Canyoneering Route Description
Zebra and Tunnel Slots - 2A(B) II(III)
Escalante National Monument, Utah.
05-10-20, 2 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 4.2 hours)
Time Required - 3 to 5 hours
Distance - 6.4 miles Total, 800 feet of scenic
canyon
Rappels - 0 Rappels
Elevation Range - 5350 - 5110 Feet
Shuttle Required - No Vehicle - Passenger
- High Clearance, 4WD if bad road conditions
Permit Required - No
No technical gear is needed but bring food and water as this hike
takes a little time.
The route described here follows a use trail about 2 miles
down Halfway Hollow to Harris Wash. Once in Harris Wash veer slight left (north)
and go over to the bottom of Zebra Slot and up climb it as far as you can then
turn back and come down Zebra again. After exiting the bottom of Zebra Slot,
follow east up a ravine / pass over into Tunnel Slot. Descend Tunnel Slot to
Harris Wash then turn west going back up Harris Wash back to Halfway Hollow
where you will follow the use trail back to the car.
Expect up to waist or chest deep water at times which
is why the water rating of A(B).
The overall route is 6.4 miles round trip. 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.
There is a fence you will cross while traveling the
ravine / pass from the bottom of Zebra to the top of Tunnel that you will
need to open part of the fence to cross it. Be sure to close the fence
behind you.
Note: The top of Zebra Canyon has a
few drops that are difficult to upclimb. On the way up after traversing a
deep pothole we got up some of these but got stopped by a 15 foot overhung
lip on the up canyon side of a swimmer pothole and steep side walls that
were a little too steep to be considered safe so we reversed back down
Zebra.
Note: A prepared technical
canyoneer could go up Tunnel Slot from the
bottom then route find to the top of Zebra Slot and use pack drag anchors
and a short rope to drop down into the top of Zebra then down Zebra and back
to the cars. If you choose to do this, bring a short rope of 15 to 20 feet
and be prepared to use your back packs as dragging anchors. There will also
be one pothole that can be difficult to traverse on the LDC side that may
need partner assist or a tossed backpack to get out of if you can not cross
it. The route down Zebra Canyon should only be considered by those with
technical canyoneering skills. Beginner canyoneers or casual hikers should
go up Zebra as far as they can then back down.
To get to the Trailhead
From the city of Escalante drive about 4 miles southeast on Hwy
12 to the turn off for Hole-In-The-Rock road on the right (extHoleInRock). The condition
of the dirt Hole in the Rock road
varies
a lot with recent rains and road maintenance. High clearance
may be needed in extreme cases but most of the time passenger
cars will be fine.
Travel about 8 miles to large parking area (PkZebraTunnel) on
the right (southwest) side of the road and park there.
To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod
No exit vehicle is needed. This is done as an out and back
loop.
GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom. For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the
Glossary page.
Click the links for maps of the route.
Map of the drive into the route.
Map of the entire route.
The Approach:
From the parking area (pkZebraTunnel)
walk east across the
Hole in the Rock Road
and follow a well used
use-trail east away from
the road. The use-trail
is well used and easy to
follow as it crosses
over multiple washes
along the way. Sometimes
the trail will drop into
a wash and follow it for
a little bit and other
times the trail crosses
a wash to continue on
the other side. The
trail is roughly
following down Halfway
Hollow until it meets
Harris Wash about 2
miles east from the Hole
in the Rock Road.
About 1.3 miles from the
road is a hanging
fence / cattle guard
(ZebraTunnel01) across
the wash. You can either
walk up and around it it
or push through it to
continue.
About 0.6 miles farther
is the bottom of Halfway
Hollow (jHalfwayBt)
where it drops into
Harris Wash.
The Zebra and
Tunnel Loop:
To go to
the bottom of Zebra
Canyon follow use trails
north down to then up
the Zebra Wash about 0.4
miles north.
When you get to the
bottom of Zebra (yZebraBt)
hike up as far as you
can and enjoy.
Expect up to waist deep
water in places. One of
the most scenic spots in
Zebra Slot is about 500
feet up from the bottom.
Just up canyon of the
scenic spot in Zebra is
a v shaped upclimb
(Zebra01) of about 10
feet followed by a deep
pothole. This pothole
marks the end of the
road for most. The most
scenic part of the
canyon is the short
section of undulated
walls down canyon of
this upclimb and
pothole.
Note:
The deep pothole is
difficult but can be
traversed on the east
side and requires some
scrambling skills to get
by. The pothole is deep
and was water filled to
an unknown depth when we
were there. Up canyon of
this pothole is a dry
fall of about 12 feet
that can be upclimbed by
skilled upclimbers using
a pack toss anchor.
Above the upclimb are two potholes
with a 15 foot overhung
lip on the up canyon end
and steep walls
preventing safe exit
from the canyon.
After returning back
down Zebra Canyon to its
bottom end (yZebraBt)
travel east up a ravine
/ pass a few hundred
feet away.
Near the top out of the
pass the route crosses
through a fence
(ZebraPass01) on the way
up and over from the
bottom of Zebra to the
top of Tunnel. If you
open part of the fence,
close it behind you.
About 1000 feet farther
east is a steep ravine
leading down
(ZebraPass02) into
Tunnel Slot. Scramble
east down the ravine
into Tunnel Slot.
About 0.28 miles farther
is a pour off joining in
from the left (north) is
actually the main
drainage of Tunnel Slot
even though it feels
like the deep ravine you
are in is. Follow the
ravine down Tunnel as
the drainage makes a
sweeping turn to head
south.
Note:
If you want to see
the upper portions of
Tunnel Slot you can
scramble up the pour off
into the upper portions
of Tunnel. The upper
portion is easy travel
in and around vegetation
and shallow v slot.
Continue south down a
short distance to the
top end of the tunnel (yTunnelTp)
portion of Tunnel Slot.
The 360 foot long tunnel
is very scenic and may
have up to waist deep
water.
At the bottom end of the
tunnel (yTunnelBt) the
walls widen to wide
sandy wash continuing
down canyon.
Continue south down wide
wash for about 1000 feet
to Harris Wash.
Once at the end of the
Tunnel Slot drainage at
Harris Wash (jTunnelBt)
turn right and walk west
up Harris Wash about 0.8
miles to Halfway Hollow.
The Exit:
Once at Halfway Hollow (jHalfwayBt)
turn left and follow the
use-trail about 2 miles
back to your cars at the
parking spot (pkZebraTunnel).
Downloadable GPX files
available at
BG-Gear Store
(easier than manual entry and a great way to support
Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.
Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE
manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format.
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.
Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
Zebra and Tunnel (1) - Drive in to Trailhead |
- extHoleInRock
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.72769
W -111.53143
Elev: NaN Feet
Turn off to Hole-In-The-Rock road from Hwy 12.
- extCedarWash
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.68937
W -111.49554
Elev: 0 Feet
Turn off to Cedar Wash Road to the west.
- pkZebraTunnel
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.63941
W -111.44560
Elev: 5,350 Feet
Parking area for Zebra and Tunnel slots on the west side of the road just after passing a cattle gaurd on the drive into Hole in the Rock Road.
To go to Zebra and Tunnel Slots, walk east across the Hole in the Rock Road and follow a well used use-trail east away from the road. The use-trail is well used and easy to follow as it crosses over multiple washes along the way. Sometimes the trail will drop into a wash and follow it for a little bit and other times the trail crosses a wash to continue on the other side. The trail is roughly following down Halfway Hollow until it meets Harris Wash about 2 miles east from the Hole in the Rock Road.
|
Zebra and Tunnel (2) - Approach |
- pkZebraTunnel
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.63941
W -111.44560
Elev: 5,350 Feet
Parking area for Zebra and Tunnel slots on the west side of the road just after passing a cattle gaurd on the drive into Hole in the Rock Road.
To go to Zebra and Tunnel Slots, walk east across the Hole in the Rock Road and follow a well used use-trail east away from the road. The use-trail is well used and easy to follow as it crosses over multiple washes along the way. Sometimes the trail will drop into a wash and follow it for a little bit and other times the trail crosses a wash to continue on the other side. The trail is roughly following down Halfway Hollow until it meets Harris Wash about 2 miles east from the Hole in the Rock Road.
- ZebraTunnel01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.64988
W -111.42848
Elev: 5,220 Feet
A hanging fence / cattle guard across the wash. You can either walk up and around it it or push through it to continue.
- jHalfwayBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65506
W -111.41985
Elev: 5,160 Feet
Bottom of Halfway Hollow where it drops into Harris Wash.
To go to the bottom of Zebra Canyon follow use trails north down to then up the Zebra Wash about 0.4 miles north.
To go to the bottom of Tunnel Canyon follow use trails east down Harris Wash about 0.75 miles.
|
Zebra and Tunnel (3) - Zebra and Tunnel Loop |
- jHalfwayBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65506
W -111.41985
Elev: 5,160 Feet
Bottom of Halfway Hollow where it drops into Harris Wash.
To go to the bottom of Zebra Canyon follow use trails north down to then up the Zebra Wash about 0.4 miles north.
To go to the bottom of Tunnel Canyon follow use trails east down Harris Wash about 0.75 miles.
- yZebraBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.66106
W -111.41726
Elev: 5,190 Feet
Bottom of Zebra Slot. Hike up as far as you can and enjoy. Expect up to waist deep water in places. One of the most scenic spots in Zebra Slot is about 500 feet up from the bottom.
To go to the top of Tunnel Slot travel east up a ravine / pass a few hundred feet away.
- Zebra01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.66242
W -111.41720
Elev: 5,215 Feet
A v shaped upclimb of about 10 feet followed by a deep pothole. This pothole marks the end of the road for most. The most scenic part of the canyon is the short section of undulated walls down canyon of this upclimb and pothole.
Note: The deep pothole is difficult but can be traversed on the east side and requires some scrambling skills to get by. The pothole is deep and was water filled to an unknown depth when we were there. Up canyon of this pothole is a dry fall of about 12 feet that can be upclimbed by skilled upclimbers using a pack toss anchor. Above the upclimb are two potholes with a 15 foot overhung lip on the up canyon end and steep walls preventing safe exit from the canyon.
- yZebraTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.66266
W -111.41676
Elev: 5,230 Feet
Top of Zebra Slot. A few potholes prevent travel up canyon to here.
- ZebraPass01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65951
W -111.41487
Elev: 5,230 Feet
Route crosses through a fence on the way up and over from the bottom of Zebra to the top of Tunnel. If you open part of the fence, close it behind you.
- ZebraPass02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65842
W -111.41107
Elev: 5,215 Feet
Steep ravine leading down into Tunnel Slot. Scramble east down the ravine into Tunnel Slot.
- Tunnel 01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65668
W -111.40638
Elev: NaN Feet
As you come down the ragvine into Tunnel Slot a pour off joining in from the left (north) is actually the main drainage of Tunnel Slot even though it feels like the deep ravine you are in is. Follow the ravine down Tunnel as the drainage makes a sweeping turn to head south.
Note: If you want to see the upper portions of Tunnel Slot you can scramble up the pour off into the upper portions of Tunnel. The upper portion is easy travel in and around vegetation and shallow v slot.
- yTunnelTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65647
W -111.40614
Elev: 5,165 Feet
Top end of the tunnel portion of Tunnel Slot. The 360 foot long tunnel is very scenic and may have up to waist deep water.
- yTunnelBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65552
W -111.40645
Elev: 5,160 Feet
Bottom end of the tunnel portion of Tunnel Slot. The walls widen to wide sandy wash continuing down canyon.
- jTunnelBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65232
W -111.40639
Elev: 5,110 Feet
Bottom of Tunnel Slot where it drops into Harris Wash. To go back to the cars walk west up Harris Wash about 0.8 miles to Halfway Hollow.
- jHalfwayBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65506
W -111.41985
Elev: 5,160 Feet
Bottom of Halfway Hollow where it drops into Harris Wash.
To go to the bottom of Zebra Canyon follow use trails north down to then up the Zebra Wash about 0.4 miles north.
To go to the bottom of Tunnel Canyon follow use trails east down Harris Wash about 0.75 miles.
|
Zebra and Tunnel (4) - Exit |
- jHalfwayBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.65506
W -111.41985
Elev: 5,160 Feet
Bottom of Halfway Hollow where it drops into Harris Wash.
To go to the bottom of Zebra Canyon follow use trails north down to then up the Zebra Wash about 0.4 miles north.
To go to the bottom of Tunnel Canyon follow use trails east down Harris Wash about 0.75 miles.
- ZebraTunnel01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.64988
W -111.42848
Elev: 5,220 Feet
A hanging fence / cattle guard across the wash. You can either walk up and around it it or push through it to continue.
- pkZebraTunnel
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.63941
W -111.44560
Elev: 5,350 Feet
Parking area for Zebra and Tunnel slots on the west side of the road just after passing a cattle gaurd on the drive into Hole in the Rock Road.
To go to Zebra and Tunnel Slots, walk east across the Hole in the Rock Road and follow a well used use-trail east away from the road. The use-trail is well used and easy to follow as it crosses over multiple washes along the way. Sometimes the trail will drop into a wash and follow it for a little bit and other times the trail crosses a wash to continue on the other side. The trail is roughly following down Halfway Hollow until it meets Harris Wash about 2 miles east from the Hole in the Rock Road.
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