Normal canyons create sometimes very large, gaping openings between rock, while slot canyons manage to run long yet be narrow. Many of them can be visited and walked through, which requires visitors to slide carefully through certain sections. Many of these are created by water erosion over very long periods of time. The effect is interesting and beautiful. Here are some awesome slot canyons around the world worth checking out.

Oneonta Gorge

The Oneonta Gorge is in the Columbia River Gorge at Bridal Veil, east of Portland Oregon. There are four waterfalls on the hike which takes about an hour and a half. While it’s relatively easy to see, certain sections of the path do require wading through semi-deep water. The path is dog friendly, and tends to get very busy on the weekends.

Gorges du Fier

This slot canyon is located not from Annecy in France. For this hike you have to stick to a walkway that goes between the canyon walls, because there is still water rushing below. The hike is considered a gentle one however safety is advised since the walkway can get slippery and at some points the canyon gets quite narrow.

Coloured Canyon

The Coloured Canyon in Egypt has massive canyon walls that climb over 20 stories tall. The canyon got its name because the walls are very colorful and swirled with different types of rock including sandstone, limestone, basalt and granite. The hike through the canyon only take a half hour and is considered pretty easy besides some narrow spots to get through.

Spooky Gultch

The Spooky Gulch is located in Escalante, Utah and has that name because it definitely scare people. The canyon can be pretty dark, and some areas of it are so small that you have to squeeze through sideways for periods of time which has a tendency to make a lot of people feel a little claustrophobic! The hike is 3.2 miles total, so it’s not for the faint of heart or those who might not be ready to commit to the experience.

Buckskin Gultch

The Buckskin Gultch is located in southern Utah and is one of the longest slot canyons in the entire world. The entire hike is 21 miles long, and the slot itself is about ten feet wide with heights of 500 feet tall. The hike can be done in one day but many do it in two, and it is best avoided in the summer if avoiding flash flooding is of interest to you. There were always be some water in there however, so wading is to be expected at some point in the hike.

Weano Gorge

The Weano Gorge is located in Western Australia’s Karijini National Park. It is a gorgeous hike that starts out as a walk and then turns into a harder hike with narrow walkways between the canyon walls. Many of the rock formations are colorful and there is some beautiful water elements to see there as well.