Wire Pass Slot Canyon
Kanab, Utah
Details
Distance
3.75 miles
Elevation Gain
325 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Nick Oman
Wire Pass Slot Canyon is a scenic slot canyon adventure that is relatively flat and a great alternative to permit-only hikes near the Utah and Arizona border.
Wire Pass is a hike through a scenic slot canyon that is often overlooked due to its close proximity to the very famous Wave. Unlike the "Wave" a permit is not required to make the hike, only a day use fee at the trailhead. Be sure to check local weather for rainfall and please do not go on this trail if there are any flash flood concerns.
Getting There:
Getting to the trailhead requires a 8 mile drive on a fairly well maintained dirt road(could be impassable during storms) called House Rock Valley Road. A high clearance vehicle is not mandatory, but would be a good idea.
The Trail:
Starting off on the trail just follow the wash as it meanders along the desert as it will lead you right to the slot canyons of Wire Pass.
There are a couple small sections of canyon that are a prelude to the main canyon. A short distance later and you enter into much taller and narrower sections that are a highlight of the hike.
The only major obstacle of the hike comes up pretty quick in this section of The Wire Pass slot canyon. A 7-8 foot drop that isn't too bad going down, but coming back up can be a challenge if alone. I'm 6'0 and fairly experienced at scrambling and didn't have too much trouble. If you are much shorter or lack experience in this kind of hiking you could turn around at this point.
Following the tightest part of the slot canyon the walls open up to the huge intersection of Buckskin Gulch. Here you will find the huge arch in the wall and at the south end there are even some Petroglyphs to see as well.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Wire Pass Slot Canyon Reviews
A friend and I tried to get a permit to the Wave through the lottery, but didn't win - so we hiked this instead - we were not disappointed!! It was an easy hike with big payoffs (beautiful views the whole way), and we only ran into two people the whole day. I would definitely recommend this hike!
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
The Wave via Coyote Buttes North
Hike Buckskin Gulch, Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness
Hike the Buckskin Mountain Passage from Stateline Campground on the Arizona Trail
Hike to the White Pocket
Night Photography at White Pocket
Hike to the Nautilus
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy