Hole in the Rock Road

Historic Hole in the Rock Road runs from Scenic Byway 12, ending just above the Colorado River at the geologic feature for which it's named, a steep V-shaped cut in the north wall of the Colorado River's canyon. The famous Zebra and Tunnel slot canyons are just off the road. The geologically unique Devil's Garden and Dance Hall Rock are must-stops along the way. Spur trails lead off into the Glen Canyon Recreation Area with numerous trailheads for hiking into Coyotoe Gulch and to the immense Jacob Hamblin Arch. Left Hand Collet Road climbs westward onto the remote Kaiparowitz Plateau.

Hole in the Rock Road is a historic route. In the autumn of 1879, 250 men, women, and children began one of the Southwest’s most difficult and dramatic pioneer expeditions. Their goal was to establish a settlement on the San Juan River.  Their nearly 250-mile trek across virtually unexplored lands resulted in the little town of Bluff.  To learn more about the Hole-in-the-Rock Pioneers, visit the Escalante Heritage Center or Bluff Fort.  Additional segments of their route include Hole in the Rock Trail, Snow Flat Road, and Comb Ridge.  

The northern portion of the road is graded dirt and sand with miles of continuous washboards. The southern part of the trail crosses uneven sandstone slickrock before ending just above the hole in the rock. Be prepared for 2 plus hours of dash rattling washboard. Large tires definitely help on this road. A stock SUV, pickup, or even crossover would have no problem. Clearance is required on the slickrock.

The north end of the trail is a popular boondocking area. While there are ample campsites along the trail, they get farther apart as you head south.  A very nice group of sites near Fifty Mile Spring is surrounded by red rock.