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Named after a Franciscan missionary named Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, the town of Escalante is located in Garfield County. With about 800 residents, it was extremely isolated in the past. The only nearby towns were Boulder and Henrieville, both of which were around 30 miles away.
Now there are highways connecting the area and you can get where you need to go quite easily. And there are plenty of places you’ll want to go.
West of the city you’ll find the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. It’s a fascinating place to take the family to explore and shoot photos. The history of the area is on perfect display.
One of the most famous destinations in the area are the Calf Creek Falls. The upper falls is more remote, so you can enjoy solitude in the shadows of the cliffs. The lower falls are more magnificent to behold, meaning the crowds are bigger. But they are both worth the hike.
Hop onto the Hole-in-the-Rock Road and you can descend into the fascinating reaches of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This epic region offers everything from cliff dwellings to mining artifacts to slot canyons to desert wildlife. The monument attracts a lot of tourists, but because of the vast expanse, you can easily find your own quiet corner to explore.
Anytime you’re venturing into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, be sure to bring a spare tire, plenty of water, a first aid kit, and other survival supplies. This is rugged country where a small incident can easily become a more serious situation.
The best time to explore Escalante is spring and fall. The weather is more pleasant, and you’ll be able go on hikes without the serious threat of heatstroke. Plus, many of the most popular areas are less crowded than they’d be during the scorching summer months.
How To Get There:
You’ll take Scenic Byway 12 to reach Escalante in the south-central area of Utah. It’s roughly an hour and half south of Capitol Reef and three hours away from St. George.
More Information:
Garfield County Office of Tourism
Lodging (Affiliate Link):
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