Hole-in-the-Rock Road — Escalante to Hole-in-the-Rock via Dry Fork and Fiftymile Bench
Follow the pioneers to a cleft in the Colorado's rim.
In 1879, around 250 Mormon pioneers took 80 wagons to the lip of a sandstone crack above the Colorado River and lowered them down it by hand, rope and blasting powder. You drive their route. The Hole-in-the-Rock Road leaves Highway 12 east of Escalante and runs 57 miles through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It passes Devil’s Garden, the trailheads for Dry Fork slots (Peek-a-boo and Spooky), and the long, exposed Fiftymile Bench. The last six miles get rough with ledgy sandstone and loose clay, and then you’re standing at the rim of the Hole, looking down at Lake Powell.
The first 36 miles are graded and usually passable in a regular car when dry. The final stretch needs high clearance and tough tires, and the whole road turns to slick clay and impassable ruts after rain. Flash floods are real in the side drainages, so check the forecast before you commit to a slot canyon. Fuel up in Escalante, carry plenty of water, and expect no cell signal. Get a free overnight permit if you plan to camp in the monument, and keep your camp at least 200 feet from water. Spring and fall are best, with summer heat and monsoon storms close behind. The payoff is slot canyons, a view of the pioneers’ descent, and a lot of empty desert. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 57 mi / 91.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5900 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD (dry) / 4WD recommended for final miles |
| Nearest town | Escalante, Utah |
| Land manager | BLM - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante NM |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 2WD car or crossover drive Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
When the road is dry, most of the 57 miles is doable in a high-clearance 2WD, though the washboard is relentless. The last stretch to the end gets rocky and ledgy, so 4WD with real clearance is the safer call. Low-clearance cars risk sidewall damage and flats.
Is Hole-in-the-Rock Road passable after rain or in winter?
Rain turns the clay sections into slick, sticky mud that can strand even 4x4s, and Dry Fork and other washes can flash flood. Best windows are April to June and September to October. Winter is possible at this elevation (max 5,900 ft), but snow, ice, and mud make it unpredictable, and summer heat is brutal.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp on Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
BLM lists a permit as required for this route in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Overnight permits are free and issued through the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center and trailhead registers. Check with them before you go, since rules change.
What's the hardest part of the trail?
The final miles to Hole-in-the-Rock are the roughest, with slickrock, rock ledges, and loose, bumpy sections that call for high clearance and ideally 4WD. The famous cleft itself is a steep scramble down on foot, and the pioneers' wagon route is not drivable.
What should I plan for on supplies, fuel, and cell service?
There is no cell service and no services along the road, so fill up with gas and water in Escalante. The round trip is about 114 miles, plus any side trips to slot canyons or Dry Fork, so carry extra fuel, a full-size spare, and recovery gear. Dispersed camping is allowed along the road, and you'll have to pack out everything you bring.
Trail track
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