The trail follows a 180-mile (290 km) route starting near Escalante, Utah, and ending in Bluff, Utah, and is named for the place where the San Juan Mission of Mormon pioneers constructed a descent to the Colorado River. The natural crevice on the 1,000-foot (300 m) cliff above the Colorado was enlarged by the party to lower the wagons down to river level, where it could be forded. The portion of the trail below the Hole-In-The-Rock is now flooded by Lake Powell. After the river crossing the trail continued past the Register Rocks, where the settlers recorded their names, now covered by the lake. The road rises through the Chute and across slickrock sandstone to Grey Mesa. Another difficult descent was required from Grey Mesa, requiring the party to cut a road from one ledge to another on the face of the mesa, taking a week. Another week was spent in constructing a road down Clay Hill Pass. Further on, blocked by Comb Ridge, the trail follows Comb Wash to San Juan Hill, where yet another road was built up the hill. The trail ends in Bluff.
Entire trail - Escalante (left) to Bluff (right)
Current Hole-in-the-Rock Road - Escalante to the Hole-in-the-Rock
(1994) "Hole-in-the-Rock Trail" article in the Utah History Encyclopedia. The article was written by Encyclopedia staff and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874804256. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024 and retrieved on May 13, 2024.
Entire trail - Escalante (left) to Bluff (right)
Current Hole-in-the-Rock Road - Escalante to the Hole-in-the-Rock
Metate Arch in Devils Garden
Peek-a-Boo Gulch
Spooky Gulch (video)
Hole-in-the-Rock, looking down at Lake Powell
