Tunnel Slot Canyon
Tunnel Slot Hike
Sloth Tunnel

To Zebra Canyon

Zebra Slot is a little over 500 feet long and very pretty. The cool tunnel portion of Tunnel Slot is only about 360 feet long. Both of these pretty sections are short but well worth seeing. This route is best done in comfortable hiking weather and the expectation of an easy desert hike and a couple short but very scenic spots to see.

Tunnel Slot is aptly named. It is a slot canyon like Zebra, but the walls enclose so narrowly overhead that barely any light squeezes through. Wider near the bottom, the canyon resembles more of a tunnel. Whatever water is in Zebra, expect it to be deeper and colder in Tunnel.
Finding Tunnel Slot To approach Tunnel Slot from the bottom, you’ll stay at the same general elevation as the floor of the canyons. With your back to mouth of Zebra slot, go straight toward the wide open area where the canyons converge, but bear left and head up the next main canyon on your left.

Distance from Trailhead: 5.3 miles (round trip)

Ending/Highest Elevation: 5,125-ft.

Elevation Gain: -225-ft.

Note: This is an unmarked route. Make note of landmarks as you hike to facilitate finding your way back to the trailhead.

The route to Zebra Canyon starts 8.0 miles down the Hole in the Rock Road. (See driving directions below). From the parking area near the cattle guard, cross to the east side of the road and follow a boot beaten path east through scrub growth and junipers with distant views of Red Breaks. At 0.6 miles the route intersects the wash of Halfway Hollow. Initially the route does not travel in the sandy wash but instead periodically cuts across the wash and then traverses the adjacent benches to cut off meanders and walk along packed sand paths.

Tunnel Slot Canyon

After walking a little over a mile Halfway Hollow starts looking less like a draw and more like a real canyon with sculpted sandstone walls. Watch for the boot beaten path that exits the wash at 1.5 miles. The trail now follows an ascending traverse along the north bench. The route reaches the high point on the bench at 1.9 miles. Here views extend east/northeast to the sandstone walls and formations along Harris Wash.

Tunnel Slot Hike

Descend the bench and reach Harris Wash at 2.0 miles. (Turn around and make note of the visible landmarks so you do not miss this turn on the return leg of the hike.) Turn left (northeast) and hike up the wide wash. The going is slow as you slog through the deep sandy wash.

Walk at tenth of a mile to a fork. Here Harris Wash curves left (northwest). We stay right and head into a side drainage. In a short distance a boot beaten path exists the wash and travels along the right (east) bench where the walking is considerably easier.

Travel along the side drainage for 0.4 miles. Soon you will see a narrow opening at the end of the drainage. This is Zebra Canyon. The canyon is short and quickly narrows. It is best to leave your backpack at the entrance to the slot. In places you will need to scramble over obstacles to work your way further up the canyon. The slot ends in about 0.25 miles at an impassable pour-off.

Nature’s artistry is finely displayed in this stunning slot. The further you go up the canyon the better it gets. The walls are decorated with intricate patterns of pink and white stripes. Wind and water have sculpted the walls into undulating surfaces. Cross cuts in the rock face twist and bend the patterns.

Sloth Tunnel

After exploring the slot retrace your steps to Harris Wash. If time and energy permits I suggest taking a side trip to Tunnel Slot.