Escalante Petrified Forest State Park Campground — Wide Hollow Reservoir

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park sits just northwest of town, with a campground wrapped around Wide Hollow Reservoir. It’s a developed spot with pull-through and back-in sites, picnic tables, restrooms, hot showers, drinking water, and a dump station. That last part matters, because there’s nothing like it out on the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Most sites have little shade, and the juniper and sage flats are wide open. Sunsets over the reservoir are good. The park’s petrified wood trail is a short walk from camp if you want to stretch your legs.

It’s a smart staging camp before you push out onto the 50-plus miles of washboard toward Hole-in-the-Rock. Top off water, dump tanks, and clean up here, then head back for the same on your way out. Summer weekends and spring and fall shoulder seasons fill up, so verify availability and reservation options with Utah State Parks before you roll in. Fees, site counts, and hours change, so check ahead. The park is on the town’s west side, so budget a few extra minutes to reach the road east of Escalante.

Have a dirty day.

Showers and a dump station before the washboard.