Red Cave Slot Canyon east of Zion National park

This was a great trip! I felt very safe today since I got the chance to hike and canyoneer with two Search and Rescue men from Kane County and a Search and Rescue Vetran from Zion National Park. Bo and I met for breakfast at the Thunderbird and we met up with Mark and Dean at 9am. Although the forcast called for some light scattered showers it had been raining all night and it only let up a short time the entire day we hiked. First questions was where were we going, and Mark got a smile on his face and said how about Red Cave. Since it was raining that was a good idea. We did not want to let the slot have time to flood. After talking to my brother we decided the best way to go was through Tait Lane in Mount Carmel. Although there is a wild 4WD road that is entered through his yard there is now a locked gate past his house on anothers property. We did not see anyone to stop and ask if we could go so we drove slowly and made sure to shut the gate behind us. The road pretty much leads to the slot and Dean knows the 4WD areas well so we easily made it to Upper Red Cave. We stopped and checked out the entrance but with the cold temperature outside, the rain and the fact we would have to get pretty wet at the start of the slot we decided to go and check out Lower Red Cave. We were in luck and found that slot to be totally dry and it was sand filled to my delight. I had been through the slot earlier in the Summer with Shane Burrows and the boulder obstacles were not easy at that time. Today on the otherhand, they were a breeze. Right at the start of the slot is a rope obstacle. Climb this frayed ancient rope at your own risk! The climb seems easy for the men, but I had to take the alternate route and go around the right side of the slot and hike up the mountain side and find a way down. Bo, the gentleman he his went with me and found us a nice spot to enter the slot. We got down and did not find Mark and Dean anywhere so we hiked back to the rope area to find them just 15 ft past the rope obstacle at another fun obstacle. After a quick look at it, and the face that we did not bring any rope, the guys decided that they too would go out and hike up the mountain side and drop into the slot.

The rest of the slot was easy with sand laid down high in the last flash flood. I have no doubt with all the rain we are having this week that the slot will be flooding again soon and each time the characteristics of the slot change. We made our way through the beautiful and skinny slot, past the window and the open area into another nice slot section. When we got to the end we were cold enough we turned around and went back rather than hiking over to the upper section and going in that from the back and having to hike back to the Rover all wet.

This was an outstanding day with awesome friends!

Thanks Bo, Dean and Mark!

Zion National Park

Complete Trail Description and Photo Album

Zion National Park

Zion National Park hiking guide

Zion National Park Hiking

Kane County Search and Rescue Vice Commander Dean Kurtz and Search and Rescue member Mark in the incredible Red CAve Slot Canyon located on the east side of Zion National Park. 

Water Canyon is a wonderful hike located on the east side of Zion National Park. The trail over Water Canyon leads to an impressive view of Zion National Park. 

Water Canyon - Impressive Slot Canyon

This weekend I returned to the Canaan Mountain hike, but this time I spent more time in the slot canyon section called Water Canyon. My timing was perfect because it had been raining for days and snow was melting so the waterfalls were spectacular and abundant. I was with a group of four men, one old friend Bo, and three new friends. Our first obstacle was getting past the muddy dirt road that led to the trail. After one truck got stuck we decided to park on the paved road and lug our gear down the 1.5 mile dirt/mud road. It was well worth the trek. When I had been here just a couple of week earlier I could walk up parts of the slot without gettting the upper parts of my shoes wet, but that was not the case today.

I was glad I had wore my water tennies and neoprene socks within the first few minutes. The waterfalls were so beautiful we spent a lot more time in Water Canyon than we had planned, along with the trek down the muddy road. Noon was already approaching so we decided we had better head up to the rest of the hike. The trail up to the top is very steep and the deep snow on the trial added to its difficulty. The exercise felt great though and we quickly made it to the top of the mountain.

I was the only one in the group that had been there before so I pointed out the way. They all looked at me as I explained that we just head sort of in "that direction" and that there is not trail for the rest of the hike. The snow was deep and we had changed out of our water shoes along the trail. Our hiking boots were not saturated and my toes were already cold.

Changing shoes and checking our supplies we were prepared to brave the unexpected deep snow. We rushed through this cold part of the trip and hurried back down the trail. The snow had been melting during this time and the waterfalls were now gushing like crazy. It was spectaucular! It took us a long time just to get down the trail because we had to stop and oh and ah at all the waterfalls that had begun to pour since we had come up in the morning. My camera already had over 100 shots on it. We made it back down to the slot and played in the waterfalls and took for picures. Just amazed at how much more the water was now flowing. We debated getting out the canyoneering gear, but it was getting dark so we decided we should come back when it was warmer.

Thanks for the trip guys

~tanya

Zion National Park

Complete Trail Description and Photo Album

Zion National Park

Zion National Park hiking guide

Zion National Park Hiking