The best walks and hikes around Escalante

Yes, dogs are generally permitted on trails within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, provided they are leashed. The Escalante River Trail is a popular choice for hiking with dogs. However, many slot canyons are not suitable or safe for dogs due to narrow passages and scrambling sections. Always check specific regulations for the area you plan to visit and carry plenty of water for your pet.

For an easy and educational walk, the Petrified Wood Trail in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a great option. It's a short loop with fascinating geology. Another excellent choice is the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls, which is relatively flat and leads to a spectacular waterfall, though it is longer. Devils Garden also offers a fun, accessible area for families to explore unique rock formations with minimal hiking.

For a challenging and rewarding backpacking experience, the Mamie Creek Natural Bridge via Boulder Mail Trail offers a long-distance trek through the rugged backcountry of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This route covers significant distance and elevation, rewarding hikers with solitude and stunning natural features.

Absolutely. The most famous waterfall hike is to Lower Calf Creek Falls, a stunning 126-foot cascade that flows into a clear pool. The trail is a moderately long but relatively flat walk through a sandy canyon. For a different perspective with fewer crowds, the shorter but steeper trail to Upper Calf Creek Falls also offers beautiful scenery and swimming holes.

Safety is paramount. Always check the weather forecast before entering a slot canyon, as flash floods are a serious and life-threatening risk, even if it's not raining directly overhead. Be prepared for tight spaces, scrambling over rocks, and wading through water. Popular slot canyons like Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulches require physical agility, while others like Willis Creek are more of a flat walk in a shallow creek.

For day hiking, you generally do not need a permit. However, you are encouraged to sign in at trail registers. For any overnight trips, such as backpacking in areas like Coyote Gulch or along the Escalante River, a free backcountry permit is required. These can be obtained at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center.

Spring (March to May) and fall (September to October) are the ideal seasons for hiking in Escalante. Temperatures are pleasant, and the weather is generally stable. Summer can be extremely hot, with temperatures often exceeding 100°F (38°C), making strenuous hikes dangerous. Winter is cold, and snow or ice can make trails and roads, especially unpaved ones, impassable.

The Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a long, unpaved dirt road. Its condition varies greatly depending on recent weather. When dry, the first several miles to popular trailheads like Devils Garden and the slot canyons can often be passable for a 2WD vehicle with good clearance. However, after storms, the road can become muddy, rutted, and impassable even for 4WD vehicles. Always check current conditions at the visitor center before driving on it.

Yes, the Escalante Overlook trail is a short and easy walk that provides expansive views of the Escalante River canyon and the surrounding landscape of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It's an excellent option for a quick hike with a big scenic payoff.

Escalante offers a more rugged, remote, and less-developed hiking experience focused on slot canyons and riverbeds within the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Trails are often less defined. Bryce Canyon National Park, in contrast, is famous for its unique hoodoo formations and features a more concentrated network of well-maintained and clearly marked trails, often with paved access and more visitor services.

The trail network around Escalante is highly regarded by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.5 stars. Hikers frequently praise the incredible geological diversity, from the narrow, winding slot canyons to the wide-open desert vistas. The sense of adventure and solitude found on many of the less-traveled routes is a major highlight for many visitors.