Drive the Hell’s Backbone Backway
ScenicModerateSummerFall
Navigate this thrilling high-altitude gravel road between Boulder and Escalante for dizzying views of the Box-Death Hollow Wilderness.
Itinerary tips
- 1Dedicate at least 3 to 4 hours to complete the 38-mile loop to allow for frequent photo stops and slow navigation of steep grades.
- 2Ensure your vehicle has high clearance and a full tank of gas, as there are no services once you leave the towns of Boulder or Escalante.
- 3Download offline maps or carry a physical topographical map because cellular service is non-existent throughout the Box-Death Hollow Wilderness.
- 4Pack a picnic to enjoy at the Hell’s Backbone Bridge, the narrowest point of the drive with sheer drops on both sides.
- 5Verify current road conditions at the Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante before departing, especially after recent rainfall which can make the gravel impassable.
- 6Stop at the Posey Lake Campground halfway through the drive for a restroom break and a scenic spot to stretch your legs.
More in Southern Utah Parks
Stargaze at Mossy Cave Trail
Witness the Milky Way arching over Bryce Canyon's hoodoos in one of the world’s darkest International Dark Sky Parks.
ScenicDrive Hell’s Backbone Road
Traverse a terrifyingly beautiful gravel bridge spanning thousands of feet of drop-offs between Boulder and Escalante.
ScenicWalk Among Giants at Kodachrome Basin
Photograph the 67 monolithic stone spires, or 'sedimentary pipes,' that puncture the bright blue Southern Utah sky.
ScenicScramble the Cathedral Valley Loop
Take a high-clearance vehicle to the Temple of the Sun and Moon for the most remote and iconic views in Capitol Reef.
Scenic