Advice on hiking trails near Escalante, Utah?
May 28, 2012 7:17 PM Subscribe
My wife and I want to go backpacking near Escalante, Utah next month. Although we're both reasonably fit and experienced desert backpackers, we're not as young as we once were. Can anyone recommend a good trip of no more than 4 days that will be easy to modestly difficult with shade and water for most of the trip?
There is some good slot canyons. NOT SHADY, but very cool. As in neat, not not-hot. Also, you have to drive an hour down unpaved Hole In The Rock Road. Here is a link for one, Peek A Boo Gulch but there are actually three slot canyons right near each other there. Highly recommended. Or drive the Hells Backbone.
posted by bob bisquick at 5:45 AM on May 29, 2012
posted by bob bisquick at 5:45 AM on May 29, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks, we've been to Peek A Boo on a previous trip. We're looking for something longer - a 2-4 day trip - and while there are several such trials on previously obtained maps, I was looking for some local input.
posted by BillW at 6:06 AM on May 29, 2012
posted by BillW at 6:06 AM on May 29, 2012
Have you looked at the Steve Allen books? Vol. 3 is on the Escalante NM -- Canyoneering 3: Loop Hikes in Utah's Escalante. I have all three volumes, and have done a lot of backpacking in Escalante, the San Rafael Swell, and the southern UT national parks. I can say from personal experience that those 3 books are fantastic.
The Box, maybe? "Shade and water for most of the trip" may be problematic, but Pine Creek may have water. Or walk down the river from Escalante to the Hwy-12 bridge?
Whatever you do, stay away from Kelsey's books.
posted by phliar at 2:52 PM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Box, maybe? "Shade and water for most of the trip" may be problematic, but Pine Creek may have water. Or walk down the river from Escalante to the Hwy-12 bridge?
Whatever you do, stay away from Kelsey's books.
posted by phliar at 2:52 PM on May 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks philar, I'll look for these books. I'd thought about the Escalante to Hwy-12 bridge with side trips up Death Hollow and Sand Creek and it sounds very appealing.
What do you think (in terms of shade and water) about Egypt to Fence Canyon, down the Escalante to Twentyfive Mile and then loop back to Egypt? The other one I was looking at was Red Well down Coyote Gulch and maybe a return via Hurricane Wash looping back to Red Well though obviously the last bit of that would be pretty exposed.
posted by BillW at 6:57 AM on June 3, 2012
What do you think (in terms of shade and water) about Egypt to Fence Canyon, down the Escalante to Twentyfive Mile and then loop back to Egypt? The other one I was looking at was Red Well down Coyote Gulch and maybe a return via Hurricane Wash looping back to Red Well though obviously the last bit of that would be pretty exposed.
posted by BillW at 6:57 AM on June 3, 2012
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posted by Good Brain at 9:59 PM on May 28, 2012