My morning journal entry begins with, "I'm trying to decide on a hiking location for today. I've grown tired of hiking in thick Juniper trees, and I'm missing the open slick rock country of Zion National Park. There are too many restrictions yet for Zion, so I'll probably head toward Cannonville or Kanab."
The weather is still cold enough so Kanab, UT it is. I've heard about a hike called Huntress near Kanab, but unlike other slot canyons, my research revealed conflicting information. Never a good sign for a slot canyon. The majority of information called it a walk through the canyon, but several of the pictures showed rappelling. I decided not to take any gear, and if I ran into problems, I'd turn around. I was hiking from the bottom up, so I wasn't worried about encountering anything that required rappelling.
Heading south on the highway - 89 towards Kanab, UT is a double turn off for Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Less than a mile past the double exit turn left at the first opportunity. There is a short connecting road, then an old asphalt road appears. The old way is a popular area for RV camping, so don't be surprised that several are parked there. Four-wheel drive is probably not required but is handy in the deep sand ahead. From the connection road, continue straight forward to a sandy road with a gate. The gate is generally closed, but keep it open or closed, depending on how you find it is always a good rule of thumb.
The road spiders into several roads and ATV trails, so it is good to have a GPS or a reliable map. Take the first left and stay left at the next junction. The road in this area is relatively well-traveled and is on a solid road base. Following the contour of the hill, the path approaches a broad ravine just ahead. Several ATV trails break off in this area, but you'll note one that drops down a very steep hillside into the wash. The path is an exceptionally rugged descent, so do not attempt it unless you are an expert ATV driver. It is only for ATV as the bottom provides no room for a jeep to turn around. The location marks the Trailhead for the Huntress canyon. Park in the Juniper Trees to the right of the main road and hike down the ATV track or a hiker path can be found a short distance along the ridge further northwest.
Near the bottom of the ATV track looking up to the trailhead.
Arriving at the bottom, turn upstream and begin the hike up the canyon. The wash is broad and full of loose sand. Beautiful sandstone structures exist along the route, and thankfully there is ample shade from the large Ponderosa pine trees that dot the area.
Some shade can be found along the route
One source of beta (information) that I did find recommended hiking the Huntress in the evening. At sunset, light is projected against the red rock bringing out the deeper hue in the stone. It's 10:30 for me, and the sun's harsh glare does fade the surrounding beauty, but not significantly.
Shade captures the deeper red in the surrounding rock.
A grouping of Toadstool rock formations exists to the hikers left. The unique compositions are "spire-like feature with a boulder perched atop a pedestal rock." The structures exist where a layer of hard rock sits atop a softer layer of rock. The hard rock protects a portion of soft rock beneath itself, sheltering a growing pedestal from erosion.
Toadstools
The wash eventually reaches a confluence of streams from the north and south. The path turns either left or right. Right leads to a short slot canyon with a chockstone. A dangle rope exists for individuals who wish to explore above this section. I decide against it and return to see what exists to the left of the junction.
Turning right at the junction leads to a chockstone
The path soon ends at a dry fall. Potholes exist above the dry fall, and a steep trail exists up a sandy incline to a saddle. I climb partway up and decide to check out a section that I had not noticed until now. Perhaps a workaround avoiding this steep section. I down climb and hike up the wash—a dead end. I retreat to some shade and eat a snack. Even from this angle, the section above the steep climb is small. Perhaps the slot canyon exists above this section, but I have decided this is as far as I'm going to go. It is getting hot, and hiking in the sand soon becomes annoying. It would be a beautiful stroll to someone unfamiliar with slot canyons and the beauty of erosion, but I've seen enough for me.
Turning left at the junction leads to a dry fall and steep workaround trail.