Rock art canyon
Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons
Two slot canyons in the southern San Rafael Swell that join into an 8-mile loop, reached on the road past Goblin Valley State Park.
Plan your visit: access, parking and practical details
Check the operator’s current fees, reservations, parking, transit, restrooms and accessibility arrangements before leaving. Confirm specific mobility or sensory needs directly with the venue.
Official visitor information ↗
Little Wild Horse Canyon. File photo, August 31, 2016. Little Wild Horse section of the combined Little Wild Horse and Bell guide. Photo: Fabio Achilli · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The BLM calls Little Wild Horse and Bell one of the most popular slot canyon hikes in Utah. Both are in the Muddy Creek Wilderness in Emery County. Going up Little Wild Horse and back down Bell makes an 8-mile loop that the BLM says takes close to four hours.
The Utah Geological Survey explains that running water and wind stripped up to 8,000 feet of rock off the crest of the Swell after the Colorado Plateau began rising about 23 million years ago, leaving slot canyons, towers and cliffs. It describes the loop as non-technical, with slickrock, sand and narrow winding slots. The BLM says a few sections need scrambling, the canyon can hold water that means wading or blocks passage, and leashed dogs are allowed.
Safety
The BLM says these canyons have extreme potential for flash floods. Check the weather and avoid the area if rain is possible.