Hiking the Wire Pass Slot Canyon: A Utah Adventure

After having spent some time in the backcountry and also hiking a short hoodoo trail, it was time for us to conquer the Wire Pass Slot Canyon. Wire Pass is a 3.5 mile out and back trail and I have seen it marked as moderately challenging. Personally, I would call the trail itself moderate, even with some ladder climbing, minimal scrambling and walking through a bit of sand. But the heat makes this a challenging trail. Even though it was only mid 80’s, it felt so much warmer as so many desert trails do. We did this hike on our own, but you can also check out a guided tour through companies such as Viator by clicking 

Location

Wire Pass Slot Canyon is located 47 miles (75.6 km) east of Kanab, Utah on House Rock Valley Road which is off of hwy 89. Rock Valley Road is a dirt road and when we were there had a couple of rough spots but nothing major, just a bit of slower driving. Like most slot canyons we have explored, it takes a bit of time to get to as they seem to be in the middle of nowhere, however, we find the slots worth the effort of locating them!

The Trailhead

The trailhead is easy to find and also well marked. There is ample parking and vault toilets. You will find information signs and a largemap. Also there is a place to check in, we always do this for safety and cross ourselves off when we return. In addition, there is a spot for trail usage payment.

The trail is across the road from the parking lot and it is marked with a caution sign. Take the caution signs seriously, the heat and remoteness of this hike are no joke. On the plus side, there were plenty of people hiking the trail on this day so we didn’t feel isolated.

The Trail to the Wirepass Canyon

Geared with ample water, electrolytes, snacks and minimal first aid supplies we were on our way. I am not one for wearing sunscreen but I definitely do on these types of hikes as you are relentlessly exposed to the sun. The trail started out on what looks like a utility road, it narrowed as we went on and was packed rocks and dirt. That being said, there were loose rocks along the way and the trail is also sandy in places. Cautious footing is necessary.

This dessert ecosystem is very beautiful, but hot and unforgiving. Shade was rare although so often there is a shady spot from a sparse tree or boulder. We did utilize these spots as needed, frequently! Even though this is a relatively short trail, the heat was a factor. As we get older, we notices we do feel the heat more so we adjust our hiking for this and take advantage of the shade for frequent, short stops.

It is really a beautiful trail with red rocks in various shapes and contours. The clouds cast shadows upon the rocks which added interest and beauty.

A Taste of the Slots

Before we knew it, the canyon narrowed and we thought we were in the Wire Pass slot. We soon discovered, although it was lovely, this was just a short slot and we were soon through it.

Wire Pass Slot Canyon

Within minutes, we arrived at Wire Pass, and as expected, it is an incredible slot canyon. The colors and atmosphere are hard to capture in photos. With each step, the rocks changed color as sunlight streamed through the canyon walls, creating beautiful contrasts. The sandy path sometimes required large steps down onto rocks; I had to jump or be helped down by Steve by sliding into his arms as he eased me to the canyon floor. Being 5’1′ has its problems some days!! Even with good hiking shoes, I slipped, fell, and scraped my elbow, but a little water, Bacitracin, and a Band-Aid took care of it. So therefore, be extra cautious of loose sand on the rocks!

Buck Skin Gulch

Once through the slot canyon, you will come to the confluence of Wire Pass Trail and Buckskin Gulch which is an impressive area as well. We had planned on walking through the Gulch but there was a thin stream of water in the Gulch and passerby’s voiced it became somewhat deeper as you continued on. We just don’t hike through water if we can help it. No particular reason, just not our thing.

Petroglyph Rock

At the end of the Wire Pass Slot Canyon, and on the canyon wall to the right, you will find some faint petroglyphs, some of many in Utah. This was fun locating the various animals and shapes and also added an extra layer of interest to this hike. We could not find information on the age of these.

The Way Back

After resting in the shade of the canyon walls, we followed the Wire Pass back through the slot the same way we came. It was interesting to see how the walls looked different trekking in the opposite direction. It was much easier climbing up the larger rocks than it was getting down from them.

Conclusion

The Wire Pass Slot Canyon Trail is another great hike in Utah. I would do this one again. It was relatively short and beautiful. There are no permits required and although there were more people than we had expected here it was not crowded.

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