Willis Creek is yet another gorgeous hike within the Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat'l Monument. Access to the trailhead is only via Skutumpah Rd, which is a long, SW-to-NE dirt byway along the Northwest side of the monument lands. The Willis Creek trailhead is much closer to the NE end, near the town of Cannonville, UT.
Unlike our previous hike at Lick Wash, Willis Creek started out with a fairly long (and very curvaceous) slot canyon. Also, due to recent rains and a more active stream, water was more prevalent here, and at several points we had to walk in a few inches of water (or mud). This slot canyon ended abruptly after about a mile, and the remainder of the hike was along a more open wash, punctuated by smaller, shallower slot sections (one with a small waterfall that was easily bypassed via trail). The canyon walls gradually rose higher as we moved downstream, revealing more and more impressive sandstone structures. I, for one, found the overall setting to have less grandeur than that of our previous hike in Lick Wash, but one of my friends declared it his favorite hike so far. Our turnaround point (about 2.5 miles in) was at shady stream-side rock, where we lunched and discussed more short hikes that day, as our time in this area was quickly coming to a close.
My overall review for Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument is here: (https://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-kanab-3?hrid=hvepdlsvONbCjylNk2EA6A&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) read more