Utah Vacation-Johnson Canyon Slots

Today we planned to go in search of the best slot canyon we could find, within the limitations of Johnson Canyon. We packed our cooler and headed East out of Kanab. We then headed North on Johnson Canyon Road. After a few miles, we turned onto Bureau of Land Management route 500 (BLM 500), an unimproved road, and followed it to Lick Wash.

The Lick Wash Trail follows Lick Wash into a canyon. Since it is along a wash, there was no water present. The canyon was bone dry, but yet somehow, trees managed to grow.

David hiking the Lick Wash Trail

Narrow slot along the Lick Wash Trail

We then continued North on BLM 500 to the Willis Creek Trail. Somewhere along the route, we saw a sign that said that four wheel drive and high clearance vehicles are recommended. Well, it was for just this situation that we rented a Jeep. Unfortunately, Payless did not give us a Jeep. But luckily for us, we had lots of food and water available, in case we needed to wait for rescue.

The Willis Creek Trail is another slot canyon trail. But unlike others we have hiked, this one has flowing water. Nice. After only a half mile or so, we passed through our first slot and thought, “That was nice. I wonder if the trail gets any better from here?” That’s when we passed some hikers heading back up the trail. We asked them and they enthusiastically said that we need to keep going. That was encouraging. So keep going we did.

David entering a slot along the Willis Creek Trail

Susan at the other end of a slot along the Willis Creek Trail

Another slot along the Willis Creek Trail

Susan in a deep slot along the Willis Creek Trail

Back on the road, we continued North towards Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. It was now that the high clearance vehicle recommendation finally became clear. The road, which had been mostly level dirt and loose sand, became very steep and full of ruts. I carefully started down into a valley with high hopes that I’d be able to get out the other side. At the bottom, I thought, “That wasn’t so bad”. Getting out the other side turned out to be a non-issue and we continued on to Bryce Canyon. So much for all the gloomy foreshadowing.

At the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, we went shopping for shirts. We really liked the shirts we found at North Rim and were looking for shirts with a similar style. We found them, but they were a little bit more expensive than the typical T-shirt, but hey, you only live once, so we splurged a little.

The route back to the condo was the same route we took a few days earlier. To our surprise, the short garden hose that bounced off a camper the other day was still lying on the side of the road.

Click on the photo below to see the Photo Gallery.