Utah Canyon Outdoors
Utah Canyon Outdoors
5
Sightseeing ToursHiking & Camping ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
**Winter 2023 Our gear store and coffee shop are open Thu - Sun 9-5 until Dec 23rd! Currently taking tour and shuttle bookings for 2024 via email or phone.** Utah Canyon Outdoors is on Main Street in Escalante, Utah. We are an hour east of Bryce Canyon and your best jumping off spot for discovery of this wild and diverse natural area. Our tours and shuttles help you experience the heart of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Custom maps, guidebooks and local information get you on track to the best day hike and backpack destinations. Our outdoor store is packed with the best camping, hiking, canyoneering & backpacking gear and clothing for our desert area. Our "Coffee Corner" serves organic coffee drinks hot or iced with a shaded patio to watch the day go by. Closed January and February.
Escalante, Utah
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
185 reviews
Excellent
182
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
KJReinart
Dallas, TX2 contributions
Jul 2021
Jim took our family of five (including 8, 6, and 5 year old children) on a slot canyon tour outside of Escalante. He catered the tour to our children's abilities while still challenging them. He taught us all basic climbing maneuvers that assisted in moving through the tight canyons. He was friendly and fun. Of a 16 day road trip, this tour was the highlight of our vacation. I highly recommend booking with Utah Canyon Outdoors if you want to get off the beaten path and enjoy the majesty of slot canyons in solitude.
Written August 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SRPK
Toronto, Canada39 contributions
May 2022
A few weeks ago, in anticipation of our trip to Escalante, my wife and I reached out to Utah Canyon Outdoors. We wanted to organize a private slot canyon hike to familiarize ourselves with the area and the terrain and learn some of the skills needed for the rest of our trip. From the outset, UCO were exceptionally helpful and efficient; returning our calls and emails, answering questions and helping plan the experience we wanted.
We started early with our guide (and UCO co-owner), Jim. He got us set up with all the equipment we needed for the day along with water, snacks and lunch. The UCO store is well-stocked with anything you might need for your outdoor adventure plus some wonderful local artisan crafts! We are pretty hardcore hikers and scramblers so asked for a challenging day and after discussing a few options we settled on Red Breaks Canyon. Jim has extensive knowledge of the area, is a highly experienced guide and was able to suggest a fun alternative to the standard route. Throughout the hike he provided insights into the geology, history and wildlife of the area along with many interesting anecdotes. Most importantly he was able to immediately assess our skill level and adapt the trip and his approach accordingly. He was an excellent instructor, teaching us new techniques specific to slot canyon exploration that would allow us to safely and confidently explore further, on our own. Our hike was exhilarating yet we felt safe throughout thanks to Jim’s excellent guiding. We had an outstanding day and he spent extra time at the end going over maps and options for other hikes we could try during our stay.
Our whole UCO experience was excellent and we would recommend them most highly to anyone visiting the area and wanting to get out and explore.
We started early with our guide (and UCO co-owner), Jim. He got us set up with all the equipment we needed for the day along with water, snacks and lunch. The UCO store is well-stocked with anything you might need for your outdoor adventure plus some wonderful local artisan crafts! We are pretty hardcore hikers and scramblers so asked for a challenging day and after discussing a few options we settled on Red Breaks Canyon. Jim has extensive knowledge of the area, is a highly experienced guide and was able to suggest a fun alternative to the standard route. Throughout the hike he provided insights into the geology, history and wildlife of the area along with many interesting anecdotes. Most importantly he was able to immediately assess our skill level and adapt the trip and his approach accordingly. He was an excellent instructor, teaching us new techniques specific to slot canyon exploration that would allow us to safely and confidently explore further, on our own. Our hike was exhilarating yet we felt safe throughout thanks to Jim’s excellent guiding. We had an outstanding day and he spent extra time at the end going over maps and options for other hikes we could try during our stay.
Our whole UCO experience was excellent and we would recommend them most highly to anyone visiting the area and wanting to get out and explore.
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt
2 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Our slot canyon hike with Jim and Mike was amazing! Jim showed us a remote, less trafficked canyon and shared his knowledge and passion for the region with our family. Jim and Mike made sure our group of 10 safely navigated the climbs in and out of the canyon, and shared tips on how to move efficiently while in the slot. We highly recommend a tour with Jim - and having a fresh brewed coffee at his shop afterwards!
Written April 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sherylselivanoff
Adams, NE223 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
From the quick and thorough replies to my email inquiries to the cup of iced coffee after our excursion, everything was excellent.
Jim’s advice was sound and thoughtful. The prep for our hike was well thought through. Utah canyon outdoor provided canvas backpacks with ice cold water bottles and ample snacks for our 7 plus hour hike. The backpacks were a good choice, as our backpacks would not have withstood the tight spaces and would definitely have torn.
Jim guided us along a beautiful river/canyon into several gorgeous spots on our hike to the slot canyon he’d chosen for that day. The slot canyon was beyond beautiful and we had the entire place to ourselves the whole day.
Jim coached us through the tight and difficult places in the slot canyon with ease and skill. He was there for help with it all. Never did we feel hurried or rushed or pushed. He was patient with every delay for photos, taking in the beauty, or just a rest. This made the excursion extra special, because we were encouraged to enjoy at the pace we desired.
I would highly recommend Jim and Utah Canyon Outdoors. You will have a unique and memorable experience.
Jim’s advice was sound and thoughtful. The prep for our hike was well thought through. Utah canyon outdoor provided canvas backpacks with ice cold water bottles and ample snacks for our 7 plus hour hike. The backpacks were a good choice, as our backpacks would not have withstood the tight spaces and would definitely have torn.
Jim guided us along a beautiful river/canyon into several gorgeous spots on our hike to the slot canyon he’d chosen for that day. The slot canyon was beyond beautiful and we had the entire place to ourselves the whole day.
Jim coached us through the tight and difficult places in the slot canyon with ease and skill. He was there for help with it all. Never did we feel hurried or rushed or pushed. He was patient with every delay for photos, taking in the beauty, or just a rest. This made the excursion extra special, because we were encouraged to enjoy at the pace we desired.
I would highly recommend Jim and Utah Canyon Outdoors. You will have a unique and memorable experience.
Written August 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc M
3 contributions
Oct 2021
Thanks to Jim of Utah Canyons Outdoors, my wife and I had an excellent day in the slot canyons. From our first interactions to our last goodbye, it was clear that Jim wanted his clients to feel comfortable, safe, and leave with lasting insights of both the surface and hidden beauty of the land. The experience was continually personalized to each individual's interests. Jim made sure that the group was the same level of physical ability and interest. I strongly recommend using this family run business as your Escanlante guiding partner and outfitter (did I mention we came away with some very cool shirts and hoodies from their store). Oh, and the lunch and snacks Jim provided us hit the spot during the day.
Written October 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Almamom
Ann Arbor, MI8 contributions
Apr 2023
We don't normally take guided trips because we do a lot of our own adventures, but slot canyons presented something that we didn't know much about. We wanted to see one that wasn't crowded, learn about techniques to make our way through and to be safe.
Jim exceeded our expectations! He asked us questions to determine our objectives and ability levels and took us to a slot that only had 1 set of footprints leading to it and they were Jim's foot prints! Jim had gone to visit the canyon the day before our trip to ensure that the canyon was dry enough to visit!
Jim is kind, calm and friendly and talked us through the moves of navigating through the canyon. We would not have been able to visit this canyon without Jim because he knew all of the footholds that we could not see. He also knew that some rocks had moved farther down the canyon or that a branch had recently gotten stuck. This was a totally new experience for us and we felt very secure with Jim. It was an amazing day!
We learned a lot about the geography, the geology, the archaeology, indigenous people, plants and more. Jim also took fabulous photos in the canyon and shared them with us.
We also hired Jim to do a car shuttle down Hole in the Rock road. He spent a lot of time looking at maps with us, making gear recommendations and providing a lot of additional information. Jim also answered our many questions during the winter and shared his knowledge. Jim didn't push this on us, but we discovered his store sells waterproof and sandproof socks which was my most amazing gear purchase of the year.
We did visit 2 of the popular slot canyons in the area which were crowded. We were the only people in the canyon on the visit with Jim and it remains our favorite slot canyon of the trip!
We can't wait to return and Jim has assured us that he never runs out of canyons to visit!
Jim exceeded our expectations! He asked us questions to determine our objectives and ability levels and took us to a slot that only had 1 set of footprints leading to it and they were Jim's foot prints! Jim had gone to visit the canyon the day before our trip to ensure that the canyon was dry enough to visit!
Jim is kind, calm and friendly and talked us through the moves of navigating through the canyon. We would not have been able to visit this canyon without Jim because he knew all of the footholds that we could not see. He also knew that some rocks had moved farther down the canyon or that a branch had recently gotten stuck. This was a totally new experience for us and we felt very secure with Jim. It was an amazing day!
We learned a lot about the geography, the geology, the archaeology, indigenous people, plants and more. Jim also took fabulous photos in the canyon and shared them with us.
We also hired Jim to do a car shuttle down Hole in the Rock road. He spent a lot of time looking at maps with us, making gear recommendations and providing a lot of additional information. Jim also answered our many questions during the winter and shared his knowledge. Jim didn't push this on us, but we discovered his store sells waterproof and sandproof socks which was my most amazing gear purchase of the year.
We did visit 2 of the popular slot canyons in the area which were crowded. We were the only people in the canyon on the visit with Jim and it remains our favorite slot canyon of the trip!
We can't wait to return and Jim has assured us that he never runs out of canyons to visit!
Written April 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan
1 contribution
Aug 2022
Original plan was to hike Escalante ourselves, and given some of the reviews on Alltrails with regards to the roads and the related weather we thought better of going it alone! A good decision!!! We hiked the slot canyons - Peakaboo and Spooky with Jim. The drive would have taken us significantly longer if we had gone ourselves, not to mention finding the entrance to the canyons would have involved a lot more wandering in the dessert. The entrance to Peakaboo was full of water (no idea of how deep), so Jim decided to enter the canyon from the top. Again, we would have been starring at the pool of water having no idea of what to do next. Note, we are traveling with a 9 year old as well. Jim expertly navigated us through Peakaboo, and then while my wife and son hung out navigated us through Spooky. It was amazing!!! The sandwiches were great, Jim was terrific, and we had an extremely memorable day! Highly recommend Utah Canyon Outdoors!
Written September 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CMBarbie
Wisconsin340 contributions
Sep 2021
We booked a Scenic Hike tour of the Harris Wash with Jim & Caitlin Clery and had a wonderful experience. Jim tailored the hike to our abilities and was very knowledgeable in describing what we were seeing. We also made a stop at the Devil’s Garden. He was helpful in giving us restaurant recommendations and even where we could get free air for tires. As we were leaving Escalante, the low tire pressure gauge came on, so we headed over to the Phillips 66 Service Station to take care of it. Thanks Jim!
Written September 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OR2081
6 contributions
Oct 2021
We did a both a scenic and a slot canyon tour. They were both excellent experiences. Jim works hard to ensure the tour is the right length and difficulty for the client to have a happy experience. If the tour is a combination of travelers he works to match capabilities and interests so everyone has a good day.
He's very capable, considerate, helpful ,calm. He gives clear and concise directions.
We had two great days. Highly recommended!
He's very capable, considerate, helpful ,calm. He gives clear and concise directions.
We had two great days. Highly recommended!
Written December 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron080
Lebanon, NJ28 contributions
May 2022
We arranged a guided hike into a slot canyon. Jim took us out for a memorable experience, something we would never have done on our own. He instructed us on the different techniques for navigating through the slot canyon. The canyon was beautiful, fun and challenging, every time we turned a corner we were amazed at its beauty. If you’re going to Escalante, we highly recommend contacting Jim and Cait to arrange a hike. They are very knowledgeable about the area and will arrange a hike to meet your needs. If you are looking for gear, clothing, hiking shoes, or a great cup of coffee visit the store!
Written May 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I believe this is Red Breaks Canyon, not Red Blake.
Written December 20, 2017
Hi there,
Am thinking of a day hike in GE but will be traveling in rental car. I'll probably be staying in Escalante. Is there anything doable from there that is easy/moderate?
matthew
Written December 31, 2016
Caitlin C
Escalante, Utah
Hi Matthew,
There are lots of great day hikes that are accessible with a rental car. It is true that something with high clearance or 4x4 can get you much further, but if you've never been here before there is a lot you can do with a rental.
What time of year will you be visiting? I ask because some of the hikes have water crossings and it's a little chilly this time of year to get your feet wet.
Just off the top of my head....
-hiking Calf Creek Falls (approx. 16mi east of Escalante on Hwy 12) is great any time of the year, also if you don't mind creek crossings... the Escalante River is a great hike, even just going out and back from the river trailhead (going upstream from the Bridge TH you can see two arches and some rock art)
-the Petrified Forest State Park (2mi west of Escalante off of Hwy 12) has some really beautiful and impressive petrified wood and great trails on the mesa top with nice views.
'easy/ doable' is a little subjective out here :) Would you describe what kind of hikes you enjoy or are looking for a bit more? how many miles? level ground or is hiking up/down hills ok? Are you used to hiking off trail? If you can provide me with a little more information I may have some more or better recommendations for you.
Hope this info helps and happy trip planning!
Best,
Caitlin
Owner, Utah Canyon Outdoors
Written December 31, 2016
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