Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
BLM installed sign structures you can physically try to squeeze through before you commit, which tells you something about how this hike goes. Spooky pinches to about ten inches in places and Peek-a-Boo needs a twelve foot climb just to get in, with two more climbs partway through Spooky. Rescue is not quick out here, and BLM says a response can take four hours with a full extraction running eight or more. The last 1.7 miles of road wants high clearance.
The Trail
Squeeze-through double slot loop - Spooky narrows to 10 inches!
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Hard)
3 liters water or hydration pack, hiking boots, layers, headlamp, trail mix and jerky, trekking poles, first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Calf Creek Campground (Camping, 24 mi) · Lake Powell (Fishing, 27 mi) · Wide Hollow Reservoir (Fishing, 31 mi) · Singletree Campground (Camping, 43 mi)
More hikes nearby: Coyote Gulch (Hike, 7 mi) · Zebra Slot Canyon (Hike, 14 mi) · Lower Calf Creek Falls (Hike, 24 mi) · Angel's Palace (Hike, 42 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch hike?
- 6.1 miles round trip with 590 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch?
- Hard. Kid rating: 2 out of 5.
- When should I hike Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch?
- Best season: Spring & Fall.
- Why hike Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch?
- Because it is two different slots on one loop, and Spooky at roughly ten inches wide is about as narrow as a walkable canyon gets. Peek-a-Boo starts with a twelve foot climb, so it is a scramble, not a stroll. Skip it if you are claustrophobic or carrying a big pack, and drive the last 1.7 miles only with clearance.