Atlas › Grand Staircase / Cottonwood-Skutumpah
Willis Creek
verified 2026-05-12
ACA 1A
Moderate flood risk
Cannonville, UT
Easy slot canyon with a small year-round stream and 200-300 ft walls. Best slot for families.
Loop with Bull Valley Gorge possible for fit hikers.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
|---|---|
| Permit | No fee, no day-use permit required. Free overnight backpacking permit required for any backcountry camping (self-issue at developed trailheads or at GSENM visitor centers in Cannonville, Escalante, Kanab, or Big Water). Day-use is free. |
| Distance | 4.8 RT (best narrows in first 1.3 mi) |
| Elevation | Flat |
| Time | 2-4 hr |
| Technical | Non-technical, easy family hike |
| Season | Year-round when road dry |
| Flood risk | Moderate |
| Vehicle access | Skutumpah Rd 6.2 mi from Cottonwood Wash Rd; 2WD when dry |
| Crowd | Moderate to high |
| Coordinates | 37.5106, -112.0628 |
Sources
- permits: https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/plan
- travel info: https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/travel-info
- heroPhoto: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Willis_Creek,_GSENM,_Utah_(43913710430).jpg