Backpack the Escalante River Canyon

Itinerary tips

• 1Plan for a 4-day, 3-night traverse from the Escalante Town Trailhead to the Highway 12 bridge to fully explore side canyons like Death Hollow.
• 2Obtain a mandatory backcountry permit at the Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante before heading to the trailhead.
• 3Wear sturdy, quick-drying hiking shoes with neoprene socks, as you will be wading through water and sand for most of the trek.
• 4Pack a reliable water filter and be prepared to use side springs like Mamie Creek, as the main river can become too silty to filter after rain.
• 5Arrange a shuttle service in advance if you are performing a point-to-point hike to avoid a long road walk back to your vehicle.
• 6Keep a keen eye on the canyon walls roughly 200-400 feet above the riverbed to spot the well-preserved ancestral Puebloan granaries tucked into high alcoves.