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Leprechaun Canyon in Utah absolutely blew me away. For how little hiking is involved, the reward is VERY high. While this is a relatively easy trail, there are quite a few tips and tricks that I learned the hard way when visiting and photographing this unique canyon in Utah that I’m going to share here. This is the perfect add on to a larger road trip or if you are centering around Hanksville, Utah.

photos in collaboration Emilie Hofferber

Overview: Leprechaun Canyon in Utah

Leprechaun Canyon in Utah is a technical AND non technical slot canyon that attracts both hikers, photographers, and canyoneering. It is located in Southeast Utah closest to Hanksville Utah in an area called the North Wash. This is a great mild to moderate short hike that really packs in a lot of stunning views and is definitely worth a stop.

Where is Leprechaun Canyon in Utah?

You will need a vehicle to access this part of the Utah, as it is in a remote area with no public transportation (unless you decide to book through a guide!! More on this later). The closest airport to Leprechaun Canyon is Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), located outside of Moab in Grand County Utah, two hours from the canyon.

Other Airport options include:

• Salt Lake City Airport: 4 hours
• Las Vegas Airport: 6.5 hours

If renting a car – I recommend something with AWD or 4×4. It is possible to manage without this, but due to the parking lot having some sand at times and other nearby adventures also being easier with this – its a better option.

Getting to Leprechaun Canyon: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Google Maps will take you right there! I personally like to use the directions coordinates posted in AllTrails to navigate as it is usually more accurate in getting you to a trailhead.

The parking area here is small and not paved. Do NOT drive over areas that are clearly not established. This is a popular hike, so the parking area does fill up on weekends, but you may just have to wait for someone to finish the hike to get a spot.

Also note: there is no public restroom here, so plan accordingly. If you do need to use the bathroom while near or on the trail – pack everything (including your own waste AND toilet paper) out. Desert ecosystems like this do not breakdown waste easily, and it will attract animals, and just in general ruin the experience for others when waste begins to accumulate.

If you are not familiar with wag bags for toilet use – check them out HERE. It is a very easy system to use if you need to poop while in the desert without facilities.

If you use toilet paper typically when urinating – I recommend checking out these antimicrobial pee cloths!! I LOVE mine and always have one handy on road trips like this. And this way you do not need to pack out your used toilet paper.

Lastly, because there is no public trash can here either – I recommend having a trash bag with you to pack out your own food waste, trash, etc!

Okay thank you for getting through all that! It’s important we keep our public lands healthy, especially less regulated ones like this!

Hiking Leprechaun Canyon in Utah:

You will want to plan for at a minimum – 1.5 to 2 hours if you plan to spend just a little time taking in the sights here. The hike is short, but can be confusing in a couple sections. I definitely recommend downloading the Trail Map for Leprechaun Canyon on AllTrails or whatever map system you use!

• 2.0 mile out and back trail
• dogs are allowed on leash!
• considered a moderate challenge
• hiking is mostly in sandy terrain

There was one confusing part of the trail that wasn’t very obvious (to me). If you find yourself in a narrow slot canyon that you’re having to climb up and down (before you reach the very high canyon walls), you should backtrack and go to the right of that narrow passage. you climb up a short distance on a rock and the trail resumes. As mentioned before – having the trail map downloaded is VERY helpful.

Eventually, the canyon opens up for the main view that is photographed here. You will need to turn around to see the composition! It is absolutely stunning. The trail continues for a little bit after this, but eventually gets very narrow and this is where canyoneering takes place.

Safety on this hike:

Do not attempt to climb down into the narrow slot canyons unless you are skilled or are with a guide. Rescues happen here yearly and chances are you will NOT be prepared for an overnight here. Be safe for your own sake and the sake of others.

FLASH FLOODS. These are a common thing in the desert and something you definitely need to do your research on before starting this hike. Flash floods occur when small amounts to large amounts to water accumulate in narrow passageways, gain momentum and then end up flooding areas VERY quickly. People die yearly due to flashfloods in the desert. Good rules to follow for this are: Do NOT go on this hike if it is currently raining, has rained the day before, or if rain is expected that day.

Photographing Leprechaun Canyon:

Here I’m going to share what lenses, lighting to expect, and composition tips that will help you get some epic photographs either on your phone camera or any other camera.

what lens to bring?

I left my longer lenses at home and am glad I did! My favorite shots here were taken on a 24-70mm lens (which is my go-to) and it gave me so much versatility and room to play. If you do have a wider lens, like a 16-35mm that would also be handy- especially for the areas were it gets much narrower! I’ll show a reference of what lenses I used, but my favorite shots were taken at 35mm and 22mm.

what to expect with lighting and time of day:

Lighting can be tricky here, the canyon walls provide a lot of shade at certain parts of the day. Depending on the type of contrast, softness, etc you are wanting will absolutely depend on the time of day (and time of year) you go. I went in April, and the lighting was getting really glowy and nice around 3pm. There was still a bit of harsh light in one section, but I liked the contrast it created, and the threat of rain had me ready to head out.

The wider parts of the canyon have more even lighting for longer for some much softer shots. While the narrower parts of the canyon created a lot more punchy contrast.

If you are newer to photography – I highly recommend exposing for the highlights so that there are not white sections of your photo with zero data. Editing did require a lot of lifting of the shadows because of this, but I personally think saving the highlights is always key to a good photo.

TIP: an ND filter (neutral density filter) reduces the amount of light entering a camera without impacting color. This allows for longer exposure, wider apertures, or lower ISO in harsh light conditions without overexposing an image. 

Editing!

If you’re interested in buying my presets that I used to edit these, find those here: MISS ROVER PRESETS

Where to Stay near Leprechaun Canyon

I’ve stayed at various types of accomodations during my visits to this area! Whether you are looking for camping, glamping or a hotel stay, you have OPTIONS!

Camping and Glamping at Goblin Valley State Park:

I had the pleasure of booking a yurt here and it was one of the most unique glamping environments i’ve ever stayed in! I highly recommend camping or at least visiting this state park while you’re in the area!

Read all about how to book this yurt in my Goblin Valley State Park Guide!

Free Camping Nearby:

If you are unable to grab a stay at Goblin Valley State Park, there are lots of camping options available near Hanksville Utah! Read my guide on how to find Free Camping! I used the iOverlander app to find my camping spot here.

A note on this camping: this is public land and does NOT have any facilities. So you are required to pack out your own trash (including human waste!)

Cabins and Hotels near Leprechaun Canyon:

1. Just 30 minutes away in Hanksville are the Muddy Creek Mining Company Cabins! These are nicely renovated cabins that can accomodate 2-8 people.

When in Hanksville, be sure to check out Hollow Mountain Gas Station (it’s in a CAVE!), Stan’s Burger Shak and Outlaws Roost. If it’s open, Mowgli’s cafe is a great spot to spend the morning.

And of course don’t forget Capitol Reef National Park is just down the road!

2. Moab! If you are just doing a day trip to Leprechaun Canyon, it is a 2 hour drive back to Moab where there are MANY casual and luxury options to stay. My favorite stays in Moab are:

• Under Canvas Moab
• Field Station Moab

What to Pack:

This will largely depend on weather, time of year, and whether you are camping or staying in a cabin/hotel! But, there are still some basics I highly recommend bringing for this adventure.

• Layers! Weather in the desert is usually pretty extreme. Either really hot, or very cold with lots of wind. I never head on a desert adventure without my sun hoodie packed and if it’s cold I make sure to always have base layers on hand
• day pack bag
• Sun Protection: Sunscreen, hat, sun hoodie, sunglasses
• Antimicrobial Pee Cloth
• Wag Bag
• Camera Gear!
• GPS (AllTrails is my preferred trail GPS system)
• Garmin Mini (satellite communication! very minimal to no cell service at the hike!)
• Extra Water
• Snack

Nearby Destinations:

I have spent a lot of time adventuring in the Southwest and Utah. Be sure to check out my other guides to create your road trip!

• Canyonlands National Park one day itinerary
• Arches National Park best sights and hikes
• Yant Flat Hike
• Snow Canyon State Park
• Spontaneous Utah Road Trip

Conclusion: Leprechaun Canyon Utah Hike

As you can see, this region of Utah is very unique and a bit more off grid than the very visited parts like the national parks. This canyon hike makes for an excellent adventure, road trip, or add on to a camping trip! You’ll get to see a very unique canyon and slot canyon on a very doable hike. I love when short hikes have high reward views!

Let me know if you have any questions or are inspired to plan a trip here!

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