Willis Creek Slot Canyon trailhead

Willis Creek is the slot canyon locals send you to when you want the narrows experience without the Buckskin Gulch crowds. The trailhead sits on Skutumpah Road in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area outside Kanab, and the hike itself is a gentle, mostly flat walk through a shallow creek bed that narrows into sculpted sandstone walls — easy enough for kids and dogs, no technical scrambling required. Reviewers consistently call it a hidden gem, and at a 4.7 rating from 391 reviews it's one of the better-loved stops in the Kanab area.

Getting there

• Access is via Skutumpah Road / BLM 500, a dirt road that's manageable at a slow, careful pace — expect a dusty vehicle by the end.
• Skip the Adam's Wash routing some GPS apps suggest; reviewers flag it as rough and slow going even in high-clearance 4WD. Stick to Skutumpah Road / BLM 500 for the smoother, faster approach.
• Bring water shoes or sandals you don't mind getting wet — you'll be walking in and out of the creek most of the way.

The trailhead itself is open access, no fees or permits needed for a day hike. It's a solid half-day add-on for anyone based in Kanab and working the Grand Canyon North Rim / Vermilion Cliffs loop, or just looking for a quieter slot canyon than the well-known names nearby.