Death Hollow Sneak Route

Looking downstream from the Alcove

Can such a place actually exist in a desert location?  It does.  Death Hollow is nothing short of spectacular.  There is usually a catch if you want to visit Death Hollow.  It requires nothing less than a 3 day backpacking trip for all but the most hardcore hikers.  And that’s just if you want to visit the lower section of the canyon.  This is a route that explores the lower section of the canyon and gets you in and out of it in a day.  It requires a steep scramble that seems at first impossible.                                                                                                                                                      

To get there:  At the edge of Escalante, at the Canyon Country Gas Station reset your odometer and drive east 5.8 miles.  At this point, turn left onto a dirt road.  Stay right on this road is it forks once or twice.  The road is best done in a high clearance vehicle because it is very rutted.  With carefully skilled driving, you may get a passenger car to the trailhead.  Head down this road about two miles.  this will take you to an overlook of the upper Escalante drainage.

The Trail:  Once at the turnaround, hike north to northwest around the rim staying on top of the rim as it goes around what is called Micro Death Hollow.  The trail will eventually lead you to the far side of the drainage and a view of the Escalante river that is spectacular.  It is on this far north western side of the draw that you will look for some cairns that start to break through the cliff bands dropping you to a mezzanine of white sandstone.  Follow the Cairns right to the edge of the chasm.  Notice the cracks and fissures in the white Navajo Sandstone.  This is the sneak route.  For a first timer down the sneak route take your time.  Look a every possibility before you make a step.  There is always an easy non dangerous way.  There is no need to take a chance on something extremely exposed.  The route weaves its way back and forth through the bands as it descends.  On the last slope, it gets very steep.  About ten feet of steep unaided crack down climbing on a steep slope.  This is a good spot to take off the back pack and take your time.  Once past this ten foot obstacle you are down to a level directly above the escalante river.  The trail takes you into the thicket of the basin and soon you are in the water traveling West up the river.  Follow the river up one half mile till you see the side canyon flowing in with crystal clear water.  There is no mistaking you have found death hollow when you see it.  Maiden hair ferns, columbines,  monkey flowers and lots of moss and greenery abound.  Hike up the creek as it passes through deep pools and a few sections of cobble stones.  After about fifteen minutes of travel you arrive at the Emerald Pool Alcove.  This is a perfect place for lunch or for your turnaround spot.  If you wish to travel up stream further, in about an hours time you will arrive at a neat subway like formation and about fifteen minutes past that, you will arrive at a natural water-park equiped with a super deep pool and a water slide.  Head back down and out the same way you came in.

• Lots of water beware of flash flood danger (it can be very difficult travel when the water is silt-laden)
• 4-8 hours depending
• 4-8 miles
• Not recommended for young kids due to the sneak route
• Not recommended for people afraid of heights
• Must have good route finding skills