Next stop on our May 2026 Utah trip was a hike through Leprechaun Slot Canyon south of Hanksville. This slot canyon hike was as fun as it was adventurous. Slot canyons are always one of our favorite types of hikes and Leprechaun Slot Canyon did not disappoint us.
Location
Leprechaun Canyon is located 28 miles southeast of Hanksville, Utah via State Highway 95 South. It is an easy drive.
But First, Pie!
We left our hotel near Capital Reef in Torrey, Utah and headed towards Leprechaun Canyon near Hanksville. Since we had to drive right through Capital Reef we decided to stop at the Gifford Homestead to try there famous pies. I mean, how could we not? It is just a short drive from the visitor center. It opens at 9:00 am and we heard getting there early was a must. We arrived about 8:45 and got in line as we didn’t want someone else devouring the last of our favorite flavors! We were in Capital Reef in 2020 but didn’t know about the pies and now that we knew, there was no stopping us!
The Gifford Homestead itself is pretty charming and worth a stop in itself, but add pie to the agenda and it is a must stop site! We bought both an apple and rhubarb pie and a large cinnamon roll! We shared the apple and took the rest with for another day and were still enjoying these baked goods a couple of days later!
Leprechaun Slot Canyon Trailhead
The little over an hour drive to Leprechaun Slot Canyon was uneventful and was also one of the many almost deserted Utah drives we have experienced. The trailhead was easy to find and there were plenty of spaces to park. Leprechaun Slot Canyon, like most slot canyons in Utah, had the typical warning signs about desert hiking. In addition, this trailhead also warns of people becoming entrapped in the tight slots in this canyon. I guess there have been several rescues and close calls to this particular canyon. (I had read this online as well.) Next to the sign were two vertical metal bars, if you couldn’t fit through them, you wouldn’t fit through the narrow slots.
The Trail
As always we were both excited to get on the trail. I think this trail is around 2 miles round trip. For whatever reason, we both forgot to track it. The trail starts out easy with just a short walk through the canyon. But it is hot.
Like most canyons in this area of Utah, Leprechaun Slot Canyon is in the desert and is a hot walk, in addition, this was a very hot day. Bring water and electrolytes, wear good trail shoes and a hat, and be prepared for a hot 15 minute hike before you get to the slot. One thing I especially liked about Leprechaun, is there are small brush and trees that do give the trail some shade, or you can at least rest under the shade. Plus there are pretty rock formations. Remember, when you get to a fork in the trail, go right for the slot. If you prefer to rappel into the canyon, go left.
The Slot
The slot seems to jump up out of nowhere and this first part is not a deep slot. It is a tight slot though. I was able to go in a bit, but do to all the warnings, I did not do any squeezing through the sandstone rocks, when it started feeling tight, I turned around. I basically walked about 10 feet into the slot and called it good. Regardless, this was still fun and exciting!
Above the Slot
We had spoken to a couple while at the parking lot who they told us to climb above the slot to get to the other side so we could hike through the canyon. Just like they said, to the right of Leprechaun Slot there was a rock you could step on to help boost yourself to the top of the Navajo sandtone above and next to the slot. We were so happy for their tip!
Once on top you could walk over and around the slot. Actually, this worked very well and was a great get around. In addition, we could look down in the slot from above which was pretty cool. Not as cool as walking through a slot canyon but much better than getting stuck. And speaking of getting stuck, while looking down we knew there was no way we, or anyone else would make it through the narrowest part of this slot.
Through the Canyon
Once on the other side, we were able to walk through Leprechaun Canyon and it was pretty amazing. We were in our element and loving every bit of it. Once in the canyon, the tall orange cliffs gave us shade and it also felt much cooler. As we walked on, the cliffs became closer together as we walked through tunnels and archways into another slot.
The Next Slot
We followed this next slot for a little over 10 minutes until it also became too narrow to navigate. At one point, we were basically walking on the side of the canyon wall as the floor narrowed beneath us. Just after this area, you can look straight up and actually see where canyoneers rappel into this canyon. It too looked pretty narrow. I was able to go maybe 5 feet from this spot and it was just too narrow to risk it. I have to be honest, the warning sign at the beginning and also reading about rescues here on line was enough to keep my adventurous spirit at bay. Since we were at a dead end for us, we turned around and went back the way we came.
The Way Back
The way back was unremarkable nonetheless, we were able to once again enjoy this beautiful canyon. Once out of the canyon though, the heat hit us like a blast from a furnace and we were glad for our water and electrolytes.
Conclusion
All in all, Leprechaun Slot Canyon was another fantastic hike in Utah. It was fun, adventurous and had a bit of scrambling. Perfect. I don’t think I could ever get tired of these types of hikes and Utah certainly has plenty of them.
Planning
I like Utah’s Favorite Hiking Trails by David Day when looking for places to hike in Utah to be helpful You can find the Amazon link here.
Another great guide is Hiking Guide to Upper Lake Powell Slot Canyons by Joe Berardi. You can find that Amazon link here.
For my favorite hiking gear and snacks, check out My Amazon Store at this link.
Check out My Amazon Store Here for travel gears & gadgets, travel clothing , bags and books.
I’m an Amazon Affiliate and I do receive a commision for qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
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Click on the Below Links for More Utah Fun!
Other Areas in Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park
Fairyland Loop via Tower Bridge Trail June 2025
Bryce Canyon Point to Queen’s Garden Trail, June 2025
Wire-Pass Slot Canyon June 2025
Mossy Cave Trail-Bryce Canyon June 2025
Hiking the Navajo and Peek-A-Boo trail in Bryce Canyon, Oct 2020
Sunrise and Sunset at Bryce Canyon, Utah, Oct 2020
Escalante National Park
Toadstool Hoodoo Hike-June 2025
Backroads and Grosvenor’s Arch-June 2025
Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, Oct 2020
Zion National Park
Riverside Walk and The Narrows, Oct 2020
Emerald Pools in Zion, Oct 2020
Canyonlands National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park, Oct 2020
Elephant Hill Road, Canyonlands, Oct 2020
Hike the Joint Trail, Canyonlands, Oct 2020
Jeeping the White Rim Road, Canyolands Sept, 2020
Aztec Butte, Canyonlands, Sept 2020
Grand View Point and Grand View Hike, Sept 2020
Mesa Arch in Canyonlands, Utah, Sept 2020
Capitol Reef National Park
Arches National Park and Moab Area
Hunter Arch, Moab Utah May 2026
Petroglyphs and Pictographs Sego Canyon, Utah May 2026
Potash Road Petroglyphs and Dinosaur Tracks May, 2026
Corona Arch Hike, Moab, Utah May, 2026
Copper Ridge Dinosaur Tracks, Moab, Utah May 2026
Sunset at Arches National Park, Utah, Sept 2020
Ten Great Arches at Arches National Park, Utah, Aug 2016
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Now those are some slot canyons and are on my to-do list. Thanks for blogging.
Thanks for commenting! It was fun! Canโt wait to find more next year!
Pie is a great way to start the day. And a few extra pounds wonโt make a difference getting through that area. ๐๐๐๐
Pie is always the right answer, well my doctor wouldnโt agree because I am diabetic, but the amount of exercise we did on that hike. I think it all evened out!
Pie is a great dish to fuel up on prior to a hike; looks delicious! The slot canyon looks so narrow, and I’d be intimidated walking through one of them. At the same time, it’s a beautiful site, impressively carved and shaped by centuries of natural erosion. Thanks for sharing!
I still havenโt decided whether the pie was the best part of the day or whether the slot Canyon was? I guess I can just decide to have two best parts of my day.!
Wow, the canyon is so beautiful. It does look pretty narrow though…. And pie is always a good choice! ๐
Canโt go wrong with pie for breakfast!
I’ve always wanted to explore a slot canyon. Beautiful! Thanks so much for the tour.
They are so fun!!
Wow, that’s a super narrow canyon, even for a slot canyon!
It definitely is. Iโm not that big so I am not sure who, if anyone could get through it.