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Editor's Note: Hikers should always check the weather before hiking in a slot canyon because flash flooding is very prevalent when it rains. GREEN RIVER — Of all the amazing wonders that Utah has, slot canyons may be the most unique feature in the state. Utah has a very high concentration of slot canyons and one of the best places to be introduced to the thrill of slot canyons is Little Wild Horse Canyon.
A slot canyon is formed over time by water that cuts through weaknesses on the surface of rock. Many slot canyons are formed out of simple cracks that are slowly widened and deepened by rushing water from flash floods. Slot canyons are usually much deeper than they are wide and some slot canyons can be as narrow as 18 inches wide.
Little Wild Horse Canyon is one of the most accessible and popular slot canyons in the San Rafael Reef. It is a suitable hike for all ages and is typically the first slot canyon that beginners try. It is also a dog-friendly hike. With tight narrows and serpentine twists, it is an awesome hike for all to enjoy.
Hikers have a couple of options for doing the hike. They can hike up through Little Wild Horse and then return down Bell Canyon which is about 8.2 miles one way. If hiking with children, it is recommended to hike through the best parts of Little Wild Horse for about 2.2 miles, stop and have a snack and then turn around and head back up the canyon.
If hikers only have one day in the area, this option gives hikers the opportunity to see the best the parts of Little Wild Horse Canyon, while still having time to see other slot canyons in the area or Goblin Valley State Park, which is only a couple of miles away. The hike takes about 6 hours for the full loop through Bell Canyon, but only about 2-3 hours for Little Wild Horse Canyon.
If traveling from Salt Lake City, head south on I-15 and near Spanish Fork, take the Highway 6/Price exit and head southeast. Stay on Highway 6 through Price and all the way down to I-70 which will be for about 125 miles. Head west on I-70, and take Exit 149 South onto Highway 24. Stay on Highway 24 South for about 23.5 miles.
Turn right at the Goblin Valley State Park sign and onto Temple Mountain Road. Follow Temple Mountain Road for 5.3 miles and turn left onto Goblin Valley Road. Follow this paved road for 6 miles and you will see a sign that says "Little Wild Horse" with an arrow that points to a paved road to the right. Take this road for 5.3 miles.
For years, the Little Wild Horse Road was a graded dirt road, but it was just recently paved, making travel to the trailhead much easier. The trailhead parking area will be on the right side of the road. Be sure to get there early as the lot fills quickly.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
At the parking area, head past the bathrooms and up the wash to the north. You follow the wash for about .4 miles until you encounter a dry waterfall. On the left side of the wash before the dry fall, hikers will see a trail usually marked by a rock cairn (a small stack of rocks) that goes up and around the obstacle.
The path will lead you back down to the wash and hikers will see a marker with arrows pointing to Bell Canyon and Little Wild Horse. Some people hike through Bell Canyon, along a jeep trail which leads to Little Wild Horse Canyon, and then they complete the loop by coming through Little Wild Horse and return to the junction.
If hikers only have two or three hours, they should turn right and head down to Little Wild Horse. The canyon will gradually deepen and narrow and there are two good sections of tight canyon walls. Between both sections is a nice open area were families can stop and take a short break.
From the open area, the trail quickly tightens up and becomes a straight stretch of narrow slot canyon with the walls rising over 50 feet on either side. Sometimes there will be standing water in this section. The water is usually only 6 inches to 1 foot deep. You may choose to walk through it or you can bridge over the water — put your hands on one side of the wall and feet against the other. In the narrow sections of the canyon, the walls are less that 3 feet apart.
After the straight section of narrows, you'll see a large chokestone that has fallen into the canyon, but it's wedged between the walls far enough above the ground that hikers can duck and walk underneath it.
Hikers will continue down Little Wild Horse Canyon for another half of a mile of serpentine turns, smooth walls, and even see some cool formations in the canyon walls. There will be some small obstacles to climb around that most will have no problem getting around. Just be aware that loose sand on top of sandstone is very slippery.
After hiking for 2 miles from the trailhead, the Little Wild Horse Canyon trail will open up substantially and several cottonwood trees will be growing on the canyon floor. Hikers will recognize this spot upon reaching it. This is where it is recommended that families stop, have a snack and rest for bit. The remaining canyon remains very wide, so this is the best place for families and day hikers to turn around and head back to the trailhead for a total of 4 miles.
If hikers have more time, they can continue and exit Little Wild Horse, then follow an old mining road west for 1.6 miles. Then you can head south into Bell Canyon, which will lead you back to the confluence of the Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon for a roundtrip of miles. While this is also a nice canyon, it does not have the impressive slot canyon sections like Little Wild Horse.
As always, remember to practice "Leave No Trace" principles by not littering nor writing on canyon walls.
Distance: 4.5 - 8.2 miles, depending on how much of the loop hike you choose to do
Elevation at trailhead: 4,940 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Bathrooms: Yes, located at the trailhead
Adam Provance is the founder of YourHikeGuide.com and has hiked all over the southwestern United States. He is an Eagle Scout and also an instructor for Desert & Wilderness Survival. Contact him at yourhikeguide@gmail.com
