On our three-week road trip through five states and multiple national parks, we were constantly in awe of the beauty and variety of landscape that we saw across the Western U.S. We had so many amazing experiences, but one that stands out is our trip to Peekaboo Canyon, just outside of Kanab, in Southern Utah. Reminiscent of the larger and more well- known Antelope Canyon, Peekabook Canyon is a slot canyon that offers towering, beautifully shaped red sandstone walls without the crowds.
There are two main ways to get to Peekaboo Canyon: hike or 4-wheel. We opted for a privately guided 4-wheel trip in an open air Polaris Razor. Our guide and driver, Brant, kept us feeling safe, even as we zoomed around the trails and up and down the dunes. We even stopped at the top of a dune and sand boarded with Brant’s custom-made boards. Our six year old son is still talking about sand boarding. But, for the grownups, the main event – Peekaboo Canyon – was definitely the highlight of the day, if not the entire trip.
When we parked at the head of the canyon, there were only a few other jeeps at the entrance. The first glimpse took my breath away. With walls up to 30 feet high that bear the shape of waves, every step we took begged a picture. The canyon is less than half a mile long, but our round trip walk easily took an hour as we stopped around every bend to take it all in. Along the way, Brant explained how this canyon is still changing as it experiences flash floods in the rainy season, and we saw fossils of tiny starfish and even a baby rattlesnake. During our walk through the canyon, we only came across one larger group, but it was a brief encounter and the rest of the time we were entirely on our own. Our return to the trailhead was a quick, but fun, 15-minute ride across the dunes.
Logistics: We stayed in Kanab for two nights and did the excursion from there. The town is a great jumping off point for heading into the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, or a day trip to visit nearby Toadstool State Park, Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend. I was pleasantly surprised by the restaurant offerings in town offering New American, French, Mexican cuisines and more and the lodging is very affordable, if not luxurious. If you don’t want to stay in Kanab, you could potentially visit Peekaboo Canyon on a day trip from Zion or Bryce Canyon National Parks. I’d love to help you plan your family’s trip to Utah or elsewhere in the Western U.S. – contact Family Travels and Adventures at kristin@familytravelsandadventures.com or (408)533-0080.
Travels With Kristin 