Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic drive in Escalante National Monument
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic dirt road located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s suitable for passenger cars in good weather but a 4WD vehicle is required the last miles.
Where is Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
The road straddles Garfield and Kane counties, in the southern part of Utah.
When was Hole-in-the-Rock Road built?
It was built in 1879 by early Mormon settlers who were trying to build a route for southward migration.
How long is the Hole in the Rock Jeep Trail?
Tucked away in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Hole in the Rock Road (BLM-200) is totally unpaved. It’s 89.80km (55.8 miles) long, running from UT-12 near Escalante to the Hole-in-the-Rock on the western shore of Lake Powell. The road (a treacherous, yet typical desert dirt road) brings a sense of adventure and demands a bit of preparation.
Is the Hole-in-the-Rock Road challenging?
It is a dirt road, wide and quite well maintained. Driving down Hole in the Rock Road isn’t an easy task – this long dirt road is often rutted out, washed out, washboard-like, and very rough. The unpaved sections of the road can be impassable when wet. For most of the way (the first 35 miles), it’s doable for a handy driver even without a high-clearance vehicle, but the last few miles within Glen Canyon, the going gets rough, and a proper 4x4 is absolutely necessary especially with wet conditions.
How to get ready to drive the Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
Persons travelling this road should carry plenty of water (at least one gallon--4 liters--per person per day) and be equipped to get themselves out of any difficulty they might encounter. This road is not routinely patrolled by any agency. Temperatures can range over 100° F (38°C) in summer to near 0° F (-17°C) in winter. Sudden heavy rains, especially in summer months may make this road impassable. If you are caught near the end of the road during a heavy storm, you may not be able to make it back to the paved highway, even with a four-wheel drive. There is limited cell service in this area.
How long does it take to drive the Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
Plan around 3-5 hours to complete the drive. However, due its beauty it can take longer. It provides access to a number of recreational and historic sites in both Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Devil’s Garden and the Dry Fork slot canyons are popular recreational destinations. Visitors interested in pioneer history should see Dance Hall Rock and Hole-in the-Rock at the end of the road.
Pic: Ru Sya