A Long, Convoluted Path to a Short but Spectacular Slot Canyon

Tuesday, August 13th
Day Off #1

After reading our post about Peekaboo/Red Canyon, a frend in North Carolina asked if it was also known as either Red Hollow or Red Cave.  We hadn't heard of either so we researched them and learned they are beautiful slots east of Orderville.  During lunch at Soup Town after hiking Red Hollow, our waitress recommended Spring Hollow as another short but worthwhile slot canyon.  When we told her we'd been unable to find directions because the landowner didn't want hikers to cross his property, she replied,  "Oh, I'm sure M**** will give you permission if you ask her."

M**** hadn't gotten to work when we stopped to see her this morning so we hiked Red Hollow again; it was as stunning and as much fun as the first time!  We found M**** on the second attempt and she graciously allowed us to cross her property to access Spring Hollow.

After a short bushwhack, we dropped into a wash and followed it upstream for less than half a mile.  Then the dull gray and tan canyon walls began to 'slot up' a bit and to display abundant 'modern rock art,' i.e., graffiti.  Rounding the final bend evoked an involuntary 'Wow!!' from both of us.  We walked into a large, roughly circular chamber whose walls stretch 150' or more toward the sky.  Opposite the entry is a cylindrical chute carved by a what must be an impressive waterfall spilling into a small, deep pool.  Unfortunately for us, the pool was as dry as the waterfall's channel but it wasn't hard to imagine how lovely this spot would be after a good rain.

The two hikes made us hungry and we wanted to thank our waitress-friend Shelley for her help in getting us to Spring Hollow so lunch at Soup Town became the next item on the day's agenda.  She asked if we'd ever hiked the Orderville Gulch.  Her description sounded like The Narrows Top-Down route, which we haven't done.  She promised to let us know the next time her friend organizes a group for that adventure..

 

 

On the way home we stopped to take pictures of old cars in a wash, a strong indication that you've definitely reached southwestern Utah, and to look for pentacrinoids (tiny star-shaped fossils) in Mt. Carmel Junction.  Our directions were very sketchy and the search was unsuccessful but we plan to get more information and try again.