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I know Escalante, Utah is tiny and in the middle of nowhere! But it has some very cool hikes, which are worth checking out. If you’re wondering which hikes in Escalante are worth your limited time, I’ve got you covered.
Escalante is a tiny town on Scenic Byway 12 in Utah that feels completely off the grid (in the best way), with hiking, camping, and lots of stars.
The quick answer: if you only have time for two hikes, do Spooky Gulch and Lower Calf Creek Falls. Below, I cover both, plus more Escalante day hikes, when to go, the dirt road you’ll need to drive, and where to stay and eat.
Let’s get into it!
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Best Hikes in Escalante, Utah at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview so you can pick based on your time and comfort level. The first two are the ones I recommend most.
- Spooky Gulch: a very narrow slot canyon, usually done as a loop with Peek-a-boo Gulch (about 3.5 miles, moderate with some scrambling)
- Lower Calf Creek Falls: about 6 miles round trip on a sandy, mostly flat trail to a 126-foot waterfall (easy to moderate)
- Zebra Slot Canyon: about 5 miles round trip to a short, striped slot that often has standing water (moderate)
- Upper Calf Creek Falls: about 2 miles round trip, short but steep down slickrock (moderate)
- Devils Garden: a short, easy wander among hoodoos and arches (easy)
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park: about a 1-mile loop right by town (easy to moderate)
Distances are approximate and vary by source. Check trailhead signs or ask at the visitor center before you go.
A quick heads up: a lot of the best trails are down unpaved roads. Build in more driving time than you think you need.
Escalante, Utah Slot Canyons
Slot canyons are narrow cracks in the sandstone, sometimes only shoulder-width apart, carved by flash floods over thousands of years. They’re the main reason a lot of people come to Escalante, and they’re what I’d tell a friend not to miss.
Most of the famous ones are off Hole-in-the-Rock Road, a long gravel road heading south from Byway 12 just east of town. I cover the road itself in the logistics section below.
Spooky Gulch
Don’t miss this one! Spooky Gulch is a wild, narrow squeeze that lives up to the name.
It’s about 26 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road at the Dry Fork trailhead. Most people hike it as a loop with Peek-a-boo Gulch, which comes out to roughly 3.5 miles total.
It’s not long or high-elevation (nothing like climbing Kilimanjaro), but it’s a different kind of challenge. The narrowest sections are tight enough that most people have to turn sideways.
A few tips before you go:
- Bring a small backpack, or one you can easily hold in front of you
- Wear clothes you don’t mind scraping on sandstone walls
- Skip it if you’re claustrophobic, since there’s no easy way to turn around in the tightest parts
- Go early in the day, when it’s cooler, and you’re less likely to get stuck behind groups
- Bring lots of water in the summer! We ended up having to call search-and-rescue for a family who got stuck on this hike and didn’t have enough water.
This hike is labeled moderate, and in lots of parts, it was. However, there’s one large drop and tight canyons. Know your limits.
Peek-a-boo Gulch
Peek-a-boo is the usual partner to Spooky. The entrance is a slickrock wall you have to climb (roughly 10 to 12 feet), and some people need a boost from a hiking buddy (me!).
Inside, it’s a bit wider than Spooky, with small arches and ledges to scramble through. If the entry climb isn’t for you, hike into Spooky from the bottom and turn around whenever you’ve had enough.
Zebra Slot Canyon
Zebra is known for its red and white striped walls, and it’s one of the most photographed slots in the area. It’s about 5 miles round trip from a trailhead roughly 8 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
The slot itself is short, and it often holds standing water that can be cold and deep. Ask at the visitor center about conditions before you head out.
Willis Creek
A popular pick for families and first-timers is Willis Creek, an easy slot closer to Cannonville and Bryce. The walls are wider and a shallow creek runs through, so it’s a gentle way to see a slot canyon without any squeezing.
If you’d rather not drive the dirt roads or figure out the slots on your own, a guided hike is a great option. Local outfitters run half-day and full-day slot canyon trips from Escalante.
🎟️Find guided slot canyon hikes near Escalante→
Planning a weekend away?
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Lower Calf Creek Falls Hike
For something a little more relaxed (but still stunning), hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls. It’s the most popular hike in the Escalante area, and for good reason.
The trail is about 6 miles round trip and follows Calf Creek through a canyon lined with tall red and tan cliffs. It’s mostly flat, but some stretches are deep sand, which is more tiring than it sounds.
At the end is a 126-foot waterfall pouring into a green pool, a big contrast to the dry desert you drove through. Plan to hang out for a bit, have a snack, and cool off in the shade near the falls.
Lower Calf Creek Falls Tips
- The trailhead is at Calf Creek Recreation Area, right off Byway 12 about 15 miles east of Escalante
- There’s a day-use fee per vehicle, so check current rates (and bring some cash just in case)
- The parking lot is small and fills up, especially on weekends and in spring and fall
- There’s very little shade until you get close to the falls, so bring more water than you think
- There are no services on the trail, so pack a picnic lunch
One tradeoff: this isn’t the hike for solitude. Midday on a nice weekend, you’ll likely share the falls with a lot of other people, so go early if you want it quieter.
More Escalante Day Hikes
If you have more time, there are plenty of other Grand Staircase Escalante hikes to explore. Here are the basics to help you plan.
You’ll also be right near Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a massive stretch of protected land with incredible red rock formations and remote trails worth exploring. Even the drives between trailheads are beautiful.
Upper Calf Creek Falls
This one is short, around 2 miles round trip, but steep. The trail drops down open slickrock from a small dirt lot farther up Byway 12 toward Boulder.
At the bottom, there are pools and a waterfall that are popular for a swim on hot days. The climb back up is in full sun, so start early.
Devils Garden
Not to be confused with the Devils Garden in Arches, this one is about 12 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road. You wander among hoodoos and the Metate Arch with no set trail.
It’s an easy stop on your way to or from Spooky Gulch (could be a great lunch spot as well!).
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
This state park is right outside town, which makes it an easy option if you’re short on time. The Petrified Forest Trail is about a mile long with a steep start, passing pieces of petrified wood and views over Wide Hollow Reservoir.
If you want more, add the Sleeping Rainbows loop for even more colorful petrified wood. There’s an entrance fee, so check current rates before you go.
Getting There and Hiking Logistics
Escalante is about an hour east of Bryce Canyon National Park and around five hours south of Salt Lake City, right along Scenic Byway 12. The drive is part of the trip, with some of the prettiest desert views I’ve seen.
Just like with my day trips from Denver, you really need a car here. There’s no public transportation, and the trailheads are spread far apart. Some of the roads require a car that is good on uneven rocks. We took my friend’s pickup truck to handle the roads well.
Flying In
Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are the two main airports people use, and both are roughly four and a half to five hours away by car. Many people pair Escalante with Bryce, Capitol Reef, or Zion on a bigger Utah road trip.
✈️Search flights into Salt Lake City for Utah→
Hole-in-the-Rock Road
This gravel road is how you reach Spooky, Peek-a-boo, Zebra, and Devils Garden. It’s washboarded and bumpy, so expect to drive slowly.
When it’s dry, many regular cars make it to the popular trailheads with care, but a higher-clearance vehicle is much more comfortable. After rain, the road can become impassable, even for 4WD, so always check conditions first.
When to Go
Spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) are the best times for hiking. Temperatures are comfortable, and you can be outside all day without overheating.
Summer is very hot, and monsoon season (roughly July through September) brings afternoon storms and a higher flash flood risk. Winter is quiet and cold, with a chance of snow and muddy roads.
I went in mid-July, which is probably the worst time to go. It was really hot, like really hot. We definitely needed more water to safely hike, and unfortunately, saw the consequences of not having enough water (needing to call search-and-rescue for a family).
Safety Tips
- Stop at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in town for road conditions and the flash flood forecast
- Never enter a slot canyon if storms are forecast, even if the rain is miles away
- Carry plenty of water, since there’s little shade and no water on most trails
- Download offline maps, because cell service is spotty or nonexistent outside town. We barely had service. Our car broke down pretty far into the gravel road, and I had no service to call anyone (I had Verizon at the time). My friends who had Tmobile had service.
- Have a took kit + spare parts in your car
- If you’re hiking solo, share your plan with someone and stick to busier trails like Lower Calf Creek
Where to Stay and Eat in Escalante
There’s not a lot going on in town, which is part of the charm. You’ve got one main street, a handful of restaurants, and a small-town community.
Where to Stay
Here are my recommendations depending on your budget:
- Ofland Escalante if you’re looking for luxury
- Escalante Yurts for glamping
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park for budget-friendly camping (what we did)
Another popular pick is the small campground at Calf Creek Recreation Area, right at the Lower Calf Creek trailhead. It fills up fast, so check availability early.
Wherever you stay, step outside at night. The star-filled skies are a big part of what makes Escalante such a good weekend reset!
📍Compare places to stay in Escalante, Utah→
Where to Eat
Your food options are limited, so plan ahead. Magnolia’s Kitchen is your go-to for breakfast before a long hike, and 4th West Pub hits the spot for a casual dinner.
Restaurant hours can be limited, especially outside the busy season. I recommend bringing snacks and extra water from a bigger town before you arrive.
What Surprised Me and Mistakes to Avoid
One thing I didn’t expect: my car broke down in Escalante! Our waiter and a few locals went completely out of their way to help us.
It’s also a good reminder of how remote this area is. Keep your gas tank full, make sure you have a spare tire, and don’t count on quick repairs.
I’d bring a car tool kit if possible. Repair shops are few and far between. My friend’s dad ended up having to drive all the way from Colorado with a part for the car to help us out. It was a Sunday, and all mechanic shops were closed.
Here are the most common mistakes to avoid:
- Treating Escalante as a quick detour from Bryce, when you really need at least a full day (ideally a weekend)
- Packing your schedule so tightly that there’s no buffer for road conditions or weather
- Expecting a big restaurant scene
If you’re not into dirt roads or tight spaces, I’d skip the Hole-in-the-Rock slots altogether. Focus on Lower Calf Creek, Upper Calf Creek, and the Petrified Forest instead, and you’ll still have an amazing trip.
FAQs
What is the best hike in Escalante, Utah?
My top two picks are Spooky Gulch and Lower Calf Creek Falls. Spooky is the more adventurous slot canyon, while Lower Calf Creek is a more relaxed walk to a big waterfall.
Is the Lower Calf Creek Falls hike hard?
It’s mostly easy to moderate, at about 6 miles round trip with little elevation gain. The deep sand and lack of shade make it more tiring than the stats suggest.
Do you need a 4×4 to reach Spooky Gulch?
Not always, since many regular cars make it down Hole-in-the-Rock Road when it’s dry. A higher-clearance vehicle is more comfortable, and the road can be impassable after rain.
How many days do you need in Escalante?
A weekend is perfect for hitting Spooky Gulch and Lower Calf Creek Falls without rushing. With a third day, you can add Upper Calf Creek, Zebra, or the Petrified Forest.
When is the best time to hike Escalante slot canyons?
Spring and fall are best for comfortable temperatures. Be extra careful with the forecast from July through September, when monsoon storms raise the flash flood risk.
Final Thoughts
If you only have time for two hikes in Escalante, do Spooky Gulch and Lower Calf Creek Falls. Add a slot or two off Hole-in-the-Rock Road if you have extra time, and you’ll have a lot of fun.
If you love outdoor trips like this, you might also like my guide to summer in Colorado. I hope you have the best time in Escalante!
I hope you have the best trip!
Everything here comes from my own time in Utah. Take what’s useful and make the trip your own.