Nature's Hallways: Hiking Red Hollow Slot Canyon

Tucked just outside Orderville, Utah, Red Hollow Slot Canyon offers hikers an intimate glimpse of Southern Utah’s iconic red rock landscapes without the crowds of more famous canyons. The short but beautiful beginner slot canyon winds through narrow, twisting corridors, where sunlight flickers across sandstone walls, revealing layers of deep reds, oranges, and subtle purples. Hiking Red Hollow is an adventure of contrasts—smooth, easy-to-walk stretches interrupted by tight squeezes and small rock obstacles—making it accessible for most visitors while still delivering a sense of exploration and discovery.

Trailhead elevation 5,583'

Water seasonal, not potable

Don't miss the chimney section about half a mile in

Hiking Red Hollow Slot Canyon

After a morning rappelling through Ladder Canyon near Orderville, I decide to stick around and finally explore Red Hollow Slot Canyon—a short slot I’ve somehow never visited. It’s another stunning late-September morning as I leave Kanab and make the half-hour drive to the trailhead. Of course, Google Maps leads me to the wrong spot, so I backtrack a bit and find the correct starting point adjacent to Red Hollow Ranch at 37.271310, -112.631411.

From the trailhead, the path cuts through a gap in the trees before veering right toward Red Hollow Wash.

Within a hundred feet, it bends right again—but the real route drops left into the wash.

Once in the wash, the hike is simple. The deep sand gradually firms up, and within a third of a mile, I enter the slot canyon.

At first, it seems unremarkable, but soon I encounter a stack of rocks leading up beside a boulder wedged between the canyon walls—a reminder of the power of water.

An easy scramble over the boulder opens up classic slot canyon views.

About a hundred feet past the boulder, I come across a shallow pool of water, roughly five feet long, with just enough dry ground along the edges to keep my feet dry. With recent heavy rains, I consider myself lucky that it isn’t deeper.

Another hundred feet ahead, a large boulder blocks the way, but it's a cake walk to pass.

Immediately after, roughly half a mile into the hike, I’m forced to chimney through a fairly narrow section—far too tight to pass without wedging myself in at the bottom.

Beyond this constriction, the canyon continues to unfold with more slot scenery, but I’m running short on time and need to get back to Kanab to pick up my old man before we drive to St. George for the night. I’m not sure what lies further along the canyon or how challenging it becomes, but the mile I covered is well worth the effort. And while Red Hollow may not rival the beauty of nearby slots or the striking scenery of Zebra or Peek-a-Boo in Escalante, it’s a fun, quick excursion that rewards minimal effort with a satisfying taste of slot canyon adventure.