The Other Peekaboo

A rare one, even for us

Peekaboo Slot Canyon is one of our most-loved half-days — it runs all the time. But almost every guided trip, ours included, turns around at the same spot: a dryfall partway up the canyon. Above it is a whole upper section hardly anyone bothers with. For our 25-year celebration, that's exactly where Paul and Sunny are taking you - and it's on the house, free, as a thank-you for coming along with Dreamland on parts (or all!) of these past twenty-five years. If you've ever stood below that dryfall and wondered what's beyond it, this is your chance to find out.

Above the turnaround

Peekaboo is a twisting red-and-orange slot canyon not far from town — narrow, sculpted, and one of the best short slots anywhere near Kanab.

The usual trip walks in from the bottom and stops at a dryfall — a tall, insurmountable drop in the canyon floor that's the natural turnaround for the standard tour. Getting above it takes a longer, more roundabout hike, so most people simply don't. That's the whole draw of this adventure: peeking into the upper canyon means more of that same beautiful sculpted rock, but with (typically) nobody in it.

It's not technical - no need for ropes or climbing gear - but it is a bit more walking to reach a stretch of Peekaboo that stays quiet. Paul and Sunny know the way up and around.

Up in the quiet upper slot — yes, there are still narrows up here

How the day goes

• Meet in Kanab. 10:00 am start — hellos with Paul and Sunny, then into the trucks. (You'll get the exact meeting spot when you sign up.)
• Drive to the canyon. A short run out toward the Grand Staircase and down a sandy road our trucks are built for.
• Hike up and around. Rather than stopping at the dryfall, the group takes the longer route up above it and into the upper slot.
• The upper canyon. Time to wander the quiet stretch of Peekaboo, take photos, and soak up a part of it few people ever see.
• Back to Kanab. Out the way you came, back to town by early afternoon.

A little more hiking, a lot fewer people

This is a half-day hike with a bit more effort than the standard Peekaboo — nothing bad, just a step up. Getting above the dryfall means a little cross-country travel over open slickrock and sand, plus a few steeper gullies and small scrambles along the way. Nothing technical and nothing scary — no ropes, no climbing gear — but it's not the sidewalk-flat walk the lower slot is, so you'll want to be steady on your feet. And yes: there are still narrows up here.

Most of our trips are off-trail, and this is a friendly one: if you're comfortable walking a few miles on uneven ground, you'll do great. Paul and Sunny handle the route so you can just enjoy having the place to yourselves.

The cross-country stretch to get up and around the dryfall

The quick facts