Red Canyon Slot (Peekaboo Kanab)

A glowing red slot canyon hike near Kanab, if you can get through the sand to reach it.

(566)

Kanab, UT

About

Red Canyon Slot, better known locally as Peekaboo Slot Canyon, is a short, glowing red sandstone slot hike north of Kanab off Highway 89 — and it's earned its 4.8-star rating from nearly 600 reviewers for good reason. The canyon walk itself is easy and family-friendly, about 0.7 miles round trip, winding between narrow red rock walls with the old Moqui Steps carved into the stone and a few small scrambles that add fun without any real climbing.

The Catch: Getting There

The hike is easy. The access road is not. From the Peek-A-Boo staging area, it's 3–5 miles of deep, soft sand before you reach the canyon, and reviewers are consistent on this point: a standard SUV or crossover, even an all-wheel-drive one, will bog down. A high-clearance 4x4 with proper tires, or a rented UTV, is the realistic way in. If you don't have one, Kanab-based outfitters like Coral Cliffs Tours run guided Jeep and UTV trips out to the trailhead and back, which several visitors say made the whole outing far less stressful.

Distance: ~0.7 miles round trip once at the trailhead
Vehicle: high-clearance 4x4 or UTV strongly recommended for the sand road
Managed by: BLM — check current conditions and flash flood risk before entering
Best light: morning visits mean fewer people and better photos on the red walls

Note this is not the Peekaboo/Spooky Gulch pair near Escalante — a different canyon entirely, and one of the more photogenic, less crowded slot hikes in the Kanab area.

Reviews (566)

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4.8

566 reviews

Google Reviews

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James Mickelson

in the last week

Be careful if you drive in as you will get stuck. It's best to hire a dune buggy to take you to canyon.

Bernadette Duran

in the last week

Definitely need an ATV or book a tour with Razors Edge Tours.

Bennie Regenold

a week ago

If you have a high clearance 4x4 it's a fun drive and the slot canyon is very nice. I ran into a few tours in the morning but it's a long slot with plenty of room to explore. I did this in a stock 2025 Ford Ranger 4x4. I aired the tires down to 20 psi and was able to glide over the sand pretty easily. Use 4H and keep it above 20mph and you'll be fine. If you get stuck put it in 4L and you'll likely get out. If you get stuck there are a ton of tour companies out there that will help you out. I ended up missing the turn down into the wash the first time, so did the full loop and tried it again. Using onX or something similar is helpful to find the turn. On the way out, don't try and make it back up that hill that took you into the wash. Keep driving in the wash past that and there's a trail to the right about half a mile down that is easy to get back to the parking lot. The Chevron at 89 and 9 (by the golf course between Orderville and the trail) has free air. You can air back up your tires if you did deflate them for the trail.

Patsy Gibbs

a week ago

Lots of deep sand getting to slot canyon. Four wheel drive needed and still somewhat difficult. The slot canyon hike is an easy and short hike. Very beautiful. Make sure to check the weather before going into any slot canyon. Rain in the broad area can lead to flash flooding in any slot canyon which can be very dangerous.

Mj Morgan

a week ago

Red Canyon Slot (Peekaboo Canyon) was one of my favorite stops near Kanab. The moment you step into the canyon, the walls seem to close in around you and the outside world disappears. The sandstone has been sculpted into smooth curves and twisting shapes by years of water and wind, creating a maze of narrow passageways and incredible textures. The deep reds and oranges of the rock seem to change with every angle of sunlight, making it hard to stop taking photos. What I enjoyed most was how intimate the canyon feels compared to some of the larger, more crowded slot canyons in the Southwest. As you walk through, you can run your hand along the cool sandstone walls and look up to see ribbons of blue sky framed between the towering rock formations. Around every bend there was another unique pattern, arch, or wave carved into the stone. It felt less like a hike and more like exploring a natural work of art. Take your time and don't rush through it. Some of the best details are easy to miss if you're focused only on getting to the end. Slow down, look up, look around, and enjoy the incredible shapes nature has been carving here for thousands of years.