I Was Not Brave Enough To Walk Through a Popular Southern Utah Slot Canyon

Here is a fun fact about me: I love going on adventures but I have never done anything too crazy. I’ve never gone rock climbing outside of a gym. I’ve never jumped out of a plane. I’ve never even been on a backcountry trip that lasted for days. I have a fear of heights and when in tight spaces, my anxiety soars.

In Southern Utah, there are dozens of incredible adventures around every turn. From tackling bucket-list-worthy hikes like Angels Landing in Zion to exploring unique destinations like Coyote Gulch near Escalante, there are some truly unforgettable places to explore. Southern Utah is also home to some of the best slot canyons in the country such as Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass Trail, Zebra Slot Canyon, and more. While some of these slot canyons in Utah require a lot of effort, technical skills, and equipment, others are ideal for beginners.

Well, I ventured to one of the best slot canyons in Utah and had to turn around. I just couldn't do it.

Let me back up to the very beginning … I spent the holidays back at home in Southern Utah. For weeks before our trip, I told myself and others that I wanted to hike and spend lots of time outdoors ( I currently live in Idaho and the Southern Utah sunshine was calling to me). One destination at the top of my itinerary was Pioneer Park in St. George, Utah. I had never been to this park before but I knew it wasn’t your typical city park. It is 52 acres situated above the city with dirt trails, red rocks, and incredible views. It is also home to several hidden gems including the Narrows, a popular slot canyon in the area.

When we first arrived, I was amazed by the popularity of the area. The parking lots were full and you could see dozens of people scrambling over massive rocks in the distance or walking along red dirt trails. One of the most popular areas of Pioneer Park is the top of Dixie Rock, also known as the Sugarloaf, which you can see all around the city. From the top, you can look out and not only enjoy views of St. George, but you can also see Zion National Park and Arizona in the distance.

There are numerous trails in this Utah park. Some hikes are short and sweet—others are a bit longer. We tackled a few different trails that day and certainly got our steps in. These trails take you to places like a large cave and a historical cabin location. I loved all of these adventures, but was most excited to visit the St. George Narrows.

The trail to reach this popular slot canyon is quite easy, has only a few slight inclines, and is short— approximately 0.5 miles. As you enter the canyon, it is quite wide, and I was feeling excited about what was ahead of me on the trail. However, as the canyon started narrowing, I became a little more nervous. I immediately recognized thoughts in my head talking me out of this adventure, and these thoughts became louder and louder.

Once I reached the narrowest part of the slot canyon, I felt like a puddle of sweat. While not long and not difficult, the slot canyon was very narrow. In fact, many grown men would be too large to fit through the opening. It was mainly petite women, teenagers, and children we saw making their way through this unique destination. My dad, who grew up not far from this destination, told me he had gone through this slot canyon dozens of times as a teenager. Now, he was too large (and he is not a hefty man) to safely make his way through the opening but encouraged us to try.

However, I just couldn’t do it.

It was our turn to make our way through the canyon. As the rocks became closer and closer to my body, it was like my anxiety became more and more intense. Did I really need to climb through the canyon? Did I really need to say I did it? Did I need to be as cool as the younger kids who were climbing ahead of me? Nope, I certainly did not. I turned around and walked right back out of the canyon, the same way I came in.

You may think I missed out and threw away an adventure. Maybe you’d be right. My anxiety got the better of me that day and truly freaked me out. I know I would have been proud of myself for pushing through that crack in the rocks but I don’t regret it. I am not sorry I can't mark it off my bucket list.

Sometimes, especially when exploring, you have to adjust your plans. Changes come that may or may not be in your control. As I laid in bed that night, I thought about all of the cool things we saw and all of the hiking and rock scrambling we accomplished. We captured incredible views, we scrambled over rocks of all sizes, and we even saw a few gems. It was a great day outdoors in the warm sunshine—I’ll take that as a win.

I'm curious ... have you ever had a similar experience? What do you consider the best slot canyon hikes in Utah? Have you ever explored one of the famous slot canyons in Utah? If so, which one? Let me know by filling out this nomination form. I'd love to hear from you.

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