Peek-a-boo / Spooky loop hike

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This is a classic short slot canyon hike.

Peek-a-boo is pure fun. It requires scrambling up ledges, under chockstones and into arches.

Spooky is deeper, darker and tighter. It is the narrowest canyon "normal" people can hike through. Everyone will have to turn sideways and scoot to make it through. People of average build will find their chests and backs rub against the canyon walls as the scoot through. Larger people will have to suck in and squirm, or even get down on their knees and crawl sideways. (The slot is actually a tiny bit wider at the bottom in the narrowest spot).

If you are claustrophobic, don’t go into Spooky. If you are extra big, husky or fat, don’t go in. It is very difficult to extract hikers who become stuck here.

The normal loop is to go up Peek-a-boo and down Spooky. You can go up and then back down either canyon, or do the loop backwards. However, going up Spooky requires some fairly intense scrambling. Moderate scrambling is necessary to get into Peek-a-boo.

The loop is a moderate hike of about 3 miles total. It is a great family hike; however, younger children will need considerable help climbing up and over rocks.

We hike it spring, summer, fall, and during warm periods in winter. The area is very hot during July and August, but about half the time you are in a shady canyon. It is usually dry but there could be water in potholes for a few days after rainstorms.

Never enter a slot canyon when there is any danger of rain anywhere in the drainage. Always carry water. Take a good map and make sure you know where you are going.

Getting there

From the town of Escalante drive east on Hwy. 12 a short ways to the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Drive south on Hole In the Rock Road for about 26 miles to the signed turnoff for the Dry Fork Trailhead. Keep left and follow that road to the trailhead parking area.

Moderate scrambling is required to get into down into Dry Fork Wash. There are cairns along the route but it is difficult to follow them. Just find a way off the cliff and down the sand dunes. You’ll be in a side canyon that soon joins Dry Fork Wash. As you hike down canyon you’ll almost immediately come to the mouth of Peek-a-boo. You’ll see hand and foot holds cut into the rock to help you scramble up into the canyon.

Hike up Peek-a-boo until the slot ends. About 3/4 the way up the canyon becomes shallow and you wonder if you are there. You’re not. Keep going to the very end, until you come to a juniper tree. Rest there in the shade and then look for the trail and cairns that lead to the right, around a hill and into the top of Spooky.

Spooky will be wide at the entry point but soon slots up.

Hike through the Spooky slot and then continue down canyon until you find the main Dry Fork Wash. Then hike up Dry Fork, past the mouth of Peek-a-boo, until you find the trail back up the cliff to the trailhead.

Total hiking time is 3-4 hours.

The Hole in the Rock Road is extremely washboardy. It also has areas of deep sand and it may be washed out in spots. It is suitable for 4X4s. Family cars often drive to the Dry Fork Trailhead but they scrape bottom occasionally.

Below the Dry Fork Trailhead the Hole in the Rock Road becomes very rough and can only be traveled via 4X4 or mountain bike.

Map: Big Hollow Wash 7.5 quadrangle

Nearby Brimstone Canyon also offers a great slot.

Dry Fork is a tributary to Coyote Gulch, which is a great canyon for backpacking.