Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Hike Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, UT

Class 2 6.7 miles 500 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Jun 22, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons GPX Track

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This route visits the popular Zebra Slot Canyon, and the slightly less popular Tunnel Slot Canyon. From Hole in the Rock Road, I followed the official trail through more miles of desert than I thought this hike would be, the trail paralleling washes and only entering them to cross over to the other side. The trail is well traveled, but if you do accidentally follow the sandy wash rather than the trail, the only consequence is some winding back and forth. About halfway along the route, there was one spot where the trail left the wash and headed northeast in order to cross Harris Wash (currently dry) to get to Zebra Slot Canyon. Missing this results in ending up slightly upstream. After checking out the gorgeous, though short, Zebra Slot Canyon, I continued east off the trail, crossed a fence, and dropped into a side canyon that would take me to the north side of Tunnel Slot Canyon. A nice addition, I walked through the "tunnel" and continued into Harris Wash, where I continued up Halfway Hollow to meet back up with the offical trail.

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Starting along the Zebra Slot Canyon Trail through the open desert.
Starting along the Zebra Slot Canyon Trail through the open desert.
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The trail starts out mostly uneventful, but eventually follows a wash.
The trail starts out mostly uneventful, but eventually follows a wash.
The wash gets deeper, and the canyon walls more interesting.
The wash gets deeper, and the canyon walls more interesting.
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Back into the open desert, the trail actively stays out of the wash, only crossing it a few times.
Back into the open desert, the trail actively stays out of the wash, only crossing it a few times.
Looking back the way I came.
Looking back the way I came.
Continuing northeast toward Harris Wash.
Continuing northeast toward Harris Wash.
Crossing Harris Wash on the way to Zebra Slot.
Crossing Harris Wash on the way to Zebra Slot.
Entering Zebra Slot.
Entering Zebra Slot.
Some water to maneuver before the pretty stuff.
Some water to maneuver before the pretty stuff.
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Zebra Slot is really pretty, but super short.
Zebra Slot is really pretty, but super short.
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A dryfall marking the end of Zebra Slot.
A dryfall marking the end of Zebra Slot.
I returned to the entrance of Zebra and headed east through this drainage toward Tunnel Slot.
I returned to the entrance of Zebra and headed east through this drainage toward Tunnel Slot.
Slickrock on the way.
Slickrock on the way.
Entering a drainage leading to Tunnel Slot.
Entering a drainage leading to Tunnel Slot.
Within the drainage, some easy boulder-hopping.
Within the drainage, some easy boulder-hopping.
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Entering Tunnel Slot
Entering Tunnel Slot
Tunnel Slot.
Tunnel Slot.
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South side of Tunnel Slot, looking back.
South side of Tunnel Slot, looking back.
Continuing south out of the Tunnel Slot drainage.
Continuing south out of the Tunnel Slot drainage.
Looking back toward the Tunnel Slot drainage.
Looking back toward the Tunnel Slot drainage.
A trail navigating around Harris Wash.
A trail navigating around Harris Wash.
Heading up Halfway Hollow back to rejoin with the Zebra Slot Canyon Trail.
Heading up Halfway Hollow back to rejoin with the Zebra Slot Canyon Trail.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!