After wading, scrambling, shimmying, and squeezing our way through the Zebra Slot Canyons in Utah this past weekend, we started to think about what other amazing and beautiful canyons in the US are worth exploring.
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Last Updated: Apil 13, 2020
11 Breathtaking Canyons in the US to Explore
We’ve visited all but the ones in Hawaii and Buckskin Gulch (this is a hike that’s been on our bucket list for a while), and we can’t wait to go out and explore them. In the meantime, these are the ones we highly recommend you visit.
Indian Rte 222, Page, AZ 86040, map
This is probably the most popular slot canyon for photographers and tourists alike. Antelope is made up of Upper and Lower Antelope, and it can only be visited with a permit and guide. We’ve been to the lower canyons multiple times, which is the less crowded of the two.
If you’re making the trip from Las Vegas, we highly recommend Max Tours.
photo:
2. Nine Mile Canyon, Utah
9 Mile Canyon Rd, Helper, UT 84526, map
Named after the creek that runs through it, Nine Mile Canyon is 40 miles long and home to thousands of petroglyphs and pictographs.
Bryce, UT 84764, map
This is not your typical canyon because it’s filled with hoodoos or pillars of rock. It has the highest concentration of hoodoos, which makes for some of the most photogenic landscapes.
1 Zion Park Blvd, St Route 9, Springdale, UT 84767, map
Zion National Park offers spectacular views, amazing hikes, and can be reached via its two major roads. It’s a great place to visit for anyone as it offers a wide range of ways to experience the canyon, including scenic views from the road and hiking through them.
4304 Bullfrog, Lake Powell, UT 84533, map
It’s most well known for Horseshoe Bend but offers a lot to explore in its 1.2 million-acre national park. If you’re up for a challenging hike, we highly recommend Reflection Canyon. It’s by far one of our favorite spots in the park and quiet.
Chinle, AZ 86503, map
Owned by the Navajo Nation, you can view Canyon De Chelly from the rim or visit the canyon floor when accompanied by a park ranger or Navajo guide. Spider Rock, which is a 750-foot sandstone spire, is it’s most recognized feature.
7. Buckskin Gulch, Paria Canyon, Utah
Utah 84741, map
Making its home in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, Buckskin Gulch is the deepest slot canyon in the Southwest United States. It’s highly regulated, requiring permits for day hikes and only allowing 20 overnight permits every day! Our friend recently did this epic hike, and we can’t wait to get our hands on permits too.
Big Bend National Park, TX, 79834, map
This is one of the most popular spots to visit in Bend National Park. You can hike, paddle the river, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery. When we were there, there were multiple photoshoots happening, including a wedding shoot.
11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX 79015, map
Known as the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States. It is 120 miles long with depths up to 997 feet.
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, map
You can’t make this list without including the granddaddy of all canyons. The Grand Canyon is one of the largest and longest canyons in the world and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
It can be explored in so many ways. You can drive up to viewpoints, do a helicopter tour, white-water raft down the Colorado River, or even walk out onto a glass bridge. The rim-to-rim hike has also made our list of 25 Best Hikes in the World.
11. Waimea Canyon, Hawaii, USA
Waimea Canyon Dr, Waimea, HI 96796, map
Holding the title for the largest canyon in the Pacific, Waimea Canyon makes its home on the island of Kauai. It’s 10 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 3,600 feet deep.
745 East, US-89, Kanab, UT 84741, map
Also making its home in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area and more specifically the Coyote Buttes North Area, “The Wave” offers a surreal look into what Mother Nature can do. It’s nearly impossible to get a permit since only 20 people are allowed in a day.
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More Canyons in the US
- Alabama – Dismals, Little River
- Arizona – Marble, Sabino, Salt River, Walnut
- California – Golden and Mosaic and Natural Bridge and Titus in Death Valley, Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite, Kings Canyon,
- Colorado – Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Gates of Lodore, Glenwood, Monument in Colorado National Monument, Royal Gorge, Ruby (also UT)
- Georgia – Tallulah Gorge
- Idaho – Hell’s Canyon (also OR, WA)
- Kentucky – Red River Gorge
- Maine – Ripogenus Gorge
- Montana – Bad Rock, Bighorn (also in WY)
- Nevada – Echo, Red Rock
- New Hampshire – Flume Gorge
- New Mexico – Chaco, Rio Grande Gorge
- NY – Ausable Chasm, Genesee River Gorge, Niagara Gorge
- North Carolina – Linville Gorge
- Oregon – Columbia River Gorge (also WA)
- Pennsylvania – Lehigh River Gorge, Pine Creek Gorge
- Tennessee – Big South Fork of the Cumberland River Gorge (also in KY)
- Texas – Boquillas and Mariscal in Big Bend NP, McKittrick in Guadalupe Mountains NP
- Utah – Bluejohn, Canyonlands National Park, Cateract, Desolation, Flaming Gorge (also WY), Grand Staircase Escalante, Fremont River, Horseshoe, Logan, Provo, San Rafael River Gorge, Virgin River Gorge (also AZ), Westwater
- Vermont – Quechee Gorge
- Virginia – Breaks (also KY), James River Gorge
- Washington – Moses Coulee, Grand Coulee
- West Virginia – New River Gorge
- Wyoming – Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Wind River
- Puerto Rico – Saint Christopher’s
What's the Difference between a canyon vs gorge
They can be used interchangeably. Canyon is a more widely used term in the US and gorge is more widely used in Europe. I always thought a gorge needed to have a river flowing through it, but it turns out they can go either way.
What to Pack for Your Hike
Best Places to Stay
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How many of these canyons in the US have you visited? Can you think of any others we should check out?
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
Bryan Shigihara
24 Sep 2019Great post and excellent information! I’d add Hell’s Canyon along the Idaho/Oregon border to that. It’s the deepest river gorge in North America at 7,993 ft deep at it’s deepest point. That’s nearly 2,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon! Great camping, beautiful scenery, world-class whitewater rafting, and some of the best Sturgeon fishing around. There’s also the Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, ID. Home to two major waterfalls, including the “Niagara of the West”, Shoshone Falls is 212 feet high, which is taller than Niagara. Just outside of Twin Falls is the famous Perrine Bridge, which is the only US location open to BASE jumping year round. Perrine Bridge is also near the site of an unsuccessful attempt to jump the canyon by Evel Knievel in 1974.
jacob
24 Sep 2019Oh yess! We definitely need to add Hell’s Canyon.