Before the narrows Dark section of the narrows Starting Water Wash , another tributary of Upper Kabito Creek, flows unremarkably for many miles across the Kabito Plateau before forming a very spectacular slot canyon near the junction with the main creek. At first the canyon has short sections of narrows 20-40 feet deep, interspersed with more open stretches but eventually it becomes much deeper, often very dark, although always exciting and photogenic. About half a mile before the junction with Kabito Creek, the wash descends steeply in a series of sheer drops with some pools, large boulders and log jams.
Some parts are pitch black, as the canyon becomes less winding and more cave-like.
Starting Water Wash is reached by driving 9 miles north along a good quality dirt track that joins highway AZ 98 and also passes close to the Kabito Creek and East Fork slot canyons. As for Upper Kabito Creek . The streambed is dry for most of the year and at first has soft sand with weathered, sloping rocks on each side. After 30 minutes walking the slot is around 30-40 feet deep, very narrow in places yet still generally light and sunny. The floor is sandy or stony, mostly quite flat but with occasional drops of a few feet, often with car tyres and other debris wedged between the rocks.