hole in the rock road

Havent went to end but trying hopefully this year.Lots of stops on the road ie Devils garden and numerous hikes to slot canyons and granieries and petroglyphs.

Have driven multiple trips on this road and it is best taken in a high clearance vehicle if you go any farther than Devils Garden. This past trip we had a car and when we traveled 43 miles from start of road we were really anxious about it. The fact is most of the trails to slot canyons are off of this road. Always check at visitors center before heading out to check on road conditions. And especially after a rain!! Can be impassible when wet.

Truly a peek for many more trips.Devil's Garden, Harris Wash,and hoping to do slot canyons next time

The only way into many of the attractions of the Escalante area, it didn't look too bad but we were quickly proved wrong. Our Ford can (small campervan) shaked, rattled and slowly came apart - the door unhinged! You really need a 4WD. We met another couple who did it one of those tiny Fiat's and they were as exhausted as us. 15 miles - 1hour!

Be sure to stop by the Visitor's Center on your way in town and get the hiking trail maps for where you want to go. They will help with recommendations. Be sure to see the narrows and the Devil Gardens.

Our ATV rental was definitely the way to explore this area. It got us quickly and easily (washed out roads no problem!) to all the great sights. Fun road to great hiking trails.

Road can be navigated by a passenger vehicle. But the more ground clearance the better. Keep your speed moderate, and enjoy the view this great county provides.

Take a Utv or rent one and enjoy a wonderful back country experience. Miles of trails and incredible views with no crowds.

Pay attention for the access point off Highway 12--it comes up rather suddenly. We saw a few not very helpful signs at the the start and then away we went (being thankful I had printed some basic directions to Spooky Gulch before we left home). The road is pretty darn good. We were in a Santa Fe Sport with nice big tires and so the roughness of the dirt road was minimized but any random passenger car could have made the drive no problem. Thankfully we were the only ones on the road or the dust would have been unbearable! Being alone, we were able to zip right along (as fast as 80km/hr at points) and enjoy the stunning vista.After 45 km we located our turn (north off the dirt road) and found the parking lot for the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch access nearby. Two small cars were parked and signs said to park and walk the one mile to the trailhead if your vehicle was low clearance. We had no problems but there sure were tippy parts to the road and lots of wash out parts where you had to carefully plan where to put your tires so as not to drive into a caved in area. When we got to the trailhead there were five or six smaller cars there so obviously people made it but it was probably tricky driving. This was as far as we went on the Hole in the Rock Road but our experience was good. Now if we'd had car problems? I can only imagine how miserable and lonely the walk out would have been!!

...the Dry Fork Gulch and slot canyons it leads to are what makes it worthwhile. We travelled in a BMW M3 and parked at the first parking area on Dry Fork Road (just off Hole In The Rock Road) to avoid the last mile, which is rougher.

It's really not as bad of a road as we were initially led to believe. Many people take their vehicle down it. The road is actually pretty well maintained, with only a few areas that you need to take it slow. It offers numerous great stops along the way, and totally worth the drive.

I would never go to the end of the road again....the site at the end of the road is simply not worth the effort you have to put into the drive. It's long and it's gruelling and you better have lots of water - or better yet cold beer to pass the boredom. I think the road is passable in pretty much anything, except maybe a Mazda 2 or a similar Toyota. We passed a guy in a minivan heading in the opposite direction - I can't say for sure whether he went all the way, but he definitely got through the rough switchbacks so I would be very surprised if he did not go all the way to the end. The problem is - what you see at the end is kind of a let down really - I mean it's basically a gap in the rocks with a lake below and a sign explaining the significance of the place.Very secluded and extremely low traffic after you pass the turnoff to Peek-a-Boo, so don't break down or make sure you have some back ups and spares - the last 8-10 miles are pretty rough, but most of the road leading up to the end is very washboardy and rough - that guy in the minivan we passed was a tool for taking that van on that road, I would never do that in my own vehicle. LIke I said it's not worth the effort for what you get at the end. Better idea is just settle for the canyons and the sites before that.

Get a map from the visitors center in town! We went down to Dance Hall Rock, about 14 from end. There are some great hikes off this road, but be sure your 4 wheel drive has good clearance. There are a lot of off-shoots, so know where you are going! It was very wash-board on some stretches so get ready to shake! Great sites were Devil's Garden, Dry Gulch and Peek-a-Boo.

We underestimated the state of this road so stopped for a picnic after about half an hour and then turned back. If you have the right vehical and are going to one of the trails etc then fine but it is not the road for a gentle afternoon drive!

The HITRR is one of the main arteries into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and provides access to many of the area's stunning canyons. Conditions on the road are variable - check in with the Interagency Office in Escalante (or BLM office in Cannonville) for most up to date conditions. Generally most cars should make it to about the 40 mile mark (Dancehall Rock) with relatively few problems, although it is often severely washboarded so hold on for a bumpy ride! Flat tires are a real possibility, have at least one spare & a can of Fix-a-Flat or similar. It goes without saying that you should carry plenty of food, water, blankets, shovel, supplies etc with you when travelling this road. The further down towards Lake Powell you go, the more remote it becomes & there is a real possibility of being stranded down there overnight if you get into trouble.Some of the main attractions down HITRR include Zebra slot (5mi mark), Devils Garden (12mi mark), Spooky & Peekaboo slots (25mi mark, Dry Fork turnoff), Coyote Gulch (30-36mi mark, Red Well, Hurricane Wash, 40 Mile Ridge turnoffs), Dancehall Rock (38mi mark), Hole in the Rock (58mi, end of the road).Devils Garden, Spooky & Peekaboo make good, easy day trips but if you're a seasoned backcountry hiker then the possibilities for exploration down this road are almost endless. You could spend days or weeks wandering and camping in the canyons in some of the most stunning and wild scenery in the US Southwest.