A Hiker's Guide to the Beautiful Red Hollow Slot Canyon
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| Red Hollow Slot Canyon Orderville Utah |
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you don't plan for. On a road trip through Southern Utah, Red Hollow Slot Canyon was a last-minute addition to my itinerary. I knew very little about it other than it was short and easy, which was just what I needed that day. I was absolutely blown away by how wonderful it was! This short trail packs in beautiful cliff walls, a fun and accessible slot canyon, and some truly unique, otherworldly rock formations. It's a delightful surprise and a perfect reminder that incredible beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.
The Golden Nugget 🌟
Don't Miss This: Park in the neighborhood! The dirt road leading to the trailhead is extremely soft sand. Park on the pavement by the houses and walk the short road in to avoid getting your vehicle stuck. This is the most important tip for a stress-free visit!
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| Beautiful Canyon Walls at Red Hollow Canyon |
TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO A CALMING CANYON
The beautiful shots from Red Hollow are featured in my "Calming Canyons" VR Getaway. Grab your VR headset and transport yourself to this gorgeous slot canyon, along with several other peaceful and awe-inspiring canyons. It's a fantastic Nature Therapy session designed to boost your mood and help you feel better!
"As I was walking out and the sky was getting dark, all of a sudden in front of me was this pure white hill, and on the hill it had tall bumps. It looked like a cluster of ghosts coming up out of the mountain."
Adventure at a Glance
- 🏞️ Location: Orderville, Utah (near Zion East Entrance)
- 🚶♀️ Activity: Easy Slot Canyon Hiking, Scrambling
- ⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds)
- ☀️ Best For: A quick, family-friendly slot canyon, beautiful red rock colors, building canyoneering skills.
- ⏳ Recommended Time: About 1-2 hours for the 1.5-mile round trip hike.
- 🧭 Can't-Miss Sights: The narrow slot canyon, the rope climb, the "ghostly" white rock formations at sunset.
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| Red Hollow Canyon Orderville Utah |
My Red Hollow Story: The Sunset and the Ghosts
As I exited the main slot canyon on my first visit, the sun was beginning to set. The wonder of walking directly towards a sky turning bright red between the towering red and white cliffs was incredible. I was the only one in the canyon, and I have to admit, trying to get the best shot of the sunset got me a little off course. Soon I found a trail, but little did I know it was a different fork of the loop. As the sky grew darker, I came across the most bizarre sight: a pure white hill with tall, bumpy formations that looked like a cluster of ghosts rising from the ground. It was shocking, and I couldn't decide if I should be freaked out or amazed! It was a little of both, but it also made me realize I was on an unfamiliar trail in the fading light. You can bet I picked up my pace and headed for that last bit of sunset as fast as my little legs could carry me!
On my second trip, after navigating the slot, I got all the way back to my car only to realize my phone had been pushed right out of my pocket! I had to hike all the way back in to find it. My first thought was, "Oh boy, here we go again. I'm going to be stuck out here with those darn ghosts!" Luckily, I found my phone and made it out before dark this time.
Your Trail Guide: Choose Your Challenge!
I love this canyon because it's great for so many skill levels. It offers a fantastic opportunity to test and build your skills in a relatively safe environment.
- ♦️ The Family Adventure: The main hike through the sandy wash and into the first beautiful section of narrows is perfect for everyone. It's a gorgeous, short, and easy walk with a huge scenic payoff.
- ♦️ The Skill-Builder: The canyon has many opportunities to practice canyoneering techniques like "stemming" (using your body to brace against opposite walls) and navigating some great narrow places without being intimidatingly tight.
- ♦️ The Scrambler's Challenge: For the adventurous ones, the main narrows end at a wall with a rope. Getting over this obstacle is a fantastic challenge that leads to further exploration of the canyon beyond.
Fun 360 Insta OneX Spiral Image that is Pretty Cool. Check it out by Clicking on the Link
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| Rope that was in Red Hollow Slot canyon, but it was gone when I went last. |
Rope to Climb in the Slot Canyon to move on. It has loops tied in it to help people have footholds to be able to climb up.
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| Unique White Rock Formations just outside South West of entrance to Slot Canyon in Red Hallow Canyon As I came out from Red Hollow, I came out at the perfect time. The sun was setting and the sky was starting to light up in beautiful reds and oranges. It was stunning and I got to enjoy it the whole walk out to my car. As I walked there is a split in the river bed and there is a left side and a right side that walk along a sandy wash. I walked along the left trail on the way back, and found this treasure below. It feels like something out of a science fiction or vampire movie. The whitish peach colored rock with alien looking bumps trying to rise up out the the ground was a little mesmerizing and it caught my interest for quite a while while the moon came out above. Definitely a bonus spot I was able to find on my journey into the cool Red Hollow Canyon.
SUNSET AT RED HOLLOWGorgeous Sunset I managed to catch on the way out of Red Hollow that was stunning and in a perfect spot as I hiked out.  |
Conclusion
Red Hollow was a perfect surprise. It's a wonderful, short adventure that delivers all the beauty and fun of a classic slot canyon while also offering a playground to safely build new skills. From its beautiful red walls to its ghostly white hills at sunset, this canyon is packed with memorable moments. I hope this guide helps you enjoy this beautiful little adventure as much as I did.
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna from VRGetaways
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