Devils Rock Garden

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park & Wide Hollow Reservoir is located in beautiful southern Utah, just 44 miles east of Bryce Canyon National Park. In 1872, a member of John Wesley Powell’s survey party, Almon Harris Thompson, first explored the Escalante River. He decided to name the area after an explorer named Escalante, which means to escalate upward, like stair steps, which describes the plateaus surrounding the park.

In 1954, Wide Hollow Reservoir was constructed to provide irrigation for the town of Escalante. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout and bluegill, and is popular for water sports. A visitor center was built in 1991, and features petrified wood, petrified dinosaur bones, ammonite, and shell fossils.

Hike along park nature trails through a petrified forest, camp along the shores of Wide Hollow Reservoir, or rent a canoe and paddle on its clear waters. View fossils, petrified wood, fossilized dinosaur bones, and artifacts left by ancient Fremont Indians who inhabited this area nearly 1,000 years ago.

Hiking Trails

Park Hours

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (summer) 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (winter) open year-round, closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Entrance Fees

A $5 day-use permit covers watercraft launches.  A $70 annual passes are available at the Escalante State Park Visitor Center.

Campgrounds

The campground includes 22 single campsites, 1 handicapped campsite and 1 group site. For campground reservations call 800-322-3770 or 435-826-4466.  Cost for the single site is $15 and group area is $50.

Getting There

Wilde Hollow Reservoir and Escalante State Park is located one mile west of the town of Escalante along Hwy U-12.

For more information about Wide Hollow Reservoir and Escalante State Park , click on their website at www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/escalante

Escalante State Park
710 North Reservoir Road
Escalante, Utah 84726-0350
435-826-4466