Believe it or not, there are a number of excellent slot machine Canyons near Las Vegas, Nevada. These may not be the slots you had in mind for Vegas, but they are still worth a look!
The slot canyons are natural rocky passages that are fun to explore and pleasant for photos. Everyone is different and the colors can be awesome. Some of the hikes are family-friendly and are ideal for children or pets.
We recently drove through the state of Nevada on our way to Yosemite National Park and decided to stop and look at some of these Slot Canyons while we were there.
Some of them are very close to the city, while others require a car ride or even a day trip.
What Is A Canyon slot?
A slit canyon is a narrow passage formed by rock (usually sandstone) that has been eroded by water over time, eventually creating a keyhole-like crack in the rock just wide enough for a person to pass through.
While the densest group of slot canyons in the world is in Utah, there are also excellent ones in Arizona and Nevada, and many of them are family-friendly and easy to NAVIGATE for beginners.
Side note: always pay attention to the weather forecast before entering a Slot Machine. Do not enter if the rain is in the forecast, even if it is outside your immediate environment. Flash overflow can be very peril in a slot canyon.
Best slot canyons near Las Vegas Nevada
1. white domes hiking trail
The White Domes Trail is a short and gentle loop hike with a beautiful slot canyon in the Nevada Valley of Fire State Park.
It’s a 1 hour drive to Las Vegas at the trailhead, then you’ll get to the slots section after only a 10 minute hike!
It is an ideal place for families with children, and it is also very photogenic. Even if it’s only a short hike, it’s worth it! As a bonus, this place was used as a filming location for the 1966 Western film “the Professionals”, and there are still remnants of the film set today.
Keep in mind that during the summer months (June to September) this trail may be closed for safety reasons due to the extreme heat. So check the current status before leaving. There is very little shade on the way, except when you are in the slot.
The 2nd anniversary is shrinking
The Anniversary Narrows is a very unique slot canyon in Nevada with spectacular layered rock patterns, located about 1 hour east of Las Vegas.
Even if it’s a little hard to find, it’s definitely one of the best slot Canyons near Las Vegas! To get to the hiking trail, you will have to cross a washing road, then a rocky dirt road until you reach an leaved mining area.
A little clearance helps, but the road should be passable by most vehicles as long as it doesn’t rain. Even the small piece of pipe in the wash near the start is very tame.
3. Scary Canyon (Arizona)
Spooky Canyon is a cool little hidden canyon on the border between Arizona and Nevada, not far from the iconic Hoover Dam and about a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas. It is a short and child-friendly canyon that you can explore in about 40 minutes.
This was definitely one of our favorite slot machine Canyons in Las Vegas! As you can see by the name, Spooky Canyon looks secret and is also very photogenic, although you can see a few cobwebs.
Some people have called it a mini Antelope Canyon, although I don’t know if I would go that far. There are very few slot canyons that can compete with antelopes for beauty.
