Atlas › Grand Staircase / Hole-in-the-Rock
Spooky Gulch
verified 2026-05-12permit verified 2026-08-15
ACA 2A
High flood risk
Escalante, UT
One of the narrowest hikeable slots anywhere; ~10 inches wide in spots. Not for larger body types.
Pair with Peek-a-Boo and optionally Brimstone. Standard loop direction: up Peek-a-Boo, down Spooky.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
|---|---|
| Permit | None for day-use, no fee. Free overnight permit required for backcountry camping; Dry Fork is signed day-use at the main parking area. |
| Distance | ~4-6 RT loop with Peek-a-Boo |
| Elevation | ~400 ft |
| Time | 3-5 hr |
| Technical | Non-technical squeeze; 6+ ft downclimb mid-canyon |
| Season | Mar-Nov |
| Flood risk | High |
| Vehicle access | Same Dry Fork TH as Peek-a-Boo, via Hole-in-the-Rock Rd. Low-clearance vehicles park at the first lot and walk the final mile to the trailhead. |
| Crowd | High in season |
| Coordinates | 37.4762, -111.2148 |
Sources
- trailhead: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dry-fork-road-peek-boo-and-spooky-gulch
- permits: https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/plan
- heroPhoto: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spooky_Gulch_(911543810).jpg
- permit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/plan