This short, but sweet, slot canyon is easy to access and an unbelievably awesome slot canyon if you are into stemming. If you are lucky enough to visit when water is running through the narrow winding walls, it is even better.
At a Glance Photo Album:Red Hollow Pictures Map:Greater Zion Area Map Day Hike: Yes Trail Distance: 3.2 miles round-trip Average Hiking Time: 2 hours Equipment: Sticky rubber hiking shoes, water, sun protective clothing. Difficulty: The hiking is easy to and through the start of the slot canyon, but if water is running then stemming the slot canyon is difficult, but a canyoneers dream. Even when dry, it is difficult to get up and over a couple of the boulder obstacles near the end. Sun Exposure: Full Sun on the way to the canyon, then it is shady and cool inside. Trail Usage: Low Trail Conditions: This is an unmaintained route rather than a trail.. Trailhead: Red Hollow Drive in Orderville, Utah, about 18 miles from the east entrance to Zion National Park. Trailend: Same as trailhead.
Permits: Not required.
Best Season: Year-round Trail Access: Within Orderville City limit. Elevation Gain: 200 feet Highest Elevation: 5680 feet Off the Beaten Path: Yes Restrooms: Orderville
Red Hollow is a slot canyon for enthusiasts that thrive on stemming, bouldering and making their way through impossible narrow slot canyons. There are no access issues and no permits needed. Just park your car and saunter through a beautiful hollow to a short but impressive bit of canyoneering paradise. Play in the slot and know its just fifteen minutes back to the car. The Elkheart Cliffs rise on both sides of Red Hollow providing impressive scenery. Water only flows after rains however.
Directions to Zion National Park
From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance.
From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance.
From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. See restrictions for RV's.
Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.
Trailhead - From Mt. Carmel Junction, drive 5-miles northeast on US-89 to the small town of Orderville. Turn right on 100 East and drive until the road "T's." Turn left and continue past the paved road and onto the dirt road. Park at the dirt parking area near the fence. Avoid the fenced area by dropping into the wash. Follow the cobblestone streambed into the hollow. Beautiful red cliffs rise to the southeast. About 300 yards ahead the canyon walls close in on both sides of the wash. Junipers and pines are the dominant trees. The wash is normally dry, but when there is water it is usually from snow melt. Be aware that like all slot canyon, this canyon can be very dangerous when it flash floods.
South Fork - At the fork (.4 miles) take the South Fork. The Zion and Bryce Falcon Guide describes a "natural arch formation overhanging the wash." We, however, could not find them. This is a short jaunt to some nice rock formations at the end. Turn around and head back to the junction, taking the main canyon this time.
Slot Section - This is a classic slot canyon where vertical walls are substantially deep and one can walk on the walls of the canyon with one shoe pressed against each side. Most of Zion's wider slot canyons require swimming in hypothermic pools, an adventure gladly replaced by stemming in Red Hollow.
Orderville History - Current Population: Under 600
Orderville has a unique history. The town successfully thrived as an United Order until support from the Mormon church waned in the the 1880's. Today a model of the United Order and other tidbits of history are stored inside the Historic Rock Church and the Daughters of the Pioneers museum.
Mileage from
Mt. Carmel Jct.
Zion National Park 12
Bryce Canyon 60
Grand Canyon 85
Cedar Breaks 45
Grand Staircase 9
Dixie Forest 22
Sand Dunes 11
Coyote Butte 57
Red Canyon 47
Tuweep 90
Stay in a hotel the heart of the parks, Mount Carmel Junction, and visit the treasures of the Southwest and Utah.
This is my new favorite quote:
"I don't know who Mary Cisneros is, but I mean zionnational-park.com
It's a better site than the NPS's anyway."
Written by the authors of the book: Favorite Hikes in and around Zion National Park