Escalante is a small, ranching-influenced town in Utah along Scenic Byway 12. Two perspectives come together here for trip planning: the history of the settlement and the landscape of Escalante River Canyon. In town, the Historic District is a cultural focal point; outdoor topics range from the canyon trail to regional protected areas, which the Visitor Center can tell you about. Escalante can therefore be understood both through its local history and through specific routes and activities.
Cultural History in the Historic District
The community of Escalante was permanently settled in 1875. The Escalante Historic District was added to the register of historic districts in 2013. Escalante has 124 historic homes that contribute to the Historic District and illustrate the town’s architectural growth. A walking tour guide to the Escalante Historic District offers a practical starting point for exploring this historical focal point.
The History of the Hole-in-the-Rock Trek
The Escalante Heritage Center is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Hole-in-the-Rock trek and the settlement of Escalante and Boulder. The first exploration reports on the Hole-in-the-Rock route were prepared by three Escalante residents: Charles Hall, Andrew P. Schow, and Reuben Collett. This directly connects the route’s early exploration with local history. At the same time, the Heritage Center’s preservation focus extends beyond Escalante to include the settlement of Boulder.
Canyon, Trail, and Cycling Route
Escalante River Canyon is characterized by broad, high rock walls with desert varnish; wildflowers and vegetation run through the canyon. The Escalante River Canyon Trail begins at a trailhead in Escalante and runs 15 miles one way to the Highway 12 bridge. A 27-mile section of Scenic Byway 12 also begins in Escalante for cyclists. It is listed as 54 miles round trip with about 4,000 feet of elevation gain. The one-way distances can be compared directly: 15 miles to the Highway 12 bridge on the trail and 27 miles on the cycling route.
Numerous roadside parking spaces are available along Highway 12 in Escalante and at the BLM Visitor Center on the west side of town. Free permits for backcountry hiking are available at the BLM or NPS office in Escalante; alternatively, you can fill them out at the registration boxes at the trailheads. The Escalante Subdistrict of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers opportunities for backcountry hiking and camping.
Regional Orientation and Other Places
The Escalante Interagency Visitor Center provides information about the local geology and ecosystem of the nearly one-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Visitors can also get information there about exploring Dixie National Forest and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. These topics add a broader regional perspective to the trip, while the Historic District and Canyon Trail offer specific points of interest in Escalante.
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir just outside Escalante City. It is another named place to consider when planning, alongside the history in town, the Canyon Trail, and activities in the Escalante Subdistrict. Which of these perspectives you focus on depends on whether you are most interested in local history, a particular route length, or the region’s natural areas.
Discover more destinations: Bryce Canyon, Panguitch, Tropic, Boulder, Henrieville, Hatch, Ticaboo, Cannonville
For the broader trip overview: Garfield.
