How Are Slot Canyons Formed?

Posted September 19, 2019 by in Antelope Slot Canyon, Facts about Antelope Canyon, Tour Info

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If you love outdoor adventures, a slot canyon visit may be something you are considering for your next trip. Do you like to know all the details about a location before you visit? If so, you probably have some questions about slot canyons. Keep reading to find the answers you want.

Slot Canyon Formation

Slot canyons are narrow types of canyons that are deep rather than very wide. An extreme example of a deep but narrow slot canyon would be one that is 3 feet or less at the top with a 100 foot or deeper drop. These canyons are formed over millions of years when water rushes through any kind of rock, but especially sandstone or limestone. It takes a very special combination of water and rock for a slot canyon to form, making them somewhat rare overall.

United States Slot Canyons

The United States is home to the area with the densest amount of slot canyons in the world — Southern Utah. The desert area of Utah south of Interstate 70 contains over 1,000 slot canyons. Northern Arizona also has a larger number of slot canyons, particularly those that lie on land belonging to the Navajo Nation near Page, Arizona. New Mexico and California are also both home to notable slot canyons.

There are so many slot canyons in the United States that it can be hard to choose which one is the best to journey to. Here are some of the most popular in the country:

  • Buckskin Gulch: As one of the largest slot canyons in the entire world and the longest one in the United States, Buckskin Gulch stretches from southern Utah to the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness in northern Arizona.
  • The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument slot canyon trail: This trail of canyons was carved into volcanic ash, also known as tuff. It is located in New Mexico.
  • Secret Canyon: This is one of the famous Arizona slot canyons. It lies on Navajo land.
  • Robber’s Roost Canyon: This Utah canyon is known as a place that outlaws wide hide out in for around 30 years. It is made up of three separate sections: slot canyons, larger canyons, and an upper plateau.
  • Antelope Canyon: Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed canyon in the southwestern United States. It lies on land belonging to the Navajo Nation in Page, Arizona, and is made up of two distinct canyons: Upper and Lower Antelope.

All of these locations are world-famous for their rich history and unique views, with Antelope Canyon being one of the most coveted sites for travelers everywhere. Carved in the Navajo sandstone, its summer light beams and beautiful changing lights in the winter make for a delightful experience for world explorers, families, and photographers alike.

Antelope Slot Canyon Tours

Is Antelope Canyon the slot canyon for you? Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours makes it easy for anyone to visit with simple, affordable tour packages to choose from. Take a look at our packages online today.