Zebra Canyon, which is a part of Grand Staircase-Escalante, is
both famous and “infamous”. The stripe-like patterns in the canyon
are very photogenic. However, this narrow slot canyon is often
flooded and the water-level varies from time to time. Some hikers
said that they went there when the canyon was completely dry, and
thus they rated the hike as easy.
But don’t count on that. When we were there, the water level
reached my chest. The downside is: my height is just 5 feet 6
inches, not 6 feet 5 inches. The upside is: the whole team was
well-prepared. We hired the tour guide, Shawn, who is very
knowledgeable about the area. We wore fast-drying clothes and all
photographic gears were protected by water-proof bags.
The canyon is extremely narrow and therefore in some areas it is
impossible for even a skinny adult to walk through. As a remedy, I
had to put my back and my feet against the two canyon walls,
raised my body, and moved across the walls. My advice is: don’t
bother to bring a hiking stick; it is a burden rather than a help.
All of us left our hiking sticks at the beginning section of the
canyon, and picked them up when exiting the canyon. Don't worry
about thieves. Chances are: you will be the only hiker. On that
day we did not see any other people.
