� Spooky Canyon, Escalante National Monument, UT. 2006, All Rights Reserved.

My daughter and I explored a place called Spooky Canyon, which is located southeast of the town of Escalante, UT. The trailhead to this slot canyon was reached by a 28-mile dirt road that led through some very harsh desert. From the trailhead to the canyon entrance was about 1.5 miles of downhill hiking (which became steep uphill hiking on the return). Canyons like this one feature walls that are often only a foot or so apart. They are formed as sandstone is slowly eroded away by the brief, violent thunderstorms and accompanying floods that are common to this area. Hiking the slot canyons should only be done on a day with no rain in the forecast. Large people, claustrophobics and others who are not used to strenuous hiking or rock climbing should avoid this activity. Oh, and bring plenty of drinking water.