Hole in the Rock

Around Escalante - Utah

Note: On unpaved roads, road conditions can change constantly. Therefore we strongly recommend to check the road conditions before each trip. Information is available at the Colorado NM Visitor Center. Before reported, during or shortly after rain or snowfall, we advise against driving on unpaved roads.

Altitude above sea level: Escalante
5820 ft

Our visits: So far 1 visit in May 2023

Hole in the Rock

Description: The Hole in the Rock is located at the southern end of the Hole in the Rock Road. It is a narrow and steep crevice that provides access to the Colorado River. The crevice was discovered and used by the Mormons in 1879 in search of a passage to new settlement areas in the eastern part of the state. 
They worked for months to prepare the crevasse by widening the upper section with blasting powder and chiseling anchor points directly into the sandstone with hand chisels. On January 26, 1880, the expedition down to the river began with 250 people, 83 fully loaded covered wagons and over 1000 head of cattle. The wagons were secured with ropes, and teams of men and oxen were used to pull the wagons through the upper crevasse, which had a gradient of almost 45°. Further down, a wooden path had been laid along the smooth sandstone. The route over the Hole in the Rock was only used for one year before it was replaced by an easier route further north.

Our rating: In June 2023, we managed to drive to the end of the Hole in the Rock Road for the first time to see the famous crevice with our own eyes. It is almost unbelievable that it was once possible to cross the river here with covered wagons and animals. As Lake Powell is now located on this spot, only part of the once 400m deep cliff can be seen today. Nevertheless, it is very impressive to stand at the top and look down into the depths. If you have a suitable vehicle to drive the last bumpy 7 miles of the Hole in the Rock Road, you should definitely take a look at this place. We were very impressed and enjoyed it.

4/5