The Best Canyons & Gorges in North America

Northern Arizona

Antelope Canyon near Page is a narrow slot cut into sandstone by flash floods and wind. Visitors walk its passages on a guided tour led by a Navajo guide and watch the light shift on curved walls. The Grand Canyon is a wide gorge with layered red walls that drop to the Colorado River. Most visitors view it from rim viewpoints, reached by a free shuttle, and walk trails such as South Kaibab. Horseshoe Bend, also near Page, is a gorge where the Colorado River loops around red sandstone cliffs. A gravel trail leads from the parking lot to a cliffside deck, with little shade and no fence along parts of the edge. Canyon de Chelly is a red sandstone canyon with towering cliffs, ancient ruins and a river on its floor. Visitors look from rim overlooks or take a Navajo-guided jeep tour. Boynton Canyon near Sedona has red rock walls around a wooded valley floor. Its trail runs along the walls and includes a scramble up to Subway Cave.

Southern Utah

Kanarra Creek Canyon near Kanarraville is a narrow red rock slot with the creek running through it. Visitors wade and scramble up the water to several waterfalls at the end. Buckskin Gulch near Kanab is a long slot with walls up to 150 m high and pools on the floor. Hikers enter from the Wire Pass trailhead along a dry wash. Spooky Gulch near Escalante is a narrow red sandstone slot with shallow water pooling in places. Visitors usually hike a loop from Peek-a-boo through Spooky. Peek-a-Boo Gulch is so narrow that hikers squeeze through and remove their packs in places. A rim trail drops into the wash and the narrows are walked as a loop with Spooky. Zion Canyon has tall cliffs and a river running through narrow gorges and a tunnel. Visitors hike along the river, wade into the Narrows or ride the shuttle to viewpoints. Little Wild Horse Canyon in the San Rafael Swell is a narrow sandstone slot with boulder climbs. Many hikers turn back early.

Colorado and northern Utah

Red Canyon at Flaming Gorge has red and orange cliffs above the Green River, which runs between dams. Visitors view it from rim overlooks and a short rim trail, and some take a boat tour. Red Canyon in Colorado National Monument has red rock walls and deep drop-offs above the Colorado River. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints along the park drive. Black Canyon of the Gunnison has steep, dark rock walls that drop hundreds of feet to the Gunnison River. Most visitors drive the South Rim road and stop at overlooks. Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City has layered rock rising above a river that runs close to the road. Visitors see it from the drive and roadside pullouts. Provo Canyon has cliffs on both sides, a river and forested slopes. Visitors see it from the scenic highway and reach waterfalls such as Bridal Veil Falls on trails. Eldorado Canyon near Boulder has sandstone cliffs above South Boulder Creek. Visitors see it from rim overlooks and creek trails, and climbers work the rock faces.

Eastern United States

Watkins Glen Gorge has shale cliffs rising about 200 feet on either side of a narrow gorge. Visitors walk the Gorge Trail along stone steps, bridges and ledges, and use a shuttle for the return. Enfield Glen near Ithaca is a narrow gorge of rock walls and stone steps, cut by a stream that drops over waterfalls. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints and walk the Gorge Trail through it. Flume Gorge in Lincoln has sheer granite walls closing in on a narrow gorge with waterfalls and boulders. Boardwalks and stairs lead through it on a loop trail past covered bridges. Ausable Chasm near Keeseville is a narrow gorge of layered rock with a river along its floor. Visitors see it from rim paths and a walkway down to the river, then by raft, tube or guided tour. Linville Gorge in North Carolina is a deep wilderness canyon of quartzite cliffs and boulders. Visitors see it from overlooks, on trails to the river and falls, or backpacking. Dismals Canyon in Alabama is a narrow, moss-covered canyon with a creek crossed several times. Visitors walk a one-way loop past waterfalls and caves, with a night tour to see glowing dismalites.

Mexico

Sumidero Canyon is a gorge where deep rock walls, some over 1,000 meters high, enclose the Grijalva River. Visitors see it from five rim viewpoints along the road and on boat trips from Chiapa de Corzo. Urique Canyon lies in the Sierra Tarahumara, about 1,200 meters above the Urique River. The town of Urique sits on the valley floor. Visitors see the canyon from rim viewpoints reached by dirt road, a suspension bridge, or a hike from Cerocahui.

California, Hawaii and South Dakota

Fern Canyon near Orick, California, is a narrow canyon with steep green walls, ferns and a creek along its floor. Visitors walk the canyon floor on wooden walkways and logs, with the loop trail forming a short circuit. Painted Canyon near Mecca, California, has narrow slots cut through layered red, orange and cream rock. Visitors climb ladders and ropes up the slots, then walk ridge trails with views of the Salton Sea or loop back down the dry wash. Waimea Canyon on Kauai has red and green cliffs, deep valleys and a river along its floor. Visitors view it from roadside lookouts and hike trails toward waterfalls. Sunday Gulch in Custer State Park is a loop trail that drops into a rocky gulch with tall stone walls and a stream. Visitors go down boulders with metal railings and return through shaded forest. Indian Canyons near Palm Springs hold palm groves along a creek between rock walls, walked on loop and out-and-back trails.