Escalante National Park
Day 1
Explore Willis Creek Narrows
Visit Devil’s garden
Stay at Cave Hotel in Boulder at Deer Creek Campground Road
Day 2
Hike Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons a 6.3 mile loop
Visit Singing Canyon
Day 3
Hike Calf Creek Falls
Must eat at Hells Backbone Grill
Escalante is awesome and its not too crowded. - Its only 4.5 hrs from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dinner – you have to eat at Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder its so delicious or try Circle D Eatery Escalante or Escalante Outfitters Pizza or Lunch at Nemo’s - shakes and fries.
Edge of Bryce Canyon (Cannonville) to edge of Escalante (Boulder) – 1hr 20 min
If you drive down through Monroe and have time visit the Mystic Hot Springs.
Willis Creek Narrows: 4.8 miles These narrows meander for about 4.8 miles but the first 1.3 miles is the best. You can turn back whenever you want. From Cannonville, head south on Main Street for 2.9 miles (this road goes right past the Grand Staircase Escalante Visitor’s Center). Turn right on to Skutumpah Road, which is a dirt road. Continue 6.0 miles on this dirt road until you come to the Willis Creek trailhead sign shown at the top of this post. Parking is on the right and the trailhead is to the left.
Calf Creek Falls - 6.7 miles round trip. Listed as easy but if it’s hot walking in the deep sand can feel hard. Pack plenty of water. The lower falls descend 126 feet into a pool you can swim in. The trailhead is located just off of Utah Scenic Byway 12, the highway between Escalante and Boulder. There is a sign for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Calf Creek Recreation Area.
Devils Garden - Perfect place for kids to explore, complete with sandstone hoodoos, narrow passages, and small arches, along Hole-in-the-Rock Road. It also has a four-site picnic area with toilets, tables, fire pits, and grills.
Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch - This 6.3 mile loop includes both slot canyons, but the trick is finding them. The trial is okay from the beginning to Peek-a-boo, but it was hard to find the drop into Spooky Slot Canyon and then to find the path back out from the end of Spooky. We probably wandered fro an extra mile in the heat with our kiddos. Still work it, these two slot canyons are incredible.
Singing Canyon - take the Burr Trail Road toward Bullfrog through Long Canyon. Drive to mile 11.5 and stop at Singing Canyon. The paved road continues to mile 18.
The Escalante Natural Bridge trail is about 12 miles outside of Escalante and it has 5 river crossings each way. The hike ends at a beautiful Natural Bridge you can hike under. The trail is flat and easy and 3.5 miles roundtrip.
You can do this itinerary from west to east or the other way around, just reverse the days!
