Are you ready for some rugged Adventure?

Then it is time to visit the rugged land of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. A few hikes that are worth the time to get there are Lick Wash, Willis Creek and Sheep Creek. These are three Slot Canyons located nearby each other. Their names do not reflect their beauty, the slot canyons are gorgeous.

See the above map. From Mt. Carmel Jct., follow Scenic Byway 89 North, to the small town of Glendale. Make a right turn on 300 North (near the end of town) and follow the graded/dirt road (Glendale Bench Road- Road #600). Stay on this main road (Skutumpah Road - Road #500) for about 15 miles until you become to a marked junction in the road.

Follow the sign directing you to Lick Canyon, it is about 14 miles and is located in a "wash." The turn off is unmarked and not easy to spot (Road #554). It is about 2 miles past Deer Springs Ranch. Turn right here at the Lick Wash Crossing to find the marked trailhead.

Checking weather conditions prior to hiking any Slot Canyon is strongly recomende due to flash flooding. A storm a distance away can cause flash flooding in a Slot Canyon.

There are no fees to enter the Monument from the Glendale Bench Road or to hike the Slot Canyons listed on this page: Lick Wash, Willis Creek and Sheep Creek.

This Slot Canyon could easily rival those of Zion National Park in beauty and adventure and the added benefit is that it is remote and quiet. Make sure to bring a lunch and lots of water and relax and spend some time exploring these three great hikes. Lick Wash is dry most of the time, but during times of flash flooding the torrent of water details the high cliff walls carving beautiful patterns of crossbedding in the sandstone. The end result is magnificent and abundant. Children will enjoy the easy hiking and climbing into the many holes that are carved in the mountains. The rock is mostly a cream color, but there are uneven splashes of red in a few spots that add to the eye candy.

Willis Creek Hike & Sheep Creek- Slot Canyons

Another nice hike in the Grand Staircase National Monument is Willis Creek. To find the trailhead continue down the same road to Lick Wash (before driving the short bit to the trailhead). There is not an established trailhead for this hike, but park northeast of the creek up the Willis Creek Road, or to the south of the creek along the Skutumpah Road.

Willis Creek Slot Canyon Hike is a two-mile hike and like the Lick Wash hike it is an amazing Slot Canyon adventure, but with much narrower cliff walls. Willis Creek Hike is a 4 mile round trip with a flat, stony streambed path. Towering slickrock forms the walls of this incredible Slot Canyon. Some small waterfalls add to the beauty and enjoyment of the Willis Creek hike. If you are ready for more, take the loop trip down Willis Creek and up Sheep Creek to the Skutumpah Road.

Flash floods are a danger as with any hike through a Slot Canyon. As with Lick Wash hike, call for weather information prior to hiking.

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