Many of our all-time favorite hikes consisted of meandering through slot canyons. There’s just something so incredible about exploring such a unique landscape formed by the harsh elements over thousands of years. Plus scrambling through the obstacles and narrow walls always adds an extra element of fun to the hike. Little Wild Horse Canyon is the most popular hike in Utah’s San Rafael Swell, and pairing this iconic canyon with Bell Canyon makes for a very fun and stunning loop. Here are the details of the hike!
Getting to the Little Wild Horse Canyon & Bell Canyon Trailhead
The Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon trailhead sits just down the road from Goblin Valley State Park. When heading towards Goblin Valley, turn right off Goblin Valley Road onto Wild Horse Road (1013). Follow that for just under 5 1/2 miles until you reach the first parking area on the right. This is where the trailhead is, but there are a couple small lots on both sides of the road just past this if the main lot is full.
Wild Horse Road is dirt, but it’s well maintained. Low-clearance vehicles generally have no problem driving down this road, but if the conditions become muddy, you may at least want 4WD.
At the trailhead, there is a vault toilet and some informational signs.
Fees & Regulations
Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons sit within Muddy Creek Wilderness Area managed by the BLM. There are no fees or passes required to park and hike here.
Pets are permitted. Pick up after your pets and pack out all of your trash. PLEASE don’t carve/write on the canyon walls.
Hiking the Little Wild Horse Canyon & Bell Canyon Loop
Hike Overview
Hike Type: Moderate loop – though you can hike just one of the canyons as an out-and-back if desired
Distance: About 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) for the whole loop
Duration: 3.5-5 hours – most hikers can complete the loop in around 3.5 hours, but you may want to take your time to climb around some of the boulders and formations, take photos, eat a snack/packed lunch, visit the cabin (more on that below), take in the scenery, etc.
The Hike
Our morning began nearby at our campsite where we woke up and headed out to the Little Wild Horse Canyon trailhead in the early morning. It was late June and we intended to get through a good bit of the hike before it became too hot.
We mentioned that this is the most popular hike in the San Rafael Swell, but we only saw five other people the whole hike. Maybe it was quiet because the summer heat deterred people and it was also a weekday.
The hike began in a sandy wash that was blooming with yellow flowers. The scenery is beautiful from the very start. It wasn’t too long before we reached the mouth of Little Wildhorse Canyon on the right. There is a sign at the junction pointing to both Little Wildhorse Canyon and Bell Canyon.
Little Wild Horse Canyon
Soon after entering Little Wild Horse Canyon, the walls began to narrow. We wound our way through the crevices of the desert and the canyon brightened as the sun climbed higher. The smooth walls became taller and gradually closed in to a width barely wider than our bodies. There were some narrow spots to squeeze through! This slot canyon is truly beautiful with its varied colors, shapes, and textures.
The trail continues through the canyon, switching between narrow slots and wider washes surrounded by towering cliffs. There are some fun sections that involve a little climbing as you encounter short dryfalls and boulders. Eventually, the canyon opens up. We followed the trail towards Behind the Reef Road. There was a sign pointing us in the right direction.
The Cabin & Hiking Between the Canyons
Soon after exiting Little Wild Horse Canyon, we encountered the road. It was quite hot at this point and there was little shade, except in the shadow of some of the large boulders along the way.
Though you’re walking down a road, the views over the surrounding desert are quite beautiful. We didn’t see a single car the whole way either. As we neared Bell Canyon, we saw a small cabin perched on the hill up above the wash.
Follow the road past the turn for Bell Canyon if you want to make the little detour up to the cabin. The walk only takes about an extra 10 minutes one way. The wooden frame is still standing with some old shoes, cans, and other miscellaneous items inside. Outside, there’s an old, rusting car and some other cabin remnants. We’re not sure how long it has been here or how long it has stood abandoned, but the harsh desert environment has definitely taken its toll. If you do choose to visit the cabin, please respect the property and leave everything as found.
After visiting the cabin, we headed back down the hill to Bell Canyon.
Bell Canyon
Bell Canyon has some really beautiful and dramatic cliffs. It’s not as narrow as much of Little Wild Horse Canyon, and the desert scenery is different, but equally impressive.
We really enjoyed meandering between the tall canyon walls on our way back towards the parking lot. Clouds rolled in and we were thankful for the reprieve from the hot sun. Though when the clouds over us became darker and a few rain drops fell, we hustled out of there.
This whole hike was amazing in every way and we’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the area!
Extra Notes on Hiking the Little Wild Horse Canyon & Bell Canyon Loop
Weather & Conditions
As with many desert canyons in Utah, this area is prone to flash flooding. We wouldn’t recommend attempting to hike here if there are storms forecasted in the area. After recent rain, there may be some pooling in the slot canyons that may require you to stem to pass them or wade through them. It can also get a bit muddy in spots.
This area can get incredibly hot in the summer. So if you plan to hike during this time, we’d recommend getting an early start to avoid the afternoon heat. This hike is definitely more popular in the spring and fall when temperatures are more mild.
Loop Direction
You can hike this loop either way, choosing whether you start in Bell Canyon or Little Wild Horse Canyon. But we’d recommend hiking the loop counterclockwise (starting with Little Horse Canyon) because the section of road that connects the two canyons has no shade and is a bit steep. Going counterclockwise allows you to hike down the road instead of up it in the beating sun.
An advantage to hiking the loop clockwise (starting with Bell Canyon), is that Little Wild Horse Canyon is narrower and therefore more shady, which can be beneficial in the second half of the hike during the hotter time of day. Even with that in mind, we’d still recommend going counterclockwise.
Maps
This trail has a few signs pointing the way at major junctions during the hike. Furthermore, its fairly easy to follow as you are mostly withing a canyon or following a road. However, we’d recommend downloading offline maps for the area just in case.
Difficulty
We’d consider this hike moderate because of the distance and the bit of scrambling you have to do in the slots. With the exception of the road connecting the canyons, much of the route through the canyons is fairly flat.
These slots are not technical, so you don’t need any extra gear. We’ve had friends bring their dogs through here (with a little help to boost them in sections), and have seen that people have hiked the slot with kids. You’ll have to pull yourself up some of the small dryfalls and boulders and maybe do some stemming if there’s water, but it’s nothing too crazy.
If You Had to Pick One Slot…
If you’re short on time or aren’t feeling like hiking the full distance, you can choose to just hike one of the slots as an out-and-back, going just as far as you want. Both canyons are beautiful, but we’d recommend Little Wild Horse Canyon if you had to pick just one. This one is more popular, but for a reason. It’s more of a dramatic slot with narrow spaces and more obstacles, making this a fun and rewarding hike.
If you are looking for a more leisurely hike that doesn’t involve any scrambling or tight spaces, then Bell Canyon may be a better option.
Both canyons are stunning though, and we feel you can’t go wrong.
What to Bring
Water: Bring plenty of water for your adventure because this place is pretty hot and dry
Food: Snacks or packed lunch to fuel yourself.
Comfortable Shoes: The trail consists of some sandy areas and slickrock, and you’ll be doing some scrambling, so wear shoes with good tread.
Mini First Aid Kit: An item we always like to bring just in case.
Sun Protection: Portions of the trail have no shade, so bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen.
Camera: These canyons are extremely great subjects to photograph!
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