Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyon is probably the most popular hike in the Goblin Valley because it features a pretty easy to get to slot canyon that doesn’t require much technical skill. We set our alarm and got up early for this so we wouldn’t have to share it with other hikers. The hike was 8.7 miles with less that 1000′ of climbing.
A lot of people just hike out and back a couple miles on the Little Wild Horse slot canyon but that means they miss all sorts of beautiful scenery and Bell Canyon. Also, that means the Little Wild Horse slot canyon can be busy. In places it is so narrow that there is only room for one person so with people going out and back there can be a wait. That said, we didn’t come across anyone.
Connecting Little Horse Canyon to Bell Canyon requires walking along the Behind the Reef Road. This is a rough 4wd road that has good views of the surrounding cliffs. I could even see Capitol Reef National Park at one point! After leaving Little Horse Canyon you climb up to the high point on this road and then descend down into Bell Canyon.
Bell Canyon isn’t as narrow as the first canyon but still picturesque and fun. There are a few rock obstacles so you have to be able to do a little scrambling to get up and around them. The narrow and twisting corridors features walls with almost unbelievable erosion-caused shapes and patterns. We did see a handful of people coming up this canyon as we headed down. When we got back the parking lot was jammed pack so I imagine Little Horse was a zoo.
I’ve always been particularly tasty for biting insects and they are enjoying me here in Utah. Those little no-see-ums will be the death of me! Evil creatures.
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