Photographs10 views of Little Wild Horse Canyon
MapTopoQuest topographic map of Little Wild Horse Canyon
The main narrows of Little Wild Horse Canyon can be reached after just ten minutes walking from the trailhead, though they are easily missed as the entrance is a concealed slit in the right side of the canyon. The following description starts from the upper end, however - a continuation of the loop hike up Bell Canyon
At first, the streamway is wide and stony. Another branch joins from the left then the way ahead remains open for at least a mile, as the wash meanders along while the crumbling cliffs at either side gain height gradually. Eventually the creek forms a short stretch of narrows, interrupted by a 15 foot dryfall, followed by another wider part before the walls finally close in - from here the next half mile or so is very narrow and exciting; at times the floor is just curved rock with no sand or stones, and has cavities that fill with water after flooding but the pools rarely exceed 2 to 3 feet in depth. Wading through these potholes can generally be avoided by straddling the rocks above. This part of the canyon is deep yet still quite open but later the rocks become more curvy and the cliffs above overhang - the passageway from here onwards is darker and more mysterious, and sometimes just 3 feet across. Occasional pretty patterns of light and reflections filter down into the canyon although this part is aligned east-west, and is sufficiently deep to be in shadow most of the day. In several places the floor drops by a few feet but there are no difficult obstacles.
Little Wild Horse is as good as the famous Antelope Canyon
in places, just not so well lit. The narrows end in a long straight section, after which the ravine widens somewhat and the junction with Bell Canyon is reached after another few minutes walking, from where the trailhead is a short distance further south. The hike - or at least the lower part of the narrows - has become quite popular yet the environment remains generally unspoilt, with no litter.