Exploring Slot or Narrow Canyons

Nothing compares to the beauty, serenity, and mystery of slot canyons. The color and formations of rock combined with the play of light and water are an unforgettable experience. Exploring a slot canyon can involve anything from a short, level walk starting from a roadside parking area to a backpacking trip of several days requiring route-finding, rappelling, rock climbing, and strong swimming skills. Slot canyons can be dangerous places. Often these canyons have sudden, sheer drops of several feet/meters with the potential for injuries by falling, jumping down, or becoming trapped and unable to climb back out. Other dangers include rattlesnakes, deep pools, hypothermia, and quicksand. However, most fatalities in slot canyons are from flash floods.

Flash Floods
Flash floods, which have been described as "more water than you want in less time than you have," are common in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. This is because the arid, sparsely vegetated environment has little capacity to absorb rainfall. The resulting runoff moves rapidly through the narrow canyons and steep terrain. In many areas, even small storms can turn normally dry streambeds and canyons into raging torrents of water in a matter of minutes. It is a sobering sight and a testament to the power of the water in slot canyons to see huge logs wedged between the canyon walls many feet/meters above the canyon floor. Flash floods can occur at any time of the year whenever rainfall is forecast but especially from July to mid September when severe thunderstorms can develop rapidly.

Rain falling even many miles away can collect together, become channeled down one course, and turn a dry canyon into a fast-flowing torrent of water and debris in seconds. This is what happened in Lower Antelope Canyon Arizona on August 12, 1997. Twelve hikers were caught in a flash flood that filled the narrow canyon with water that reached depths of 50 feet. Only one hiker survived. Probably the hikers did not recognize the flood danger until it was too late because the storm that caused the flood occurred miles away. While such fatal accidents are rare, most flash flood fatalities can been prevented when the following precautions are taken:

• Be especially cautious in areas posted with flash flood warning signs.
• Before you begin any hike always check the weather forecast and contact the area's Forest or Park service.
  • National Weather Service Storm Warnings for Utah
  • US Geological Survey Real-Time Streamflow for Utah
• Don't be so committed to your hike that you refuse to recognize a dangerous situation. Be prepared to change your plans if storms threaten. Postponing your hike for a day or two could save your life.
• During your hike watch continually for changing weather conditions. Remember, it need not be raining where you are hiking for a flash flood to occur. Signs of distant rainfall, such as thunder and lighting, should be taken seriously. If rainfall threatens, get out of the canyon or get to high ground quickly. It is a good idea before you hike to study maps to identify possible escape routes and to know the source (head) of the canyon, which may be over 100 miles away.
• Never camp in a dry wash. If you must camp near a wash, camp as high as possible and check for indication of past high water such as stains on rock walls and debris lines.
• Be cautious and/or avoid areas subject to flooding - stream beds, narrow canyons, and washes.
• Do not cross flowing water or flooded trails where water is above your knees.
• When near or in any creek or drainage, always face upstream.
• If you see or hear a flood coming, move to higher ground immediately! Do not try to outrun a flood.

Hypothermia
Even though these canyons are in the desert, many will have stagnant pools of water - some of which are very deep. These pools, especially in the fall and winter months, can be extremely cold. When a person is immersed in cold water, the skin and nearby tissues cool very fast because water conducts heat many times faster than air. 

To prevent hypothermia, wear wind and water resistant outer clothing and synthetics capable of wicking moisture away from your skin. Wetsuits may also be necessary for canyons with deep pools. Fatigue makes you more susceptible to hypothermia. Know your abilities and equipment. Overestimating these when crossing or swimming through large or deep pools can be fatal. It is important to eat high energy foods and plenty of fluids to increase your body's resistance to the effects of cool temperatures.

Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, poor muscle control, and careless or illogical behavior. If symptoms start to occur, remove wet clothing, wrap in dry, warm material, and apply gentle sources of heat - such as skin-to-skin contact.

See our Severe Weather page for more weather related information and links. Contact the Visitor Information Services in the area you are traveling to for information about commercial slot canyon guides and equipment outfitters.

This information is designed for educational use only and is not a substitute for specific training or experience.

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