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Ride a 4x4 into the Grand Staircase and walk into Willis Creek’s narrow, water-carved slot. This two-hour small-group tour mixes off-road access, easy hiking, and striking sandstone views for photographers and casual hikers alike.
Ride a 4x4 into the Grand Staircase and walk into Willis Creek’s narrow, water-carved slot. This two-hour small-group tour mixes off-road access, easy hiking, and striking sandstone views for photographers and casual hikers alike.
The canyon narrows like a throat of stone, sunlight threading down between rust-red walls as a shallow creek dares you forward. On a two-hour Willis Creek tour you ride remote roads of the Grand Staircase in a 4x4, then walk roughly half a mile through flat, rocky terrain to the slot’s cooler corridor where water has carved waterfalls and tight twists over millennia.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Open Country Adventures · Cannonville, Utah
The canyon narrows like a throat of stone, sunlight threading down between rust-red walls as a shallow creek dares you forward. On a two-hour Willis Creek tour you ride remote roads of the Grand Staircase in a 4x4, then walk roughly half a mile through flat, rocky terrain to the slot’s cooler corridor where water has carved waterfalls and tight twists over millennia.
Geology here is plain to see: Navajo and Kaibab sandstones layered and scoured into deep channels by episodic runoff. The slot is a living slice of the Grand Staircase–Escalante landscape, an area of folded benches and cliffs protected as public land since the 1990s. Paiute peoples traveled these lands historically, and early settlers used the same routes later mapped by prospectors and surveyors.
Expect pinyon-juniper and sage on the approach, canyon wrens calling from ledges, and the constant hush of moving water inside the gorge. Guides drive in small groups (five or fewer), share local natural history, and position you for the best photo frames.
Practical notes: the walking is easy and suitable for most fitness levels but surfaces are uneven and can be slippery where wet; wear grippy shoes. Sunscreen, a hat, and layered clothing are smart—temperatures swing quickly between sunlit plateaus and shaded canyon floor. Bottled water and transportation are included; the meeting point is Cannonville Park, roughly 8 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon on Highway 12. Aim for morning or late afternoon light to avoid the hottest mid-day and to catch warmer canyon hues.
easy.
2 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels—short, flat walking with uneven rocky footing; minimal elevation change.
The walk through the slot is about 1/2 mile round-trip on flat, rocky terrain; allow an hour in the canyon as part of the two-hour tour.
Meet at Cannonville Park—about 8 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon on Highway 12; the guide will be wearing an OCA hat.
Yes—hosts describe it as physically easy and suitable for a range of ages, but uneven rock and creek crossings can be challenging for those with limited mobility.
Cancel at least 24 hours before the tour for a full refund; cancellations for bad weather are also allowed per operator policy.
Willis Creek runs through landscapes mapped as part of the Grand Staircase; indigenous Paiute groups historically traveled and used resources in these canyons.
This is a fragile high-desert environment—practice leave-no-trace, avoid stepping on cryptobiotic soil, and pack out all trash to protect vegetation and soils.
Open Country Adventures operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The canyon narrows like a throat of stone, sunlight threading down between rust-red walls as a shallow creek dares you forward. On a two-hour Willis Creek tour you ride remote roads of the Grand Staircase in a 4x4, then walk roughly half a mile through flat, rocky terrain to the slot’s cooler corridor where water has carved waterfalls and tight twists over millennia.
The canyon narrows like a throat of stone, sunlight threading down between rust-red walls as a shallow creek dares you forward. On a two-hour Willis Creek tour you ride remote roads of the Grand Staircase in a 4x4, then walk roughly half a mile through flat, rocky terrain to the slot’s cooler corridor where water has carved waterfalls and tight twists over millennia.
Geology here is plain to see: Navajo and Kaibab sandstones layered and scoured into deep channels by episodic runoff. The slot is a living slice of the Grand Staircase–Escalante landscape, an area of folded benches and cliffs protected as public land since the 1990s. Paiute peoples traveled these lands historically, and early settlers used the same routes later mapped by prospectors and surveyors.
Expect pinyon-juniper and sage on the approach, canyon wrens calling from ledges, and the constant hush of moving water inside the gorge. Guides drive in small groups (five or fewer), share local natural history, and position you for the best photo frames.
Practical notes: the walking is easy and suitable for most fitness levels but surfaces are uneven and can be slippery where wet; wear grippy shoes. Sunscreen, a hat, and layered clothing are smart—temperatures swing quickly between sunlit plateaus and shaded canyon floor. Bottled water and transportation are included; the meeting point is Cannonville Park, roughly 8 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon on Highway 12. Aim for morning or late afternoon light to avoid the hottest mid-day and to catch warmer canyon hues.