Peek-a-boo and Spooky slot canyon Loop Hike

The Dry Fork Trail gives access to a number of slot canyons namely, Peek-A-Boo, Spooky, Brimstone and the wider Dry Fork slot canyon. The trail head can be access by a dirt road off Hole in the Rock road. There is a small sign post marking the way. There is a small parking lot just before a larger one for vehicles without high clearance because of a steep rock section passenger cars should not go over.  Passenger cars can co to this point and it is a short walk to the trail in sight.

This trail has gotten easier to find through the years. It is marked by both large and small cairns and a number of social trails. They all lead to the same slick rock drainage. As long as you continue down hill, you will get there. After a sandy descent, continue straight following a path until you reach an open dry wash. To the left is the Dry Fork Slot Canyon. To the right and straight ahead is Peek-A-Boo, Spooky and Brimstone slot canyons in that order. All three will be on your left hand side as you walk down the wash. 

As you walk down the wash with Dry Fork to your back, the firs slot on the left is Peek-A-Boo. It can be found after a large sand dune and an obvious 15ft. high cliff with some small arches at the top. Often, water can be found at the base entrance. Climb up here on some steps that are carved into the rock as noted in the photo. If there is water in front of the wall, more likely than not, the potholes after you ascend are also full of water. 

Many people avoid entering Peek-A-Boo slot canyon because of the daunting 15 foot vertical wall that must be climbed to get in or water in front of it. Rightly so! With no rock climbing experience, this can be a frightening and
dangerous venture. My last trip I found a solution to avoid the wall! Facing the wall, look to the left. There is a sand dune that runs along the side of the wall. You will see an unmarked social trail ascending the sand dune and appears to wander away from the slot. Continue following this social trail until you are at a high point and can see a trail leading back toward the direction of the slot canyon. This will lead directly back to the slot at a point that is easily down climbed.  Follow the lines I have drawn on the photos. Once in the slot you can explore to the right which leads back to the wall you by-passed. That direction has several pot holes, usually filled with water and several small arches stretching over the slot.To the left, the slot is easier with hardly any climbing and not very deep. You eventually exit the slot after a short distance. 

You will exit Peek-A-Boo slot into an open wash. Walk about 50 feet to the right and you will see a cairn marking a trail going up a small hill. There are many social and cattle trails weaving through here but they all lead to the same area. Continue until you reach a sandy steep embankment which goes down into a very large dry wash. Once down in the wash, walk to the right.  You will see the entrance of Spooky slot canyon. Spooky is a bit deeper and much tighter than Peek-A-Boo slot. At times you will need to remove your pack to get through.Spooky is also much more difficult to negotiate the way down.  One difficult section has large chock stones that need to be down climbed.  Usually not a problem but the final boulder requires a blind step because you have to go down on your belly, feet first.  Unnerving, especially for shorter people.

The other difficult section is a tight cork screw descent on very slick sandstone. I've hiked this slot more than 10 times and at least have the time I end up with abrasions!  After this point the slot becomes very narrow and you will need to remove any day pack so you can fit through sideways.

When you exit Spooky, turn right and walk back to the entrance of Peek-A-Boo slot, past Dry Fork and up to the parking area.

A few words of caution:

1. DO NOT ENTER IF RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST!

2. NEVER HIKE SPOOKY FIRST! Most everyone does the loop via Peek-a-boo first and there is absolutely no place to pass by people in most places.  Respect hikers doing the loop!

3. TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING!

4. BRING PLENTY OF WATER!