Maggie Slepian hiked this route in 2020
The Death Hollow Loop is a 23-mile route in Southern Utah through canyons and on slickrock that can be completed in two days.
Region: Southwest (Escalante National Monument, Utah)
Length: 23 miles (2-3 days)
Physical Difficulty: Difficult
- Steep slickrock climbs in first section
- Challenging tread through water and sand
- Tricky narrows section in the canyon
Logistical Difficulty: Moderate
- Loop trail, no advance permit required
- No water for first half
- Some route finding necessary
Season: Spring / Fall
Elevation (Average): ~6,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 2,787 feet
Hiking the Death Hollow Loop
This loop hike combines three different trails: the Boulder Mail Trail, the Death Hollow Trail, and the Escalante River Trail. It took me completely by surprise. I was looking for a loop hike we could knock out in two days, and these three trails connected in a solid 23 miles with the promise of some incredible desert and canyon scenery. What I got was so much more—miles of slickrock followed by nine miles through an incredible canyon, towering sandstone walls, and walking through water. This is a tough hike thanks to the exposure, hiking through water and sand, plus a tricky narrows section to navigate, but certainly worth the effort. This should go without saying, but there is no resupply necessary.
Death Hollow is the highlight of this hike, and the Narrows are particularly spectacular. Just when you’re really tired of trudging through sand and on exposed expanses of white rock, the canyon walls loom ahead and you’ll drop 1,000 feet into the cool canyon to hike in and out of water for the next nine miles. Look for the trail jumping in and out of the water, or stay hiking in the water for as long as you like to avoid the poison ivy.
About halfway through the Escalante River section, look for a large natural amphitheater on the right with ancient petroglyphs.
Getting to the Death Hollow Loop
Closest Major City: Salt Lake City, Utah (300 miles)
This is a loop trail from the Escalante Town Trailhead (Boulder Mail Trail), a popular trailhead right outside the tiny town of Escalante, Utah. There are actually two trailheads known by similar names—don’t make the mistake of driving 10 miles out of town to the Escalante River Trailhead. The one you want is right outside town. Drive up past the graveyard on the east side of Escalante, turn north at the cemetery. Stay right on the road instead of turning into the cemetery. Take the first left in (about .4 miles) and follow the gravel road .6 miles to the trailhead. There is a register at the trailhead and you’ll hike down the road to start.
When to Hike the Death Hollow Loop
Spring and fall. In earlier spring you’ll want to watch out for higher water in the canyon, but April / May and October would be perfect. We actually hiked this during an unseasonably cool few days in early July, but it was still in the upper 80s on the slickrock section.
Death Hollow Loop Terrain
The terrain on the Death Hollow Loop is a blend of high desert, slickrock, ankle-deep sand, and shallow water through the canyon. It truly is a taste of everything Southern Utah has to offer. The steepest and most sustained climbing take place on the slickrock in the beginning, after which the trail levels out through the canyon, with only a few shorter climbs to the end. Be aware of heat, and the fact that until you’re literally hiking through water, there isn’t any water on the trail.
Logistics: Camping, Permits, Water
Camping: Free and not regulated, just remember to follow all LNT principles to ensure it stays this way. We camped at a truly incredible sandy overlook in the canyon, about 13 miles into the hike.
Permits and Land Management: This trail hits Escalante National Monument as well as the Glen Canyon Wilderness. Both of these land management types have fewer regulations than national parks. You don’t need to apply for a backcountry permit ahead of time, and you can camp anywhere. If the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center is open, you’ll need to stop in and get a free walk-up permit. Their offices were closed when we were there, so we grabbed a permit from the box at the trailhead and filled it out, then marked when we returned.
Water: This trail is a weird one. You’re in as dry an environment as possible for the first eight miles, then once you drop into the canyon, you’re literally walking through water. Bring three liters for the first eight miles, then just treat water as you go in the canyon. Since we did this trail in the summer, the Escalante River section was pretty dry. Make sure to fill up once you reach the junction of Death Hollow and the Escalante River Trail.
Know Before You Go
Carry. Enough. Water. There is no water for the first third of the trail, and a hell of a lot of exposure on the long sections of slickrock.
Water Hiking: You’re going to be walking through miles of water in the canyon. If you wear Chacos or something similar, make sure your feet are ready for it—Chaco blisters are no fun. We kept our trail runners on and it was much easier.
POISON IVY! Much of the Death Hollow section is overgrown, and much of the overgrowth is poison ivy. You can’t avoid it, but know what it looks like and consider pants for this section. I was Boil Girl for the next ten days after hiking it.
Route Finding: Keep an eye out for cairns on the slickrock section. You’ll be doing some route finding, but there’s always a cairn in sight as long as you pay attention.
Heat: The first section can be exposed and hot. I would recommend adding an electrolyte tab to your water bottle for at least the first section.
Resources
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument