Why We Skipped the Crowded Antelope Canyon Tour and Hiked Buckskin Gulch Instead 🤯🏜️
If you’re debating between paying for a crowded guided tour at Antelope Canyon or exploring a slot canyon on your own, let me introduce you to one of Southern Utah’s most underrated adventures: Buckskin Gulch 🙌
This hike completely blew us away — towering canyon walls, dramatic narrow passages, cooler temperatures inside the canyon, and way fewer crowds. Honestly? It felt like the adventurous version of Antelope Canyon 😮💨
And the best part? It’s incredibly affordable and surprisingly accessible 🚐✨
Buckskin Gulch Trail Stats 🥾
Distance: About 3.4 miles flat round trip via Wire Pass trail to get to the entrance of Buckskin Gulch which is a 13-16 miles long slot canyon (the longest in the WORLD)
💡Go as far as you want into the canyon and turn around where it’s comfy for you.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Permit Required: Yes
Day Use Permit Cost: $6 per person
Best For: Families 👨👩👧, photographers 📸, RV travelers 🚐, road trips, and anyone wanting an epic slot canyon experience without the heavy crowds
🌟 FUN FACT: The Wire Pass Trail is the same hike to get to the famous WAVE hike (a notoriously hard -to-get permit)
How to Get a Permit 🎟️
You do need a permit to hike Buckskin Gulch, but unlike many popular hikes in the Southwest, these are EASY to get 🙌
We simply went online ahead of time and prepaid our $6 per person day-use permit 👉 GO HERE
❌ No lottery
❌ No months of planning
❌ No fighting for reservations
Just grab your permit before heading out because service gets spotty once you’re near the trailhead 📵
Getting to the Trailhead 🚗
The most popular access point is through the Wire Pass Trailhead near Kanab.
The road to the trailhead is a long 8 mile flat gravel road, but when dry, you do NOT need a high-clearance vehicle to get there 👍 We saw plenty of standard SUVs, cars, and vans making the drive just fine.
That said, if there’s recent rain, conditions can change quickly, so always check weather and road reports beforehand ⛈️
What the Hike is Actually Like 🌞➡️❄️
The first part of the hike is easy but honestly pretty exposed. You’ll walk about 1.5-ish miles through a flat open sandy wash before reaching the Buckskin Gulch Petroglyphs (see map above for marker) which are easy to miss - and reach a ‘T’ where you’ll choose to go left or right into the narrow canyon sections of Buckskin Gulch. We chose to go to the right (we didn’t explore to the left - but I’m sure it’s cool too).
If you’re hiking during warmer months, this first part to reach Buckskin Gulch on the Wire Pass Trail can feel HOT 🔥 There’s very little shade, so definitely bring:
Plenty of water 💧
Snacks 🍎
Sun protection 🧴
Good hiking shoes 👟
This area is also pretty remote, so come prepared and don’t expect easy access to supplies once you leave town 🗺️
BUT — the second you enter the slot canyon, everything changes 😍
The temperature drops dramatically. The towering canyon walls block the sun, creating this cool, surreal environment that feels completely different from the exposed desert outside. It honestly made this one of our favorite hikes for hotter Southern Utah days 🌵☀️
Why We Loved Buckskin Gulch More Than Antelope Canyon 🤐
Don’t get us wrong — Antelope Canyon is beautiful. But Buckskin Gulch gave us the freedom (without the crowds) to actually experience the canyon at our own pace 🧡
🚫 No giant tour groups
🚫 No rushing through photo spots
🚫 No crowded lines
Just quiet canyon walls, insane rock formations, and one of the most unforgettable hikes we’ve done in the Southwest 🏜️✨
If you’re planning a trip near Zion National Park, Kanab, Page, or Southern Utah in general, this hike absolutely deserves a spot on your itinerary 🙌
This is the kind of hike that sticks with you long after you leave.
✨Need Help Planning Your Trip to Zion?
(COMING SOON - end of May 2026) I put together a complete digital e-guide to help you plan the perfect Zion + Southern Utah adventure—without the overwhelm.
Inside, you’ll get:
📍 hidden gems (like the ones in this post)
🏜️ the best things to do inside and outside the park
🚐 RV-friendly routes, stops + campground tips
📆 done-for-you itineraries to avoid crowds
🥾 hike breakdowns so you know what’s actually worth it
👉 Subscribe at the bottom of this page to be the first to get notified when it’s ready to grab the guide + plan your trip the right way
