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Hike Hole in the Rock

Kane County, Utah

5.0/5
based on 3 reviews

Description

Added by Jake Hougaard

Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip. Incredible view of Lake Powell from above. Take a refreshing swim on a hot day. Explore the red rock beauty encompassing the area.

Hole in the Rock is a historic site in Utah where the Mormon Pioneers had to dynamite a path down the mountain to get through to the Colorado River. The pathway at Hole in the Rock is still cleared out, and you get to hike through the path that these enduring people traveled, bringing wagons down with all of their stuff and their oxen.

The Colorado River has now become part of Lake Powell, so you can hike down to the lake and swim around and cliff jump as well. The hike takes about 30-45 minutes to reach the lake, and about the same amount of time to get back up. Part of the hike is pretty open, but there are areas where rocks have fallen and it can seem like you're in a slot canyon. The view is amazing from the top all the way down to the lake.

Jumping in the lake after a good hike on a hot summer day feels amazing! Lake Powell is an incredible place to be, and there are a few places down on the lake, depending on the height of the water, where you can cliff jump. Some people will have someone meet them with a boat at the bottom, and they will spend the day or a couple of days on the lake, then hike back out at Hole in the Rock.

There's still so much to explore in this area near the Escalante Grand Staircase, so get out there and explore!

Getting there: The road from Escalante, UT (called Hole in the Rock Road) is a washboard dirt road that takes about two and a half hours to get to the end of. The geo-coordinates for the beginning of the road are 37°43'39.4"N 111°31'53.2"W and it's found just south-east of Escalante. It's a 51 mile journey to the end of the road, but along the way there are dozens of turn offs to incredible slot canyons. I would suggest going to Hole in the Rock, then spend a couple of days camping along the way back and hiking through the slot canyons there.

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Features

Camping
Fishing
Photography
Swimming
Hiking
Groups
Lake
Scenic
Wildlife
Cliff Jumping

Hike Hole in the Rock Reviews

Excellent hike. It’s pretty challenging at points, but the story behind how it came to be is incredible. Definitely bring at least a gallon of water per person, it can be pretty hot at strenuous.

Pretty rad area all the way from escalante down to hole-in-the-rock. expect a long drive but its well worth it. the scenery is beautiful and you can stop almost anywhere and hike, and explore. Hole-in-the-rock itself is insane. take some time to walk around and check it out and appreciate what it all actually means. some people definitely didn't practice leave no trace...

Making a a trip from SC out to Utah to hit up some places. Is a 4-Wheel drive car needed to get down Hole in the Rock Road? We are deciding between an all wheel drive Subaru and a 4-wheel drive jeep for our rental car. Will a Subaru get enough clearance?

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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