Witches' Slot Canyon
1.9 mi
Distance
1 hrs 6 min
Time
terrain
138 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a moderate out and back trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that takes you past Witches' Garden and through Witches' Slot Canyon.
This trail goes by Witches' Garden and Witches' Slot Canyon.
Getting Started
From the South, the GAIA map and others, show a parking area off Road 210, however, you can easily continue on the smooth dirt access road that ends right at the wash where the route begins by heading up the wash. There are no trail signs, markers or cairns. Don't confuse the well worn cattle trails that look like hiking trails for your route. Stay in the wash and use the GAIA app or ONX to navigate to the slot canyon.
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
Witches’ Slot Canyon is a lesser-known slot canyon that is more accessible and less technical than the better-known Zebra, Peek-A-Boo, and Spooky slot canyons. I accessed it from the south via Road 221, primarily to also visit Witches’ Garden along the way.
Road 220 off Hole in the Rock Rd is graded and great shape, Road 221 has a couple of high-clearance, rocky sections, but when dry, the road does not require 4WD. From the parking area at the end of the access road, drop into the wash and follow it upstream to the slot canyon. There are several opportunities to cut across the frequent U-turns in the wash. This saves distance but adds exertion, as you often have to climb over small hills and uneven terrain.
It had rained about a week before my hike, and the wash was fairly easy to navigate while avoiding most of the mud. I would not recommend attempting this route less than a few days after rain, when the mud can become unavoidable and make the hike considerably more difficult.
There are a couple of splits in the wash along the way, so having a route loaded on your smart phone or GPS is very helpful for minimizing scouting and staying on the correct canyon. Interesting GAIA web browser showed the trail but GAIA app did not.
Witches’ Slot Canyon itself is about one-third of a mile long and lacks the tight squeezes found in the area’s more famous slots. There is no cell service, and even on a day in the upper 70s, the roughly 2.6-mile round trip to reach the slot is hot and exposed.
When conditions are favorable, Witches’ Slot Canyon is well worth the effort for those looking to experience a less crowded and less technical slot canyon in the area. Bonus if you have the extra energy is to explore Witches' Garden with all it's many natural rock sculptures.
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