ZEBRA & TUNNEL SLOTS

NOVEMBER 2008, NOVEMBER 2012 & NOVEMBER 2018

ZEBRA SLOT
ZEBRA SLOT

ZEBRA SLOT

ZEBRA SLOT
NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO ZEBRA SLOT
ENTRANCE TO ZEBRA SLOT
BEHIND TUNNEL SLOT

ENTRANCE TO TUNNEL SLOT

ENTRANCE TO TUNNEL SLOT
TUNNEL SLOT IN NOVEMBER 2012

Zebra and Tunnel Slots are reached via a 7.8 mile drive down Hole-in-the-Rock Road from highway 12. At 7.8 miles, you will come to a cattle guard crossing over the road. There is no signage, but just pull off into the parking lot on the side of the road. From here you will cross the road and follow the trail on the other side. When I first hiked this trail in 2008, there was no parking area or trail. As happens, once a spot becomes popular enough, the BLM will step in a make a parking area and trail so people don't get lost trying to find it, and so a spiderweb of trails doesn't form across the desert from people trying to find their own way. Continue following the trail for about two miles until it runs into Harris Wash. Harris Wash is very large, and you will know when you reach it.

When I was here last in November, 2018, there was a pretty well marked trail leading across Harris Wash to the entrance of Zebra Slot, about a quarter-mile away. On my previous two visits, it took a little bit of work to find the entrance. Zebra is a short, but fun slot canyon to hike up. It is very narrow in parts and requires a tiny bit of scrambling before if eventually ends at a large dry fall.

If you are interested in seeing Tunnel, go back to Harris Wash, take a left, and follow it about a half-mile or so to a small wash coming off to your left. Follow this about a quarter-mile and it will take you to Tunnel Slot. This is a nice, short slot that really does look and feel like a tunnel. It was completely dry when I was there in November of 2008, but when I returned in November of 2012, it was filled with chest-deep water.  I was able to chimney almost the entire way through until the walls got too far apart at the end. It was pretty cold, so I decided not to go in the water.