Utah's Mighty Five national parks are among the most popular outdoor destinations in the U.S., boasting a variety of unusual landscapes and rock formations found nowhere else in the world. The parks welcomed an estimated 11 million guests in 2024, generating an estimated $3.1 billion for Utah's economy.
The reason for all this visitation is simple: Utah's national parks are undeniably cool. The rock formations are otherworldly, and the hikes are challenging but deeply satisfying. As someone who has visited Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon National Parks, I've seen firsthand what all the hype is about, and each visit leaves me wanting more.
If there's one thing I've learned about Utah, both as a resident and a traveler, there is so much more to the state than just the national parks. As I made my way to a quiet town in Bryce Canyon Country less than an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park, I found what felt like a secret world full of everything that makes Utah special, but with a tiny fraction of the crowds.
Escalante Represents What Makes Utah Exceptional
Utah attracts visitors from all over the world, and I always enjoy trying to see how many languages I can identify on national park trails. With such widespread appeal, some of the most scenic areas, like the Walter Wiggles of Zion National Park's Angels Landing hike, can end up feeling more like a line at the grocery store than an outdoor adventure.
Sandwiched between Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Escalante has a mix of elements that feel like Utah's big national parks while bringing in a little something that is all its own.
Escalante is, in many ways, a giant playground where every area is modeled after its most famous attractions. This is particularly true in the Devil's Garden area of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Located about 10 miles down the Hole-in-the-Rock dirt road off Highway 12, the Devil's Garden seems unassuming at first. From the small parking lot, there are immediately some hoodoos present along a dry creek bed, but only once visitors make their way around the one-mile loop through the "garden."
The hoodoos are just as incredible as their cousins in the busy amphitheater of Bryce Canyon, but that's just the start of the scenery. Hidden among the hoodoos are two arches, one of Utah's other most famous formations. The spindly Mano Arch is particularly dramatic, seeming to defy physics as it stretches from end to end.
Rippling waves of color, reminiscent of the Wave along the Utah-Arizona border, reflect the bright desert sun, adding even more visual interest. Despite being a fairly small area, the Devil's Garden is the perfect snapshot of all that Escalante has to offer outdoor lovers exploring Utah.
Zion National Park is renowned for having some of the most dangerous hikes in the U.S. In addition to Angels Landing, Zion National Park is home to the famous Narrow hike, which wades through the Virgin River between the Zion Canyon walls.
Narrows and slot canyons are everywhere in Utah, however, and Escalante's might just be the most beautiful. The catch? You have to get there.
Distance: | 4.7 miles |
Difficulty: | Hard |
Major Challenges: | 15-foot climb into slot canyon, rattlesnakes, mud pools |
Highlights: | Rock Scrambles, Dry Creek Narrows, Sandstone Waves and Arches |
25 bumpy miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road is the Upper Dry Fork Narrows Trailhead. Surrounded by nothing but prickly pears, it almost feels like you've taken a wrong turn when you arrive. Following a variety of trail markers and rock stacks, hikers make their way into the Dry Creek Narrows, on the other side of which lies the infamous Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyon loop.
Spooky Slot Canyon gets so narrow that hikers actually have to test themselves with a metal slot at the beginning of the trail that shows how narrow the canyon is. The challenging hike (seriously, bring a buddy to get help climbing into the slots) looks and feels like another planet, without the permits and crowds that Zion brings in.
Escalante is indeed a land of adventure, but that doesn't always mean driving into the middle of the Utah desert. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, one of Utah's more obscure state parks, has not one, but two entrances right in the heart of Escalante.
The hikeable part of the park is fairly small, in part to protect the petrified wood scattered throughout the region. Two connected loops, the Petrified Forest and Sleeping Rainbow loops, make for a moderately challenging walk through massive petrified logs atop desert hills.
For those who aren't up for a hike, the state park has collected a number of its most impressive logs along a paved walkway right by the parking lot, making it fully accessible for everyone looking to see what this unique destination is all about.
Whether out on the road or right in town, Escalante has so many types of activities to enjoy that Utah's Mighty 5 might just become a distant memory.
Escalante Pairs Perfectly With A Trip To Bryce Canyon
It can be hard to picture visiting Utah and skipping the national parks, even for a place as exceptional as Escalante. However, despite the secluded feel, the small town is less than an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park's entrance, making them the perfect complement to one another.
Bryce Canyon is one of the best national parks to visit in a day, with a variety of shorter hikes among the hoodoos to choose from, as well as lesser-known trails like the Bristlecone Pine Loop at Rainbow Point.
The proximity between Bryce Canyon and Escalante means visitors can spend a full day at the park hiking and exploring, even taking time to shop at Ruby's Inn to shop, before heading back to Escalante along the scenic Highway 12.
Bryce Canyon is often regarded as the favorite Utah national park among state residents, thanks to its unique landscape and variety of red rock and pine forest. The ability to enjoy this fan-favorite while also escaping the crowds in Escalante is just one more reason to love this underrated Utah destination.
How To Make The Most Of A Trip To Escalante
Escalante has many elements that make it feel like Utah's big national parks, but the fact that it's not actually in the busy parks makes it so enjoyable. That distance means planning is extremely important if you really want to make the most of this desert paradise. After spending three days taking in everything this underrated Utah town has, I learned a few tricks to maximize an Escalante visit.
Whether for a full day or just a half day, renting an ATV is the absolute best way to explore Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Most of the park is connected only by dirt roads, and while an AWD vehicle can make it to most trailheads, only an ATV can reach the most secret corners of this untainted wilderness.
We booked a half-day ATV rental through Escalante's Wild Rides, and what a wild ride it was. The dirt "road" we took let us down a wild canyon ride. The road eventually became one with the dried creek bed at the bottom of the narrow canyon, with towering walls on either side. We took our narrow drive to the top of the staircase before making our way back to return the vehicle.
Not only was our ATV drive one of the highlights of our whole trip, but afterward, I found myself wishing we had sprung for a full day instead. The ATV handled so well on the dirt roads, it would have saved us a lot of time getting to Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, or given us more time to reach other trailheads around the park.
As a small town, Escalante has only a handful of small options for accommodations, but they are genuinely top-notch. We opted to take the glamping route, booking a two-night stay at Escalante Yurts. Despite the "glamping" designation, the stay was on par with many hotel stays, but with one wonderful exception.
Jan and Scott, the owners of Escalante Yurts, built the glamping destination on their family land, and they know Escalante like the back of their hand. We quickly learned that the best way to maximize our Escalante visit was to share our plans with Jan and Scott first. The couple shared their best local tips and personal favorites, and Scott was eager to draw up maps to help us find the lesser-known attractions around Escalante.
The duo clearly has a deep, personal attachment to Escalante, and they want to share their favorite parts with everyone. Even better? They'll drop off scratch-made breakfast sandwiches to your room each day, so you can jump right into your hiking adventures.
When your vacation is centered around hiking and outdoor recreation, food is a necessary part of the discussion. Sure, granola bars and oranges have their place, but that's not going to offset a muddy scramble through the slot canyons.
There is a bit of a stereotype that smaller towns are dominated by diner food, with limited options due to their remote location. Escalante, however, is full of fresh options that are exactly what every weary wanderer needs.
From the oatmilk smoothies of The Mercantile to the fresh-baked pizza of Escalante Outfitters, the locals know how to keep visitors well-fed. However, since not every restaurant is open every day or all day, it is important to plan ahead and decide where to eat and when. There is always somewhere quality to eat; strategy is key to making the most of Escalante's food scene.
As someone who has visited Utah's three most popular national parks and plenty of other destinations across the state, trying to compare Utah's attractions can be a dangerous game. After all, each place is so unique, trying to compare them tends to just lead to disappointment and missed opportunities.
I've also learned that by only focusing on Utah's top attractions, visitors can miss some equally incredible destinations, like Escalante. Just an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park, and still in the heart of Bryce Canyon Country, Escalante has so much to offer: incredible hiking, unparalleled canyon and overlook views, and some genuinely wonderful locals. Paired with a trip to Bryce Canyon or as a standalone vacation, I'd recommend a trip to Escalante anytime.
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