We're planning a trip to southern Utah in mid April, and want to explore some sights we've missed in previous visits, and revisit some favorites. I thought we might spend a couple of nights in the Escalante/Boulder area. We plan to drive on Highway 12 and see the amazing views along the way, hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls, and drive the Burr Trail (which we've done before - fantastic!). One other thing I'd really like to do is drive the Hole-in-the Rock Road to see the Devil's Staircase, which sounds wonderful. I hope someone can tell me - is that road passable to someone with a standard rental car, not 4W Drive? One description of the road I read said it could have a "washboard" surface, another description posted here said it was an easy drive. I'd really appreciate some advice about this. Thanks for any help!
Hole-in-the-Rock Road to Devil's Garden near Escalante, UT.
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http://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/driving-the-hole-in-the-rock-road.htm
According to this, it is _mostly_ but not completely passable to "high clearance" 2WD vehicles. Sounds like an SUV to me
because as you know road conditions vary tremendously day to day.
If you do decide to do this drive, keep an eye out for the weather. The road becomes impassable in heavy rain, even to 4wd vehicles. Take plenty of water and have a full tank of gas.
We drove it last year in a rental. I think a Nissan Altima. Anyway, it was fine. Nothing to it. A piece of cake easy.
It was slightly washboardish. Meaning its just going to get on your nerves for the duration of the drive. If it is to much then just turn around after the first couple of minutes.
Devils Garden is a cool thing to see. It is fairly small. Does make some interesting pictures. It is something I wouldn't miss if I were spending a couple of days there.
If it is dry, it is an easy, level road. No need for 4wd. Well worth the little effort...no hiking...you drive right up the the "garden" of hoodoos.
The road is washboard...I find that going faster lessens the annoyance factor from the vibrations the washboard creates.
Here's a link to the page of our 2007 trip report where we visited the Devil's Garden.
http://www.pbase.com/peterb/utah_tr&page=6
Our 07 trip was all about Hwy 12.
Taking a rental car off roading--GO FASTER. lol
To Devils Garden will be fine. To go to the end of the road--at the very end, I was very glad to have my SUV.
If by Devils Staircase, you mean the actual Hole in the Rock--that is at the end of the road. Devils Garden is closer to the main road and easy to get to.
Good catch StantonHyde...the road gets much worse farther on and even serious 4wders have trouble there. Devil's Garden, no problem in a car...Devil's Staircase...no no no.
Oh, yes, I did mean the Devil's Garden, thanks. I guess that makes a big difference - it's not nearly as far. I keep getting those two confused!
Peter,
I've always been told by the real serious off-roaders that washboarding is CAUSED by people driving too fast on unpaved roads.
Regardless, it will rattle your teeth a bit.
LOL Dayle...sounds like a vicious cycle!
I've been to Devil's Garden twice.
It's about a 9 mile drive on a pretty smooth dirt road. Nothing like the drive to Willis Creek slot canyon which is something you may want to consider.
Willis Creek is a nice easy walk once you get there. It's about 10 miles south of Cannonville just east of Bryce Canyon NP.
A very nice set of slots.
Devil's Garden is what I call a grown up Goblin Valley. Very much worth the effort if you're into photography at all.
Thanks, Willis Creek Slot Canyon looks great! If the road is in decent shape we may try to do that. Could we do that and Devil's Garden on the same day, do you think?
I was just looking at some pictures today of the Willis Creek slot. It was awesome. The road there was similar to the further down part of the Hole in the Wall road. Totally agree with StantonHyde & Myer. To Devil's Garden is fine. We had a 4WD and I was glad we did for the clearance. We drove very slowly. We went Hiked Spooky Canyon Slot but would not have gone as far as Devil' Staircase. You can read about the road and the hikes on my trip report here.
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/utah-parks-itinerary-and-what-to-see-between-capitol-reef-and-slc.cfm
The road to Devil's Garden is really nothing if you drive slowly.
The road to Willis Creek (I've been pushing Willis Creek for a long time) is a bit more interesting. The road is sandy, hilly and has a few ruts. On the positive side, you'll most likely be the only one on the road so use both sides if you have to. The now have a sign at the parking lot so finding it is easy.
I took my daughter to Utah in 2010. Our first night we stayed at Prospector Inn in Escalante.
We had breakfast, drove to Devil's Garden and spent about an hour more (about 2 1/2 hours) than I expected as we're both into photography.
From there we drove to the trailhead for Lower Calf Creek Falls. We hiked that, photographed, snacked and waded in the water a bit.
Then on the way to Bryce Canyon where we were sleeping, we turned south at Cannonvile and went to Willis Creek.
My daughter had fallen asleep in the car and woke just as I turned. I asked if she wanted to go there or go straight to bryce and come back the next day. We went to Willis Creek and has a large photo taken there hanging in her house.
Yes, Devil's Garden and Willis Creek are easily doable on the same day.
At Willis Creek just make sure you go thru at least 4-5 slots as they get taller as you go further.
You should plan your days based on your direction of travel. Since we stayed in Escalante we went east to Devil's Garden and Lower Calf Creek Falls and then back west to Willis Creek on the way to Bryce Canyon where we arrived minutes after sunset. I guess 15 minutes earlier would have been better but didn't think of it.
We got up in the dark the next morning to go to Bryce Point for a spectacular sunrise.