Venture down into a slot canyon until you reach the stunning Colorado River! The Cathedral Wash Trail located in the heart of Canyon country Arizona is an incredible day adventure. Walk through a spectacular narrows area and you’ll be in awe of this wild landscape!
My husband and I recently did the Cathedral Wash trail and it blew us away! With incredible geological formations, tricky slot canyon drops, and gorgeous scenery it is a hike you don’t want to miss. If you’ve never gone into a slot canyon before, then this is a great place to start!
Ready for a fabulous day hike? Read further for my complete guide to the Cathedral Wash Trail. This post includes the best time to go, where to stay, important safety precautions, and a detailed trail description to help you plan your adventure!
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Table of Contents
Cathedral Wash Trail Guide
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 3.3 miles
Elevation: 380 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2-4 hours
Difficulty: Hard (you will need to boulder at times)
How to Get to the Cathedral Wash Trail
You’ll find the Cathedral Wash Trail in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area near Lee’s Ferry, Marble Canyon and parts of the Grand Canyon. It’s just 45 minutes from Page, Arizona or an hour and a half from Kanab, Utah.
You’ll find this hike right off of Highway 89A. Once you get near Marble Canyon, you’ll see a turn off for Lee Ferry Road. Take that road and travel for 1.5 miles, until you see the trail sign on your left.
There is a bunch of parking alongside the road 🅿️. After you park you’ll follow the signs and walk under the bridge to follow the trail towards the water.
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 This hike is in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. A pass is $30 per vehicle that covers a week or you can use an Interagency Pass like the America the Beautiful pass.
☀️ The sun in this area is very strong, so pack plenty of sunscreen and water for this hike.
⛺️There are a number of campgrounds in the Glen Canyon Recreation area. But, the closest one is the Lee’s Ferry campground, which is $20 a night and is first-come, first-served.
🦮 Pets are not allowed on the Cathedral Wash trail.
⚠️ Flash floods are very dangerous in this area! Flash floods carve these canyon walls and create a torrent of water. If there are any signs of rain or storms then you should avoid this trail.
🦅 If you’re lucky, you may get to see a Californian Condor as they fly through the canyon walls. Keep your eyes peeled if you like wildlife watching!
🪨 This trail has a lot of areas where you will need to boulder or climb down into the slots. Make sure to keep three points of contact and take your time!
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Hike the Cathedral Wash Trail
Cathedral Wash is a beautiful hike year round. But, the best times to enjoy this hike are in the Spring and the Fall ✨. During these times of year, the temperatures are mild and the skies are clear.
Make sure to always check the forecast for rain, because flash floods are incredibly dangerous here!
During the summer, it gets incredibly hot 🥵 and heavy rains are more common. So, check the weather before you go and pack plenty of water on a hot day. While winter is colder, it can still be a great time to hike this trail! Just pack a few extra layers.
Packing Guide
Luckily, this hike is a great half day adventure! If you are planning on doing it, the most important thing to bring is shoes with good traction and plenty of water. The climbing through the slot canyon can get tough, but good shoes are key.
There is a beautiful view over the Colorado at the end of the trail. You can choose to pack a lunch or snack to enjoy 🥪. Plus, you can dip your feet in to cool off!
Packing List
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Satellite phone
- Camera Clip
Where to Stay Near Cathedral Wash
Cathedral Wash is just 45 minutes from Page, Arizona and 1.5 hours from Kanab, Utah. So, it’s a great adventure from either of those destinations. There are tons of wonderful camping, glamping, and hotel options throughout the entire area.
If you are like me and would prefer to camp there are tons of options in the area. The closest ones are in Glen Canyon at the Lee’s Ferry campground for $20 or enjoy dispersed free camping throughout Marble Canyon ⛺️. We stayed at this spot for a week, because it was so beautiful!
Best Lodging in Page & Kanab
Cathedral Wash Trail Description
Through the Wash
Once you get to the trailhead, you’ll continue on the side of the road and go down a few steps. After that, you’ll see a tunnel under the road that you go through to get to the other side.
From there, you’ll continue through the picturesque wash with the canyon walls rising up all around you. Enjoy the scenery and the relatively flat meander through the slot canyon walls.
Down the Drops
The fun begins once you get further into the slot canyon and you’ll begin to encounter the down climbs. If you’ve never been in a slot canyon before, then these can feel difficult, but just take your time and you’ll figure out ways down.
You may even need to backtrack or go a different way!
There are a handful of short down climbs that are a few feet high. But, after a few of these you’ll come to a taller slot that is about 30 feet high. 😮 If you follow the wall to the right, you’ll see a climb down to a ledge. Follow this ledge and walk under an overhang until you see a spot that has a few shorter steps down.
From there, you’ll find a few more down climbs, but that tall one is the most difficult one that you will encounter. I don’t really enjoy climbing down things and I got a kick out of it. We saw plenty of people including children doing this hike, so it’s still doable!
To the Colorado
Finally, you’ll get past most of the down climbs and the slot canyon will open up. You’ll find yourself staring at the gorgeous Colorado River as it winds its way through the Canyon 😍.
This is a fantastic place to take pictures, enjoy a lunch break, or just stop to enjoy the view and dip your feet in the water. After you break here, you’ll go back the way you came. This is an incredibly fun hike with scenic views!
Final Tips for the Cathedral Wash Trail
Cathedral Wash trail is one of my favorite short hikes that I’ve done! It’s super fun to make your way through the slot canyon and then the Colorado River views at the end are incredible.
Just remember, to take your time because getting down the drops can be tricky! You may need to problem solve or use your companions for help. But, it’s a fantastic trail that you should definitely add to your trip.
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
📍 Pin Guide to the Cathedral Wash Trail to Pinterest
Wow! This looks amazing! I’m saving it for when I go look for California Condors next 😁