Larry Halford getting the squeeze in the definitive Slot Canyon - Spooky.

Almost heaven, the Escalante is a vast area of fascinating canyons cut into Navajo and Wingate Sandstone, with abundant arches, lush streams and lovely vistas. It is quite a place, not the least for its vastness and variety. Both single and multiple day adventures are possible, thanks to steady supplies of beautiful water in many canyons. The number of published technical thrash-fests are few; the number of divine, incredible explorations high. The level of adventure is high - please help keep it this way.

The Escalante is a traditional-style canyoneering area. Please do not place bolts.

The few hikes listed here only scratch the surface. Personally, I head to the Escalante whenever I have more than a weekend to put together. Summers are very hot, but hikes can be found by carefully selecting canyons with lots of water to keep cool in. The usual seasons are Spring and Fall, though many great hikes can be done in winter also.

Steve Allen's rather stupendous guidebook Canyoneering 3 does a very good job of covering most of the Escalante area. Doesn't leave me much of a soapbox, but I'll post a few of my favorites, and toss in a few variations to Steve's wonderful work.

Special Considerations

The Escalante is spread out. It often takes an hour or more to drive to your trailhead from the main road. Be sure to plan your travel, and have enough water, food and fuel to avoid emergencies. No water is available outside of town and a few key spots. This is a big, wild place - treat it with respect.

For technical canyoneers, please respect the wilderness nature of the Escalante canyons. Almost all of the canyons in the Escalante have been descended without the use of drilled anchors - please respect the local standard, and come prepared to descend difficult canyons without drilling. Advanced natural anchor skills will also allow you to descend with little trace of your passage. Please.

Northern Escalante Upper Calf Creek     2A II Lower Calf Creek Family Hike     1A II-III   Central Escalante Phipps Canyon and Arch     2A III Phipps Canyon to Deer Canyon     2A IV Death Hollow Sneak Route & Micro-Death-Hollow Slot Canyon     3A III (5.2R)   Hole In the Rock Road Canyons Upper Harris Wash: Zebra and Tunnel Slots     1A II Egypt 3 Slot Canyon     2A III or       3B III Neon, Fence & Ringtail     3B III Choprock Slot     3B IV  (High water, 4B IV R) Dry Forks, Coyote Gulch: Peek-A-Boo, Spooky & Brimstone Slot Canyons     2A II - III Heart of Coyote Gulch Dayhike     2A III (5.4R) Davis Gulch     3B 5.6 IV

Coyote Bridge in Coyote Gulch

Excursions of Escalante		Excursions of Escalante is entering its seventh year as Escalante’s locally based professional guide service. Their commitment is to safely guide guests beyond the more accessible places (Spooky, Peekaboo, etc.) and into the most remote, most beautiful and most pristine corners of the Escalante region. Their Permits in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Box Death Hollow Wilderness Area, and Dixie National Forest allow them to offer unparalleled off-trail hiking, canyoneering and backpacking opportunities. Hiker Shuttles by arrangement, call for details.   125 East Main Street (PO Box 605), Escalante, UT, 84726 1.800.839.7567
Escalante Outfitters		Escalante Outfitters is THE AREA'S LARGEST OUTDOOR STORE serving all of your hiking, backpacking, camping, canyoneering (including Imlay Canyon Gear), and touring needs. They have a full line of maps, topos, guidebooks, gear and supplies, and are the area's only state liquor store (featuring a great wine selection). They also have high-quality souveniers produced by local artisans, and free wireless internet access! Pizza and beer on the porch is an after-canyon tradition, and for those for whom sleeping in the dirt is not preferred, there are nice cabins out back, too. 310 West Main Street (PO Box 575), Escalante UT 84726. 435-826-4266
		USGS Streamflow Data for Escalante River at Escalante

 

 

Animals

I've seen more interesting animals in the Escalante than in other parts of Utah. Here's a few examples: