peek A Boo & Spooky 31
This is the exit out of Spooky, but I’m looking back into the canyon. This is where you need to head left first, and then take a right into the wash.

The roundtrip distance for this hike through Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons is a little under 4 miles. The miles are strenuous, but they are amazing. We don’t want to discourage you from hiking this amazing trail, but we do want you to know what you’re in for if you try it with kids. Here are a few other Family-friendly slot canyons if you feel like this one might be too much.

Tips for Families:

  • If you have younger kids, try hiking just Peek-A-Boo. We have heard of people hiking this canyon up and back down again. It’s a much shorter hike, and you won’t have to cut across the open, sunny slick rock to get to Spooky. You would still need to assist them in climbing up and down obstacles in Peek-A-Boo.
  • Hike in the morning or evening. We were there in the heat of the day which made it harder to enjoy since we were hot and thirsty.
  • Take LOTS of water. It is hot in this area in the summer, so come prepared with plenty of water.
  • Pick up a map at the Visitor Center. A nice man helped us find our way back when we got a little lost, because he had a map. We assume he picked it up at the Visitor Center. It would have helped us avoid the wrong turn.
  • Wear small backpacks. We had to carry ours through Spooky. Definitely don’t plan on bringing a huge child carrier through here. It won’t make it!
  • The climb out is steep and will take awhile, so plan accordingly on your itinerary.
  • Take your time and enjoy. Our boys still talk about this hike! They loved the skinny slot canyon. It is very memorable, and we can’t wait to try it again in 5 years when they can climb through on their own.
peekaboo-spooky-gulch-slot-canyon-trail-map-escalante
Check out this awesome map we found from Live and Let Hike. We needed this!

Our video does not show the entire hike, but a few bits and pieces of the adventure. Hopefully it will show you all the fun we had, and some of the challenges!

Leave a Reply

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Travis

    I’m 6 feet 220 lbs and size 38 waist–not very flexible…strong and have good hiking stamina….will I be able to fit through the tight areas?

    Getting stuck doesn’t sound fun.

    1. Natalie Ockey

      You will be just fine. It is narrow, but not enough that you would get stuck. The toughest park is climbing up and down some obstacles, but you said you are strong and in shape, so you should handle those just fine.

  2. Kali

    This was SUPER helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to type this up.

    1. Natalie Ockey

      Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I am glad the information helped you!

  3. mary

    What a great review. Loved seeing your adventure as we older folks will not be visiting these slots. Maybe a dinner show is our speed. :). Bless the joy of your youth. Go Dad.

  4. Jennifer Bremner

    Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch is one of our favorite hikes in the Monument. We live in Garfield County and never tire of this hike. I love that you have video of your experience. A few more tips, wear clothes you can hike easily in. Levis don’t cut it. We also cut off old tube socks and used the tops for elbows as they can get scraped up when lifting yourself up and climbing down, excpecilly for out of shape adults. Take a 15 ft nylon rope to help anyone who is afraid of heights when climbing the wall into Peekaboo. Just tie knots in the rope at various places and let them climb using the knots to grab for security while someone secures the rope at the top. Learn how to stem the walls. Sometimes you run into people hiking in the opposite direction. You can climb or stem the walls, especially in Spooky, to let them pass under you. Kids love doing this. Don’t go if the chance of rain is more than 30%. There is a danger of flash flood through these canyons. Follow the cairns. They are there for a reason. We took a 4 month old on this hike in a small pack and my girls did this hike at 4 and 5yrs old. They still love taking their high school and college friends. Teens, adults and kids all love this hike.