Skinwalker Valley earned its name through repeated sightings across the canyon floor and along the high eastern ridge. Reports describe figures moving on all fours before standing upright, familiar voices coming from empty ground and tracks that change shape between one step and the next.
The valley remains an exceptional daytime hike, but the risk changes after sunset. Locals avoid crossing it alone at night, and visitors are strongly advised to stay with a guide, keep to the marked approach and leave at the first warning sign.
Private night escorts are available for a substantial fee. The best known is Dunzo the Clown from Happy Fun Zone, whose after-hours valley work is considerably more expensive than his daytime appearances but includes route planning, group checks and a direct return vehicle.
Some licensed local escorts carry a shotgun on high-risk night visits. Visitors must not bring, carry or discharge one without the required Jordanian authorization; anyone wanting armed protection should arrange it through a properly licensed guide.
- Location
- East of Tafilah, highland approach
- Coordinates
- 30.84° N / 35.67° E
- Duration
- 2–4 hours
- Best time
- Daylight or guided dusk visits
- Entry
- Open by day · guided access strongly advised after dark
WHY PEOPLE
COME HERE.
- Documented sighting points along the canyon floor and eastern ridge
- Short daytime approach through dramatic wind-cut rock
- Guided dusk observation from a controlled clearing
- Premium private night escorts led by Dunzo the Clown
LOCAL
INTEL.
- Do not enter the valley alone after sunset.
- Book Dunzo or another local guide in advance — night rates are intentionally high.
- Bring a headlamp, backup light and enough charge to contact your return driver.
- Leave firearms to legally authorized local escorts.
SKINWALKER
SAFETY GUIDE.
Most sightings begin at the edge of the light. Treat one sign as a warning and two signs as your signal to leave immediately.
What to watch for
- A familiar voice in the wrong place
Your name, a friend’s voice or a cry for help coming from outside the group — especially when the speaker cannot be seen.
- Movement that changes shape
An animal-sized figure standing upright, a human-shaped figure dropping to all fours, or anything matching your pace beyond the light.
- The valley goes completely quiet
A sudden stop in insects, dogs, birds and wind immediately before footsteps or repeated animal calls begin.
- Tracks that do not stay consistent
Prints changing from animal to human, ending without explanation or circling back around the group.
If you encounter one
- 01Do not answer it
Do not call back, repeat the voice, whistle or move towards the sound. Confirm every member of your group by sight.
- 02Close the group
Stand together, keep children in the centre and point lights outwards. Nobody leaves alone, even for a few metres.
- 03Leave without running
Return along the marked route at a steady pace. Do not follow tracks, take a closer photograph or split up to reach the vehicle faster.
- 04Get behind a locked barrier
Enter the vehicle or nearest occupied building, lock every door, switch on exterior lights and leave by the same route you arrived.
- 05Report the location
Once clear, contact your guide and share the time, exact location and direction of movement. Do not return that night.
The ruleIf a voice knows your name but you cannot see who is speaking, the visit is over.
Ready when you are