Hiking Peekaboo-Spooky-Brimstone Canyons - Hole In The Rock

Overview

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67° | 39°

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( Rated 4.3 / 39 Ratings )

161 Todo Lists / 58 Ticks

RATING: Hiking with a little scrambling

LENGTH: 3-6 hours (Visiting All Return the Same Way 8.6 miles, Peek-a-boo and Spooky Returning the Same Way 4.8 miles)

MAPS: BIG HOLLOW WASH, UT

SEASON: Any, although summers can be hot. Roads need to be dry to reach the trailhead.

GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear

WATER: Generally very little or none.

Wed

65° | 47°

Thu

67° | 39°

Fri

69° | 44°

Sat

68° | 44°

Sun

64° | 44°

Sand hill in Brimstone

Peekaboo and Spooky are the quintessential first slot canyon experience for many. Relatively easy access, incredible slot canyons, and a relatively short day make this a hike to bring the family on. These canyons are popular for good reason. It was one of my first slot canyons long ago and once I have re-visited many times over the years.

Though the canyons are popular, there are a couple of minor obstacles. The most difficult obstacle is a climb to get into Peek-a-boo that some may want a hand-line for, or use some teamwork. The canyons are narrow and not suitable for dogs. Leave them at home for this one.

History Note: The story goes the canyons received their names from a school group visiting from the town of Escalante around Halloween one year. The names fit, and this is a place that will make you feel like a kid again working through the fun slots. For the more energetic, it is a short distance down canyon to Brimstone, the fiercest of the 3 canyons in the area, and well worth the time to visit.

Update Note: The BLM has greatly improved access to these canyons. There are now two trailheads, the Upper Dry Fork Trailhead and the Dry Fork Trailhead. They have also created several trails linking the trailheads and improving access to the area. The Upper Dry Fork Trailhead, just off Hole-In-The-Rock Road, has pit toilets and a large parking area. The Dry Fork Trailhead also has a pit toilet and a smaller parking area. Dry Fork Trailhead makes the hike about a 0.25 mile shorter approach each way. Either trailhead works well. Starting from the Upper Dry Fork Trailhead, going down Dry Fork, visiting Peek-a-boo, Spooky, and Brimstone and returning via the rim trail is probably the most scenic route and what I would recommend. (and described below, the other routes are shown on the map as well)

Note: Batty Pass Caves is not far from this hike, and a great addition if you are in the area.

Peekaboo Slot

Getting There

Head east out of the town of Escalante about 5 miles on highway 12 until the well signed Hole in the Rock road.

Mile 0 - Hole-In-The-Rock Road Turnoff 12S 453167E 4175716N / 37°43'39"N 111°31'53"W

8.0 miles - Parking area after a cattle guard. This is the Zebra/Tunnel trailhead. 12S 460681E 4165896N / 37°38'22"N 111°26'44"W

12.3 miles - Devil's Garden turn off on the right. The trailhead is about 1/4 of a mile down this road. No camping, but a pit toilet. 12S 463808E 4160175N / 37°35'17"N 111°24'36"W

16.6 miles - Egypt road on the left. This access the Egypt and Neon trailheads 12S 468045E 4154960N / 37°32'28"N 111°21'42"W

24.8 miles - Upper Dry Fork Trailhead on the right (south). This has a large parking area and pit toilet. 12S 478657E 4148035N / 37°28'44"N 111°14'29"W

26.1 miles - Dry Fork Trailhead Road on the left (north). The trailhead is at the end of the road in about a mile. 12S 480198E 4146661N / 37°27'60"N 111°13'26"W

Spooky Canyon

Route Description

From the Upper Dry Fork trailhead, follow the marked trail as it heads across the open desert north. It comes to a junction with the rim return trail just before reaching Dry Fork. Continue into Dry Fork and follow it down canyon. Narrows are reached about 0.8 miles from the trailhead.

Continue down through the narrows. Peek-a-boo Canyon comes in on the left about 1.6 miles from the trailhead. This is just after the Dry Fork narrows open, and a side canyon comes in on the right.

Peek-a-boo Canyon:
About 4 minutes down the canyon from the side canyon on the right is Peek-a-boo on the left. A 6 m up-climb guards the entrance to Peek-a-boo. The climb has carved steps, but is still a little tricky. A short rope for a hand-line may be useful for beginners. This up climb is the biggest obstacle of the hike.

Once in Peek-a-boo, enjoy the many arches and narrows. What a gem! Continue up the canyon until the canyon opens into a wide open wash. Here a cairned trail takes off on the right. Follow this trail about 10 minutes over the open country to where it drops into Spooky, a large open wash at this point.

Spooky Canyon:
Head down Spooky! It gets deep and dark quickly. Several spots are narrow enough you have to turn sideways. Spooky is a fantastic canyon, and a lot of fun to descend. A couple of minor down climbs occur in the upper section, but if you look around, an easy path over or under the obstacle can be found. Once Spooky opens up, follow it down to its junction with Dry Fork in about 5 minutes.

Brimstone Canyon:
Last on the list is Brimstone. From the junction of Spooky and Dry Fork, hike down Dry Fork to the first major canyon coming in on the left. This section can change with each flood, but is usually an easy walk.

About 30 minutes down from Spooky Canyon, a wide side canyon comes in on the left with impressive sand slides on the west side. This canyon is Brimstone. Hike up the wide wash 10-15 minutes to where it suddenly narrows to an incredibly deep and dark slot. Work your way up as far as you comfortably can, but be careful, at least one person has gotten stuck in Brimstone. Return up Dry Fork to Peek-a-boo.

I recommend taking the rim trail return, which goes up the side canyon 4 minutes west of Peek-a-boo that comes in on the left (lookup up Dry Fork). Follow this trail up to a junction, then go right at the junction to head back to the Upper Dry Fork trail you started on. It is well-worn and easy to follow.