Escalante Route

25.1 mi7,183 ft Rating 10/10Difficulty 9/10

7,356 ft 2,585 ft

Elevation along the recorded route — 2,585 ft at its lowest to 7,356 ft at its highest.

Incredible loop along one of the most colorful and scenic sections of the Colorado River. Challenging, few water sources, and usually scorching hot, this is a difficult yet rewarding adventure.

Photos

Early morning light on the northern rim
There is water down there!
The river was louder than it looks
Scrambling the talus of Papago Wall with the river still in shade
Looking back down from the top of the wall
Turquoise-green river between the hard rock walls
A phenomenal slot canyon
Contouring above the drainage on the Escalante Route
One of the most ridiculously beautiful scenes along this route
Ruins along the upper route
Well trodden path along the flats
Loud rapids below Tanner Trail
A long, steady climb
Distant view of Desert View Watchtower
Last light down the side canyon
Trailhead at 9pm, moon rising with a passion

Along the way

Creek 3

Red Canyon
Seventyfive Mile Canyon
Escalante Creek

Shoreline 2

Hance Rapids
Tanner Rapid

Mountain 2

Cardenas Butte
Escalante Butte

Saddle 1

Seventyfive Mile Saddle

Overlook 2

Papago Wall
Furnace Flats Overlook

Ruin 1

Cardenas Hilltop Ruin

Trailhead 2

Tanner Trailhead (Lipan Point)
New Hance Trailhead