• Distance: 15 miles one-way
• Duration: overnight
• Elevation loss: 500 feet
• Effort: moderate–strenuous
• Trailhead: near town of Escalante
• Directions: Follow signs from Highway 12 on the east side of town, by the high school, to the trailhead.

This first section of canyon offers easy walking and stunning canyon scenery. Tributaries and sandstone caves invite exploration. You’ll find good camping areas all along. Usually the river here is only ankle deep. Either enter Escalante River at the bridge next to the sawmill, or go one mile east of town on Hwy. 12 and turn north past the cemetery (visible from highway) and town dump.

Almost immediately, the river knifes its way through the massive cliffs of the Escalante Monocline, leaving the broad valley of the upper river behind. Although there is no maintained trail along this stretch of the east-flowing river, it’s relatively easy to pick your way along the riverbank.

Death Hollow, which is far prettier than the name suggests, comes in to the Escalante from the north after 7.5 miles. Several good swimming holes carved in rock lie a short hike upstream from the Escalante; watch for poison ivy among the greenery.

Continue farther up Death Hollow to see more pools, little waterfalls, and outstanding canyon scenery. You can bypass some pools, but some you’ll have to swim—bring a little inflatable boat, air mattress, or waterproof bag to ferry packs.

Sand Creek, on the Escalante’s north side 4.5 miles downstream from Death Hollow, is also worth exploring; deep pools begin a short way up from the mouth. After another one-half mile down the Escalante, a natural arch appears high on the canyon wall. Then the Escalante Natural Bridge comes into view about one-half mile farther, just two miles from the Hwy. 12 bridge. In fact, Escalante Natural Bridge makes a good day-hike destination upstream from the highway.