The Red Hollow Slot Canyon is a short and easy hike in Orderville, Utah, not too far from the popular Zion and Bryce national parks.
It’s a very photogenic slot canyon hike, with nice red rock colors and steep canyon walls. As a bonus, Red Hollow Canyon is easy to reach and great for kids.
This guide will explain how to get to the Red Hollow Slot Canyon trail head, and everything else you need to know before you go!
Quick Facts
- Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) round trip
- Elevation Gain: 100 feet (30 m)
- Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours round trip
- Difficulty: Easy
Red Hollow Slot Canyon: What To Expect
The first part of this hike involves walking in the sandy wash, which is down the hill on your right as you come into the car parking. You’ll walk past a horse pen on the way down to the wash.
The wash is exposed with very little shade, so it’s actually the most strenuous part of the hike. Even so, it’s still pretty easy.
Stay in the wash and follow it toward the orange and white mountains until you reach the slot canyon entrance.
Follow this wash in the direction of the mountains
The hike has nice views on all sides
After you’ve hiked about 0.5 miles from the start of the trail, you’ll reach the entrance to the Red Hollow Slot Canyon.
The temperature cools off dramatically as you go inside, and the scenery changes to amazing passageways with steep red rock walls!
Your first obstacles in the slot are some occasional boulders to climb and such, but they’re pretty minor, and won’t be any issue for families to pass.
The next obstacle is a very tight slot that’s great for chimneying or stemming, where you place your back against one wall and then push your feet on the other wall to cross the gap. This type of maneuver was new to us, but we had a lot of fun learning how to do it.
Right after passing the chimney slot, you’ll run into a dead end with a rope dangling from a boulder. People with kids will have to turn around here, because the rope is very high (I had to jump just to grab it), and it’s a sketchy climb even for adults.
The slot continues after this obstacle, but there’s not a whole lot more to see, so it’s not worth an injury if you don’t feel comfortable or you’re alone.
Some people may be disappointed by how short Red Hollow Canyon is, but we really enjoyed it!
Chimney obstacle
Rope obstacle
Red Hollow Trailhead Location
The Red Hollow Slot Canyon trailhead is located right outside of Orderville, Utah, which is near the Zion and Bryce areas in southern Utah.
The trail starts in a residential area that’s actively being developed, so it can be a little confusing at first. You’ll know you’re at the trail parking when you see a water tank with a fence around it.
When you get to Orderville, turn onto 100 E street and drive past the elementary school, then when you see the cemetery turn onto Red Holw Dr and go straight down the dirt road until you reach the water tower.
Here are the GPS coordinates: 37.27088951513588, -112.62725758820253
You can also use the Google map below to navigate you directly to the parking area. Some people have reported issues with reaching the trailhead by GPS, but it worked for us.
The trailhead is a 1 hour drive from either Zion or Bryce (and even less if you’re starting from east Zion).
Trailhead Conditions
The road to the trailhead is in good condition, and any vehicle can reach it.
The last 500 yards is on a flat gravel road, but you don’t need high clearance or 4WD to pass.
As always, please remember to keep the trail clean, be considerate of other hikers, and leave no trace. Thanks and happy travels!
When you see this fence, you’ve arrived at the trailhead.
Slot Canyon Safety Tips
Flash Floods. Always be aware of the weather forecast. Do not enter any slot canyon if rain is in the forecast, even if it's outside of your immediate area. Flash flooding can be very dangerous in a slot canyon.
Sunscreen. Even on a slot canyon hike, there are still plenty of parts on the trail where you'll be exposed to direct sun, so you might want sunscreen. A hat helps too.
Water. Try to pack at least 3-4 liters per person. In Utah, you should always bring more water than you think you need.
Map. It's a good idea to download an offline map of your hiking area on an app like Google Maps, that way you can keep using it to navigate or find your position even when you're out of reception. Getting lost in the desert can be dangerous.
Best Utah Tours
More Utah Slot Canyon Guides
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this guide for the Red Hollow slot canyon hike in Orderville, Utah.
Don’t forget to check out my complete Utah Slot Canyon Guide to see more of the best slot canyons in Utah!
See Also
- Zion Hikes & Trails - Best Hikes In Zion National Park
- Utah Hiking Trails - Best Hikes In Utah
- Angels Landing Zion Hiking Guide
- Slot Canyon Guide - Best Slot Canyons In Utah
- Antelope Canyon Arizona Tours: Which Is Best? (Upper, Lower, X)