Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
200.00 ft (60.96 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
3.00 mi (4.83 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Southern Utah is amassed with unique slot canyon adventures, but its difficult to find ones with narrower passages than the Peek-a-boo and Spooky side canyons of the Dry Fork Coyote Gulch.  

These canyons can be explored independently, but given their relatively close proximity to one another, it is easy to link them into a loop adventure. The Dry Fork wash is accessed from a cairn-marked trail, and some rudimentary route finding skills are recommended. Once arriving in the wash, head east (downstream) to locate the entrances to the side canyons. Peek-a-Boo will be the first canyon on the left. Its entrance is elevated off the ground about 10 feet, so it possible to miss if you aren't watching for it. Generous hand and foot holds make accessing the opening relatively straightforward. Once inside, this canyon will proceed through a series of arches before becoming a narrow slot. Roughly 0.25 miles long, the canyon will end in a wide, sandy wash and will be marked with a cairn. From this point the adventure can retrace the route back out the canyon or head east to the rear entrance of Spooky.  

The cross-country route from Peek-a-boo to Spooky is not long (less than 0.5 miles), but it does require some route finding ability over unmarked terrain. As was the case with Peek-a-Boo, the north wash exit/entrance to Spooky is marked with a cairn. The canyon itself is only 0.25 miles long, but is only 12 inches wide for much of this length. The constricted nature of Spooky canyon can be uncomfortable for some (psychologically or physically) and downright prohibitive for others. It should also be noted that a boulder jam near the north end of Spooky requires clmibing and stemming to negotiate passage.  

At the time of this adventure, the latter part of Dry Fork Road was deeply rutted and only passable by high clearance 4WD.  

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

NARROW slot canyons. Relatively easy access. Short hike.

Cons

Width of slot canyons may be uncomfortable for some and prohibitive for others. Seasonally extreme weather.

Trailhead Elevation

4,960.00 ft (1,511.81 m)

Features

Big vistas
Cave
Geologically significant

Location

Comments

08/16/2021
Access to the Peek-a-boo/Spooky loop has moved! From the Lower Dry Fork trailhead it is now an additional 2.8 miles down and back to?from the loop. From the Upper Dry Fork trailhead it is an additional 3 miles!
03/24/2017
Be prepared as Peek-a-boo may have a huge puddle at the entrance, with rocks hidden under the muddy water. It is not a "relatively easy" access for everyone. I am 55 with a few yrs climbing experience. The "generous" cut-outs are down sloping and slippery with sand at times and it's more than 10 feet. I'm 5'6 and struggled, but made it. It would've been much easier with a boost! I wouldn't attempt it alone again...but after that first entrance obstacle, there was only one other spot that was a struggle. Again, it was because of my height with water to my knees and sunk in the mud. I came away with bruised/scraped knees and elbows, but amazing memories of a great adventure. The trip across the desert is straight forward and marked with cairns. Spooky is fun and was dry. Luckily I brought webbing, so a couple nice guys gave me a rope assist down the one hole in Spooky. (Good timing). Otherwise it's a reach and a drop for someone my height, but doable. I'm just old, so I worry about things now. Look at Google maps before you go. I had soooo many people ask me where they were and where the slots were. The sign to turn at on the Hole-in-the-rock road is for DRY FORK.
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