Zion National Park is Utah’s first National Park and holds the title as the most visited National Park in all of Utah. It also ranks as the third most visited national park in the US.
With that being said, it is sometimes hard to escape the crowds and find solace in nature. However, Shelf Canyon is a true hidden gem, a beautiful Zion slot canyon away from the crowds!
Tips for visiting Shelf Canyon (a hidden Zion slot canyon)
Table of Contents
- Shelf Canyon Trail Information:
- How do you get to the Shelf Canyon Trail?
- What to expect while hiking the Shelf Canyon Trail
Shelf Canyon Trail Information:
- Distance: Approximately 0.5 miles to the mouth of the slot canyon, then you can explore as far as you are comfortable. Our total hike was 1.25 miles roundtrip.
- Difficulty: Rated moderate due to the rock scrambling and slippery rocks.
- Elevation Gain: 259 ft
- Time: 1-2 hours, depending on how long you stay and explore inside the slot canyon.
- Kid-friendly: I would not recommend this hike with young children. There are quite a few boulders and slippery rocks to climb. Depending on your child, I would recommend 8 years and older. My youngest was 10 and he loved it!
- Shuttle: This hike is located outside of the shuttle zone and can be accessed by a personal vehicle.
- Notes: It is crucial to wear shoes with good traction, as the sandstone is quite slippery to climb and navigate. The first part of the trail is exposed and you’ll exert a lot of energy while climbing so be sure to pack plenty of water. This area is prone to flash flooding, do not enter the canyon if it has been raining or there is rain in the forecast. As always, you are hiking at your own risk.
How do you get to the Shelf Canyon Trail?
The Shelf Canyon Trail is an unmarked Zion slot canyon trail. This means that it is not maintained by Zion National Park and you will not find it on any of the park maps.
The trailhead is located by the Canyon Overlook Trail (which is also a trail we would highly recommend!). You will see the parking area as soon as you exit the Mount Carmel Tunnel if you’re heading east, or just before you reach the tunnel if you’re heading west.
If you are coming from the east entrance driving west, park at the first parking lot you come to for the Canyon Overlook Trail by the bathrooms on the right.
The second parking lot is on the left just before the entrance to the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, so if you come to the tunnel then you’ve gone too far.
Just before you reach the parking lot with the restrooms, you’ll see a sign posted “Canyon Overlook Parking”. At the foot of the sign, you’ll see a worn path leading down into the wash. This is the start of the Shelf Canyon Trail.
You won’t be able to see the slot canyon from the road so it’s easy to question if you are in the right spot, but this is the view as you look to the canyon on the right.
You will follow the wash through the bottom until you reach the slot canyon.
What to expect while hiking the Shelf Canyon Trail
The path leading down into the wash has loose gravel and sand so use caution.
Once you reach the bottom, the trail is not as obvious. You’ll be met with large boulders and obstacles, but just carefully make your way towards the mouth of the canyon.
You may wonder if you’re heading in the right direction, but there is only one way to reach the canyon. As long as you stay in the wash and don’t explore up the mountainside you will be fine.
The rocks can be quite slippery with loose sand, so it is very important to wear shoes with good traction and grip. I took it slow but still managed to slip a few times!
Although the trail to the slot canyon is short, you will be taking it slow and exerting a lot of energy climbing over the rocks. It will seem longer than a half mile!
This portion of the trail is also exposed with little shade and gets quite hot in the summer, so pack more water than you think you’ll need.
We hiked this trail in June when the conditions were dry, but in the winter and rainy season it is common to come across pools of water along the trail where you may need to get your feet wet in order to continue on the trail.
Please note, as with all slot canyons, this area is prone to flash flooding so do not enter the canyon if it has been raining or there are storms in the forecast.
We passed by a family of Bighorn Sheep lazing in the shade of the trees on the side of the trail. They are common in this area, just be sure to give them space and never approach them.
After approximately 0.5 miles, you will reach the beginning of this elusive Zion slot canyon tucked deep into the cracks of the weathered Cenozoic-aged sedimentary cliffs.
Shelf Canyon is not a very deep slot canyon, but it is unique in the way that the surreally steep canyon walls have beveled grooves and slated rocks.
These appear to be like shelves that allow you to climb up and explore ever deeper into the narrow canyon.
The dark shade of the canyon is a relief from the heat of the day and the slanted light filtering from above adds to the striking beauty.
It reminded me of the light shafts in Antelope Canyon.
The best part is that we could enjoy the grandeur of this discreet location all to ourselves. We enjoyed a nice picnic lunch in the cool earthy shade while the boys explored.
They spent about an hour in the slot canyon climbing rocks, exploring hidden alcoves, and channeling their inner Indiana Jones.
*Related post: for another one of Utah’s best-kept secrets, check out our guide to visiting Utah’s Pink Lake!
Towards the end, you can scramble up some shelves where the canyon opens up more.
Only go as far as you feel comfortable, and only climb up if you are confident that you’ll be able to climb back down!
From this point, the canyon gets increasingly more narrow and tight until you can’t go any further without technical gear.
At this point, we turned around and headed back the way we came in. I tracked our total hike at 1.25 miles round trip.
As always, please practice Leave No Trace and pack out anything you pack in. We also didn’t geotag this location on our social media posts. While we believe the outdoors are for everyone to explore, we want to keep nature beautiful!
*For more awesome Utah slot canyons check out our guide to Kanarra Falls, Huntress Canyon, Jenny’s Canyon, and Peekaboo Canyon.
Shelf Canyon Trail really was one of our favorite hikes that we did in Zion! Another hidden trail that we love is the Lower Pine Creek Falls Trail.
And be sure to check our guide, How to Have a Non-touristy Weekend in Zion for all our favorite places to escape the crowds in Zion!
While there are so many incredible hikes in Zion National Park, Shelf Canyon is truly a hidden gem!
*If you’re looking for a place to stay near Zion, I would recommend Whispering Pines Glamping. And for more things to do in the area, see our family-friendly guides for Kanab and St George!
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