Location: Escalante
Top Things to do in Escalante
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What to do and see in Escalante, Utah (UT): The Best Outdoor Activities
Escalante (/ɛskəˈlɑːnteɪ/, locally /ˈɛskɛlæni/ or /ˈɛskəlænt/) is a city in Garfield County, Utah, United States located along Utah Scenic Byway 12 (SR-12) in the south central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, there were 797 people residing in the city.
Restaurants in Escalante
1. Utah Canyon Outdoors
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 91 reviews
Utah Canyon Outdoors is in the heart of Escalante, Utah, one hour East of Bryce Canyon and is your best jumping off spot for discovery of this wild and diverse natural area. Our tours and shuttles make "Monument" access easy. Custom maps, guidebooks and "inside" information get you on track to the best day hike and backpack destinations. We also rent Alpacka Packrafts for floating the Escalante River in the spring or playing on one of the mountain lakes in the summer. Our outdoor store is packed with carefully selected and desert tested clothing and gear. The "Coffee Corner" serves organic coffee drinks hot or iced with a shaded patio to watch the day go by. WINTER HOURS - Friday/Saturday - 8am-6pm, Sunday - 8am-4pm. Closed January and February
2. Indigo Day Hikes
3. Scenic Byway Route 12
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 376 reviews
Reviewed By MsNats - Salt Lake City, United States
Try to do this in the daytime though! Lots of mountain roads that need light to navigate with confidence - amazing views. Loved the sites we stopped to see: Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Park Loved the towns along the way: Hyway 89, towns of Tropic, Cannonville, Henrieville, Escalante, Boulder.
4. Smokey Mountain Road
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By 817Rob - Louisville, United States
Smokey Mountain Road is traverses though varied and spectacular landscapes for approximately 75 miles from the town of Escalante to Big Water. Although some have said that the road is hard to follow, we did not find this to be the case. Although some have noted that the scenery is mundane, again, we did not find this to be true in any sense. There are beautiful canyons, sweeping vistas, unique features to explore such as the Coal Seam Fires, and much more. It is possible to stop the car at pretty much any point and get out and explore the phenomenal lands surrounding the road. Every time that we did this, we came across hidden canyons, small arches and rock features, wildflower, and so much more that was invisible to those never venturing from their car. The northern portion of the road has more trees on it. Towards the south, these disappear as you near the spectacular sweep of land near the Coal Seam Fires. The view from the top of Smokey Mountain (a short off-trail hike) is wonderful with layering resembling the Grand Canyon in nearby rock strata. Beyond this (heading south) one comes to the Kelly Grade which is exposed enough to keep your interest up while driving while also being bleak and austere and ever so beautiful. We didn't see a single other car from Escalante until we had nearly reached the limits of Big Water. Some of the way you are pretty isolated, so be sure to carry a few gallons of water, extra food, and a spare tire! Rumor has it that it becomes impassible after heavy rains but we did not have that situation occur.
5. High Adventure
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 161 reviews
ATV/Jeep Rentals and GPS Guided tours of the Escalante area. Shuttle service to area trail heads with daily service to Spooky and Peek-a-boo slot canyons. We provide guided tours of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Dixie National Forest.
6. Hell's Backbone Road
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By SusanJ2492
Very good road. Awesome views and scenery of the Grand Staircase. Lots of campgrounds and trails for atv's.
7. Hole In The Rock Road
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 191 reviews
Reviewed By HotQuescene - Fort Lauderdale, United States
Yes this is dirt road that is mostly washboard. No, I probably wouldn't take my personal vehicle down this road unless it was a Jeep or similar 4 wheel drive. Ground clearance wasn't an issue until the turn off for Peekaboo and Spooky Canyons. I didn't drive the remaining miles to the end. From the turn off or first parking area for the slot canyons, the road deteriorates, although fine for a high clearance SUV. It was deep rutted sand, but not get stuck soft. The key to the main road is drive slow. Many people in a hurry to get back to the highway after hiking were flying down this road creating so much dust that I drove into a heard of cattle that was clouded by the dust. If you plan for 1.5-2 hours to drive 30 miles each way, its fine. This road offers many hiking access points into the numerous slot and other canyons in the Harris Wash drainage.
