2. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest California, Arizona, and Utah

3. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest Few places on Earth have such beauty as the delicately sculpted and colored slot canyons of the American Southwest. Few places on Earth have such beauty as the delicately sculpted and colored slot canyons of the American Southwest. There are thousands of scenic canyons in this region but most are relatively wide and often descend in steps through rock layers of differing hardness. There are thousands of scenic canyons in this region but most are relatively wide and often descend in steps through rock layers of differing hardness. In contrast, slot canyons have vertical walls and may be hundreds of feet deep but only a few feet wide. In contrast, slot canyons have vertical walls and may be hundreds of feet deep but only a few feet wide.

4. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

5. The general rock most slot canyons are made of is sandstone, in various shades of red and orange. The general rock most slot canyons are made of is sandstone, in various shades of red and orange. It is the sunlight, shining down and reflecting along the canyon walls that gives the canyons their special beauty; the shadows and colors change constantly as the sun moves overhead. It is the sunlight, shining down and reflecting along the canyon walls that gives the canyons their special beauty; the shadows and colors change constantly as the sun moves overhead.

6. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest Most slot canyons are remote, hidden and difficult to reach and explore. Most slot canyons are remote, hidden and difficult to reach and explore. The canyons tend to be dry for most of the year but receive occasional flash floods of great force, most frequently during the late summer months. The canyons tend to be dry for most of the year but receive occasional flash floods of great force, most frequently during the late summer months. It is these sudden torrents of water, carrying logs, stones and other debris that have been cutting through the relatively soft rock for millions of years, resulting in a great variety of colorful rock shapes and forms. It is these sudden torrents of water, carrying logs, stones and other debris that have been cutting through the relatively soft rock for millions of years, resulting in a great variety of colorful rock shapes and forms.

7. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

8. In general, true slot canyons are found only on the many rivers and their tributaries that ultimately flow into Lake Powell, in Utah. In general, true slot canyons are found only on the many rivers and their tributaries that ultimately flow into Lake Powell, in Utah.Lake PowellLake Powell There are three main drainage systems; various creeks that cross Navajo land south of the lake in Arizona, branches of the Paria River to the west, and branches of the Escalante and other rivers to the north. There are three main drainage systems; various creeks that cross Navajo land south of the lake in Arizona, branches of the Paria River to the west, and branches of the Escalante and other rivers to the north. Navajo landParia RiverEscalante Navajo landParia RiverEscalante Most of these canyons occur in the same type of rocks; red Navajo sandstone, which seems to be particularly suited to the formation of slot canyons. Most of these canyons occur in the same type of rocks; red Navajo sandstone, which seems to be particularly suited to the formation of slot canyons.

9. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest A slightly different type of narrow canyon is found in the Kolob Plateau in and around Zion National Park, formed by tributaries of the Virgin River; these are a little wider and less winding but much deeper and often have water flowing through all or most of the year. A slightly different type of narrow canyon is found in the Kolob Plateau in and around Zion National Park, formed by tributaries of the Virgin River; these are a little wider and less winding but much deeper and often have water flowing through all or most of the year.Zion National ParkZion National Park The plateau is also made predominantly of Navajo sandstone, which here ranges in color from red to white. The canyons often have wonderful pools, waterfalls and narrow channels, which make them even more fascinating to explore. The plateau is also made predominantly of Navajo sandstone, which here ranges in color from red to white. The canyons often have wonderful pools, waterfalls and narrow channels, which make them even more fascinating to explore.

10. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

13. Slot Canyons can be dangerous: there was a flash flood in August of 1997 in Antelope Canyon that killed 11 people. Slot Canyons can be dangerous: there was a flash flood in August of 1997 in Antelope Canyon that killed 11 people. Similar incidents include the death of 5 people in the Zion Canyon Narrows and 2 in Kolob Canyon, also in Zion National Park. Similar incidents include the death of 5 people in the Zion Canyon Narrows and 2 in Kolob Canyon, also in Zion National Park. While such fatal accidents are rare there are several dangers that will be encountered during the exploration of narrow canyons. While such fatal accidents are rare there are several dangers that will be encountered during the exploration of narrow canyons.

14. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest It is most important to know the weather forecast - rain falling even many miles away can collect together, become channeled down one course and turn a dry canyon into a fast- flowing torrent of water and debris in seconds. It is most important to know the weather forecast - rain falling even many miles away can collect together, become channeled down one course and turn a dry canyon into a fast- flowing torrent of water and debris in seconds. It is a sobering sight in slot canyons to see huge logs wedged between the canyon walls sometimes many meters above the floor, a testament to the power of the water. It is a sobering sight in slot canyons to see huge logs wedged between the canyon walls sometimes many meters above the floor, a testament to the power of the water. Often these canyons have sudden, sheer drops of several meters and so there is potential for accidents by falling, or by jumping down, becoming trapped and unable to climb back out. Often these canyons have sudden, sheer drops of several meters and so there is potential for accidents by falling, or by jumping down, becoming trapped and unable to climb back out.

15. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

16. Slot canyons can be remote places which may be unvisited for days or even weeks. People who get hurt while in slot canyons may go for day without help! Slot canyons can be remote places which may be unvisited for days or even weeks. People who get hurt while in slot canyons may go for day without help! More unusual dangers include rattlesnakes, deep stagnant pools and quicksand, but at least getting lost once in the canyon is unlikely... More unusual dangers include rattlesnakes, deep stagnant pools and quicksand, but at least getting lost once in the canyon is unlikely...

17. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

20. Exploring a slot canyon can involve a short, level, half hour walk starting from a roadside parking area or a backpacking trip of several days requiring route-finding, rappelling, rock climbing and swimming skills, so anyone intending to explore such places should assess their abilities and select canyons accordingly. Exploring a slot canyon can involve a short, level, half hour walk starting from a roadside parking area or a backpacking trip of several days requiring route-finding, rappelling, rock climbing and swimming skills, so anyone intending to explore such places should assess their abilities and select canyons accordingly.

21. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

22. Technical slot canyons, requiring rappelling, you will need specialized techniques to get into them. Technical slot canyons, requiring rappelling, you will need specialized techniques to get into them. These are much more difficult to get into! They are even harder to get out of! These are much more difficult to get into! They are even harder to get out of!

23. Slot Canyons of the American Southwest

27. The End!