Wahweap Hoodoos

One of the iconic ones, not far yet not close either

The Wahweap Hoodoos sit in a wash north of Big Water, out in a stretch of country you would be excused to drive right past without knowing it was there. The heart of the Wahweap Hoodoos is the Tower of Silence, and it is an emblem of Grand Staircase Escalante — yet rarely visited on account of the long walk to get there. It's one of those places you have to be told about — there's no marked trail, no designated viewpoint, and frequently only a smattering of visitors in any given week. For our 25th anniversary, Paul and Sunny are taking a small group out for the day to walk up the wash together and spend some time among these remarkable towers.

The Wahweap Hoodoos aren't part of Dreamland's regular menu, but for our anniversary we're excited to spend a day out there with Paul and Sunny in the lead. Come join!

A long walk along a wash to find the towers

The Wahweap Hoodoos are among the most recognizable formations in the Grand Staircase — slender, bright white sandstone columns with remarkable fluting and dark brown cap rocks balanced on top. They're standing well above head height in a group along the edges of a major wash; reaching the hoodoos requires a ~4 mile (each way!) off-trail hike starting at a non-descript parking spot, which keeps the crowds away.

Like most hoodoos in the region, the Wahweap hoodoos formed as softer rock underneath erodes away, harder cap rock protects the towers above, and what's left are white columns capped in chocolate brown. Wind, water, and time did the rest. The hoodoos themselves are Entrada columns (about 160 million years old) with harder Dakota cap rocks (100 million years old) providing the protection from erosion.

Getting there is half of it: a drive out of Kanab, out past Big Water and off the pavement, then a long (~2 hour) walk up a wide sandy wash. The hoodoos come into view a little at a time, and you'll spend the middle of the day among them.

How the day goes

• Meet in Kanab. Morning start at Dreamland's Kanab office — coffee, introductions with Paul and Sunny, and into the trucks.
• Drive out to the trailhead. East on Highway 89 past Big Water, then off the pavement onto a rough dirt road the trucks are built for.
• Hike up the wash. A steady 4-mile walk along a broad sandy wash, easy underfoot for most of it, with a few soft stretches. The country opens up as you go.
• Time among the towers. Lunch, photos, and time to wander through the hoodoo group at your own pace. Paul and Sunny will show you the details you'd miss on your own.
• Back down the wash, back to Kanab. Same route out, then the drive home — into Kanab by early evening.

A long day of moderate difficulty, mostly on your feet

The hike itself is a wash walk: not a scramble, not a slot canyon. It's long and open, mostly gentle underfoot, with the possibility for some soft-sand and muddy stretches that ask a little more of your legs. It's remote, sunny, and there's no shade to speak of, so your guides carry water and set a steady pace.

Most Dreamland trips are off-trail — it's the norm out here — so if you're up for a full day of walking in open desert, you'll fit right in. Not sure it's your kind of hike? Give us a call at 801.251.6036 to chat.

The quick facts