Slot canyons are fun for almost anyone. If you have kids of various abilities and ages, the right place is important so that everyone can stay sane during a hike. Willis Creek, just outside Kodachrome State Park in southern Utah, is a great choice. This hike is within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The Hubs and I enjoyed this lovely slot canyon with 5 of our kids, ranging in age from 18 months to 16 years. There was something in it for everyone.

Hiking Willis Creek with kids and a toddler

The pros:

• This is an easy hike with an even grade and quick access to the slot. We hiked just past the narrows and turned back (about 3 miles round trip). You can make it longer or shorter as you wish. Others who did the whole 4+ miles out and back said the narrows are the best part.

• Beautiful, sculpted canyon walls with thin strata start close to the trailhead and increase in height as you go. Colors change with the light. Wonderful photos are almost guaranteed.

• Shade within the slots provides a bit of relief on hot days

• A cool little creek runs throughout the narrows that you can jump over (a million times)

• Easy rock scrambling (which is optional) and a small waterfall are accessibly fun.  The canyon walls get close together, within a few feet apart, but easily accommodate baby carriers or backpacks.

• Unlike many popular hikes nearby, this one is uncrowded and free of charge

The cons:

• Depending on the condition of the dirt road, driving to the trailhead can be tricky (especially for smaller cars). Deep sand, steep grades, washboarding, and tight curves along cliff sides can be nerve-wracking. The road may be impassable if rain has fallen.

• There are rattle snakes here, just like most places in the region

• Your feet will probably get wet, as some spots on the trail are the width of the creek’s path

• This remote location is not near services, ready-to-drink water, or toilets. Don’t even think about cell service.

• Slot canyons can fill during flash floods. Be aware of the weather, since water can rush in quickly and deeply. Check with the Grand Staircase-Escalante visitor center in Cannonville if you need assistance with determining safety.

A hike for everyone

The baby/toddler

I carried my big ol’ baby (18 months old) in a front pack most of the time. I have a hiking backpack but wanted to change it up after my shoulders got sore over days of use. He was content most of the time looking at the rocks and cliffs, listening for water, and being carried around. (How lazy can babies be?) Part of the way through we gave him a stick to carry, which kept him occupied, even as he poked people in the face with it.

We gave him a chance to get out of the pack a couple of times. He was very interested in toddling around and touching the creek. I stopped to feed him in the shade while sitting on a rock and everything went pretty smoothly. The rocks provide natural benches, and the canyon walls are like beautiful baby gates on 2 sides.

The younger kids

The 7-year-old had some whiny moments, but overall he enjoyed the hike. He and my 8-year-old daughter loved seeing lizards and birds and were awed by their first slot canyon experience. There were a few chances to do some minor rock scrambling on the side, which was fun, especially at the waterfall and within the slots.

We did have to take a few stops for water and snacks, since we were just near lunch time and due for a meal. By the end no one wanted to carry their water bottles or packs, and The Hubs ended up carrying it all, which is only fair since I had to schlep the baby.

The older kids

The 12-year-old liked the (tiny) element of danger in climbing up on top of rocks and looking down. He was usually the first walking ahead, checking things out. He did not like the spooky rattlesnake that hissed and shook its tail at him. (Itty bitty lizard darts across path and scares boy. Boy falls and screams. High-pitched wail scares rattlesnake. Boy gets really quiet for the rest of the hike.)

My 16-year-old isn’t that into hiking, but there were ample photo ops and plenty to look at. (No cell service can be a good thing once in awhile.) He didn’t have much to complain about, which means he didn’t hate it and maybe enjoyed it?

Me: Did you like the hike?

Him:  🤷🏽‍♂️

Me: What was your favorite part?

Him:  🤷🏽‍♂️

The parents

This trail was easy to watch the kids on. It wasn’t too crowded and there weren’t many places that were scary with steep trail edges. If the baby was out of the pack for longer, to wander in the wider areas, it might have gotten stressful.

I wore hiking boots and started out trying to avoid getting my feet wet by jumping over the creek and balancing on rocks. By the end of the hike I had given up and just walked though the water, which was only 1-2” deep. Both boots were soaked by the end.

Honestly, the drive up was the hardest part. Our tires spun out in the uphill sand before we turned on the 4 wheel drive. Although the hike isn’t super long, you must factor time for the drive into your itinerary. We were staying in Cannonville, the closest town to the trailhead. It’s only a 6-mile drive along the dirt road, but it took us between 30-40 minutes, even with an SUV, especially because of washboarding on the flat spots.

The Hubs and I had a great time viewing the high golden walls, watching the kids have fun, and taking pictures. I’d do this hike again, but would probably go earlier in the day next time if it’s summer. I had heard the shade makes it a good choice for a hot day, but it was still very sweaty by the end (we got finished a little after noon). We were kinda done after a couple of hours in the upper 90s heat, and didn’t feel like doing anymore walking carrying all the stuff (or kids). We had planned to see Kodachrome State Park afterwards, but didn’t have the oomph.

Willis Creek is simply gorge-ous (pun intended). It looks different when you go in versus when you walk out—the colors can be golden, black, orange, or gray depending on the light. The shapes also shift as the shadows lengthen. I think this canyon can offer many versions of its beauty.

Tips for hiking Willis Creek with kids

• Bring lots of water and something to snack on
• Letting toddlers and preschoolers explore in the narrows section is the easiest and safest, in contrast to the more open areas
• Warn kids to watch out for snakes under rocky overhangs
• Consider an umbrella or parasol for shade between sections of narrows. This works for babies or toddlers in a front pack or backpack, or small kids walking on their own.
• Your feet will get wet, so make sure to bring a second pair of shoes if you have plans afterward, or use water sandals.
• Use the right-sided trail when you hear the waterfall after the first section of narrows–if you want to avoid the high rocks on the left
• There are 3 sections of narrows. If you want to turn around after the best scenery, do so when you see a dry creek canyon cross Willis Creek, with a dead-end to the left.
• Don’t miss the first waterfall (like we did) at the very beginning, close to the road near the parking lot. You can scramble down to it, or you can walk up the creek bed once the trail meets the water. When approaching the trailhead the little falls are on the right.
• There are no bathrooms, so find places to “go” judiciously. You may see worse from the horses that travel through.
• Be prepared for your butt to tighten on the drive up Skutumpah Road—4-wheel drive isn’t mandatory, but I personally would not make the drive in a small car. Most sources claim the road is almost always smooth in the dry season. It totally wasn’t on the day I went in early summer. Again, chat with the visitor center experts if you want help determining if your vehicle and the conditions will allow for safety.

I hope you will take a chance on Willis Creek like we did. It’s a little off the beaten path, but if you are looking for an easy, family-friendly slot canyon, this one’s a winner!