Willis Creek Slot Canyon trailhead

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures for walking the canyon floor. Summer visits are possible, but standing water can linger in the lower canyon sections after monsoon activity, and the season brings the most active flash flood risk. Flash flooding is a serious hazard in any slot canyon — heavy rain anywhere upstream, even under clear skies at the trailhead, can push a flood through with little warning. Do not enter after recent rain or when storms are forecast in the wider drainage. Early morning and late afternoon produce the best light inside the narrows, as direct sun reaches the canyon floor only briefly during midday.

Trail Tips

• Expect wet feet — multiple creek crossings are part of the route. Waterproof sandals or shoes you don't mind soaking are far more practical than trying to keep trail runners dry.
• The trail has no fixed endpoint, which means your turnaround point is your call. The narrows continue to improve the farther you go, so give yourself time to push past the first slot sections before deciding to turn back.
• Carry more water than the flat terrain suggests you'll need — canyon walking in full sun, even on easy ground, uses more than you expect.
• Cell service is unreliable in this area. Download an offline map or note your GPS coordinates before leaving the trailhead.

Getting There

From Cannonville, take Cottonwood Canyon Road south and turn onto Skutumpah Road. The final stretch to the trailhead covers roughly 5.8 miles of unpaved washboard dirt. In dry conditions a standard 2WD vehicle can manage the road; high-clearance helps but is not required when conditions are good. Check road conditions before you go — this stretch can become impassable after rain. The trailhead is approximately 45 minutes south of Bryce Canyon City.

What to Expect on Willis Creek Slot Canyon Trail

Willis Creek draws hikers who want the slot canyon experience without technical skills or advance planning — no scrambling, no permit, and no gear beyond shoes you're willing to get wet. The trail follows a wash through a series of slot sections where walls close in dramatically overhead while staying wide enough throughout that the canyon never feels confining. The round trip runs anywhere from 3 to 5.8 miles depending on how far you walk before turning back, so you can tailor the outing to your group's energy. Elevation change is minimal — this is a flat canyon-floor walk, not a climb — and the creek crossings are shallow. The progressive narrowing of the walls is the defining feature, rewarding walkers who push a bit farther into the canyon.