The first thing that caught our attention inside Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon was the sandstone. Bands of yellow, orange, and red curved along the walls, creating patterns that seemed to change with every turn. Then we noticed something we hadn’t expected. As the passage narrowed, sounds from outside seemed to fade. How could a place filled with so much visual interest become so wonderfully quiet?
To appreciate how we arrived at that moment, we need to rewind to the beginning of our day. We woke up in Williams, Arizona, with a four-hour drive ahead. Of course, since we were traveling through unfamiliar territory, we had to allow for unexpected stops. Our destination was Kanab, Utah, but we already had plans to stop at Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona. It was hard to guess how many roadside attractions would catch our eye.
We have always enjoyed places that reveal something different once you get beyond the usual roadside views. At home, I enjoy researching an area to find unusual discoveries that offer fun and educational experiences. Slot canyons certainly fit that description. The promise of seeing the world from a new angle was more than enough motivation to get moving that morning.
Getting to Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon
Once in Kanab, our next adventure was a private guided outing with Coral Cliffs Tours. We signed up to see a part of southern Utah you can’t reach by simply pulling into a paved parking lot. Before we could admire sandstone walls, we had to get across the sand.
For what seemed like forever (actually approximately 30 minutes), our four-wheel-drive vehicle followed sandy backroads into the rugged country outside town. Our skilled driver knew exactly when to accelerate through sand pits while navigating the undulating backroad. Leaving pavement behind made the drive part of the adventure.
If you’re expecting a perfectly smooth ride, adjust your expectations. Deep sand and uneven tracks can provide a fair amount of bouncing, which is all part of the experience. It didn’t take long for us to realize we made the right choice by booking a private tour. I would not have wanted to navigate unfamiliar sandy trails or worry about whether our own vehicle belonged out there (which it certainly doesn’t). We could simply sit back, hold on tight, and enjoy the scenery.
Why Utah's Rocks Keep Drawing Us Back
Utah has become one of our favorite states for outdoor exploration. Every time we return, we discover something new. Towering sandstone cliffs, strangely shaped rock formations, broad stretches of desert, and colorful layers of stone make up much of the attraction. When we arrived at the trailhead, our guide pointed out a hoodoo on a nearby ridge. It reminded us that different landscape features can be just feet apart.
This is because much of southern Utah lies on the Colorado Plateau, where layers of sedimentary rock expose evidence of ancient environments. Some of the area’s sandstone began as enormous fields of windblown dunes during the Jurassic Period. Over time, buried sand became rock, and later uplift and erosion helped expose the formations we see today. The colors tell another part of that story. Iron-bearing minerals can coat individual grains of sand, giving sandstone its familiar warmer shades. Changes in mineral content and groundwater movement create an unlimited variety of natural formations.
Knowing a little of that background made our visit to Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon even more appealing. We were about to walk into a landscape shaped by processes that began long before roads, towns, or travelers came to admire it.
Inside Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon
Leaving the vehicle behind, we entered a setting where the sandstone quickly became the main attraction. Instead of looking out over wide desert scenery, we found ourselves surrounded by walls that curved and folded along the route. We were especially captivated by the way the colors shifted from one surface to another. Some sections leaned toward golden yellow, while others carried rich oranges and reds. Rather than appearing as neat, even stripes, the colors followed irregular lines through the stone. Curves that looked gentle from one angle became more pronounced as we continued walking.
Light added another dimension. Where the canyon opened a little, more sunlight reached the walls and brought out the brighter tones. In narrower areas, shaded surfaces appeared deeper and more subdued. The same sandstone could look noticeably different within a short distance. No single photograph could capture every changing angle.
Of course, those smooth-looking walls didn’t form overnight. Slot canyons develop when water rushes through weaknesses in the rock, carrying sand and debris that gradually help wear away the passage. Occasional powerful floods can do an enormous amount of work, even in a landscape that spends much of its time dry. Our guide noted that flooding still moves boulders and sediment in this canyon. The process that made it is still reshaping it.
Then there was the quiet. As we approached tighter passages, we noticed how outside sounds seemed to soften. That contrast was one of our favorite surprises. We came expecting beautiful rock formations, and Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon certainly delivered. Discovering how much the sound changed was an unexpected bonus.
A Different View on the Way Back
As we went farther into the canyon, the narrowing walls filtered more sunlight from above. Bright patches gave way to softer light, and the sandstone took on darker shades as we moved through the passage. Features that had seemed bold in direct light looked more subtle in the shade.
Eventually, Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon brought us to a section where fallen rocks from a rockslide interrupted our route. It made a natural stopping point for our exploration. We had already enjoyed an extraordinary look at the canyon, and now it was time to head back the way we had come. Retracing our steps offered another chance to appreciate the formations. We found ourselves looking again at details that might have escaped our attention earlier.
The return hike seemed so much shorter than our trip out. We returned to the four-wheel-drive vehicle, ready for the sandy ride back toward Kanab. While we were able to check off another “bucket list” item, it’s always a little sad to say goodbye.
Trading Canyon Silence for Kanab's Quirky Charm
After that peaceful time between sandstone walls, returning to Kanab brought us back to city energy. We had shops to explore, a small-town atmosphere to enjoy, and, eventually, the important question of where to eat. We appreciated that downtown was easy to navigate on foot.
Kanab has another claim to fame beyond its natural beauty. The town earned the nickname “Little Hollywood” because filmmakers used the surrounding landscapes for Western movies and television productions. The long-running series Gunsmoke filmed many outdoor scenes nearby. The area’s connection to Hollywood remains an interesting chapter in Kanab’s history.
When hunger finally caught up with us, we headed to Iron Horse Restaurant for dinner. Its casual Western atmosphere suited the day, but one decoration in particular stole our attention. Four taxidermied raccoons sat around a card game, looking as though they were taking their hands very seriously. We couldn’t help smiling at the sight. Who decided that a group of raccoons needed a poker night?
Our next stop was Brown Box Kanab, where we faced a different kind of decision. We came for a Kanookie, a cookie baked in a cast-iron skillet and topped with ice cream. That sounds simple enough until you have to choose which cookie and ice cream combination deserves the honor.
We took this responsibility seriously, or at least as seriously as anyone should take a cookie-and-ice-cream decision. In the end, it was a gooey, sweet delight that helped cap a wonderful day.
Southern Utah Always Leaves Us Wanting More
One of the things we love about traveling is how a day can unfold in several very different chapters. From the railroad town of Williams, across Navajo Nation, past Lake Powell, and into southern Utah. By evening in Kanab, our travels had taken us from rugged desert scenery to a surprisingly quiet canyon, then into a town with its own playful personality.
Southern Utah keeps reminding us that memorable adventures don’t have to follow a single theme. Dramatic landscapes to explore, interesting bits of history to uncover, and small businesses that give each community its own character. Sometimes the highlight is something grand.
Our visit to Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon was a good example of both. The sandstone was every bit as captivating as we hoped, but that unusual quiet stayed with us, too. That’s part of the fun of travel. You set out looking for one experience and come home with several stories worth sharing. Now we’d love to hear one of yours. What’s a favorite hiking adventure, or a trail that made such an impression that you still talk about it?
