Lower Harris Wash | Hole In The Rock

Hiking Lower Harris Wash - Hole In The Rock Hiking Lower Harris Wash

Hole In The Rock

Overview

RATING: Moderate Hike / Strenuous Backpack
LENGTH: 1+ days
MAPS: SILVER FALLS BENCH, UT; RED BREAKS, UT

Sat

Sunny. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 45 in the afternoon. South wind around 2 mph.

51 | 26

Sun

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. South southwest wind around 3 mph.

50 | 24

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 45.

45 | 22

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 41.

41 | 15

Wed

Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 17

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SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall (see additional notes below)
GEAR: Standard Hiking/Backpacking Gear
WATER: Filterable in Harris Wash and along the Escalante River. 9 miles without water if doing the loop.

Sat

Sunny. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 45 in the afternoon. South wind around 2 mph.

51 | 26

Sun

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. South southwest wind around 3 mph.

50 | 24

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 45.

45 | 22

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 41.

41 | 15

Wed

Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 17

View Full Weather Details
Lower Harris Wash

Lower Harris Wash

Lower Harris Wash used to be quite popular. The lower section of the canyon has an idyllic small stream meandering down to the Escalante river, cutting deep overhangs along the way. The overhangs are reminiscent of the very popular Coyote Gulch, but maybe not quite as dramatic. The canyon used to be one that ranchers ran cows in until the early 1990s when grazing was stopped.

Today, then canyon doesn't seem very popular. It is quite overgrown and the easiest path is generally to hike in the stream bed proper. A use trail, for the most part, doesn't exist. I suspect the removal of cattle, and the trails they made, has helped the canyon recover from over grazing but also made access a fair bit more difficult.

I found the canyon beautiful, but also physical and challenging. You will be walking in the stream bed or thrashing through overgrowth the whole way. The stream bed is easy walking until you sink thigh deep into quicksand. I'd have someone else in your group lead!

Bugs: On my July visit, I was expecting horrendous bugs along the river and went as far as bringing a full bug shirt. I was pleasantly surprised to have virtually no biting insects. The Escalante River seems to be hit or miss, I have had bug-free trips and very buggy trips. I would recommend bringing bug protection in spring and summer just in case.
Out-And-Back Route Notes:
The out-and-back is a great intro to the area and can be done as a day hike or an easier backpack for hikers or backpackers of all abilities. Hiking down 4-5 miles and returning makes for a great day hike or short overnight backpack. Going all the way to the river and back is a bit over 22 miles by my track and a solid overnight backpack.

Going to the river, setting up base camp, and exploring the area is a good 3+ day trip. If wanting to explore along the Escalante River, be sure to time your trip to avoid spring runoff, when crossing the river can be difficult. Early spring, summer, or fall would be good seasons. Peak run-off is generally mid-April to mid-May but varies each year.
Loop Route Notes:
Doing the full loop is long, strenuous, and not for the inexperienced. Experienced desert backpackers only! You will need to time your trip to avoid spring runoff (usually mid-April to mid-May, but varies each year). The loop can be done in either direction, but either way will have a strenuous 9-mile overland section with no water and little shade. I tracked the route at over 30 miles, but it will vary depending on how you cut corners, side trips, etc... Most groups will likely want 3-4 days for the trip. I found it quite strenuous, and a beautiful and rewarding section of the Escalante River to visit.
Deep alcove near the bottom of Lower Harris Wash

Deep alcove near the bottom of Lower Harris Wash

Getting There

Head east out of the town of Escalante about 5 miles on highway 12 until the well signed Hole in the Rock road on the south side of highway 12. Reset the odometer as you turn onto this road.

  • Mile 0 - Hole-In-The-Rock Road Turnoff ( 12S 453167mE 4175716mN / N37° 43' 39" W111° 31' 53" )
  • 8.0 miles - Parking area after a cattle guard. This is the Zebra/Tunnel trailhead. ( 12S 460681mE 4165896mN / N37° 38' 22" W111° 26' 44" )
  • 10.6 miles - Harris Wash side road on the left. Turn onto this side road and reset your odometer. ( 12S 462224mE 4162235mN / N37° 36' 23" W111° 25' 41" )
  • Harris Wash Side Road - 6.1 miles - Harris Wash Trailhead. There is a pullout and a few spots for vehicles at the trailhead sign. ( 12S 469880mE 4165271mN / N37° 38' 03" W111° 20' 29" )
Old Sheffield Cabin Chimney

Old Sheffield Cabin Chimney

Route

To The Escalante River (11.25 miles / 3.5-5 hours)
From the trailhead, follow the road north a minute to where it crosses the wide Harris Wash. Go right and start heading down Harish Wash. It is wide and dry in the upper section. In just over a mile, the canyon walls will begin to rise. It is about 3.25 miles (1-1.5 hours) to the Glen Canyon boundary. On my trip, good water started flowing a bit above this boundary and was plentiful and would be easy to pump at the boundary. There used to be a jeep road running down Harris Wash through this section, but it has mostly become overgrown. Once it becomes more difficult to bushwhack cutting the corners than to stay in the stream bed, I would recommend just staying in the stream.

Continue down, the canyon and alcoves get deeper with each turn. Floods have washed out a deep sediment layer, making the alcoves inaccessible to hikers, though there are said to be small granary ruins in some of the lower and bigger alcoves. It is a bit over 11 miles to where Harris Wash meets the Escalante River. There is good camping just up from the Escalante River on the right side (looking down canyon) of Harris Wash. It would make a great base camp for exploring up or down the Escalante River. If not doing the full loop, return the way you came.

Up the Escalante To Lower Sand Slide (2.5 miles)
Head up the Escalante River! It is quite overgrown. The best strategy I found during my hike was to bushwhack to the river, cross it at places with wide benches on the other side, cut the corner to the next bushwhack and crossing. It can be tiring, especially with a backpack.

About an hour or so, there is a huge sand hill on the left (west/south) side of the river. It would be hard to miss. This is known as the Lower Sand Slide and can be used to hike out of the Escalante River canyon. It is a steep sand hill to a short scramble at the top.

Pictograph Note: There is a large pictograph panel on the left (looking up stream) side of the river, just UPSTREAM from the Lower Sand Slide. I missed it on my trip, having been told it was on the right side of the river! Having scoured the right side of the river, I can attest there is no rock art there. :)

Lower Sand Slide to Old Sheffield Cabin (3.5 miles)
Continue up the river with more of the same. Stunning high walls, but brushy crossings. Keep an eye on the map. The Old Sheffield cabin is on the left (looking up river) about 6 bends up from the Lower Sand Slide, where a couple of deep alcoves are on the left (south) side of the river. This is the site of the Old Sheffield Cabin.

The cabin was built in the late 1800's, but not much other history is known. All that is currently there is the old chimney. This bend makes a nice camping area. The two deep alcoves downstream of the cabin have very worn moki steps between them. There is also an old granary just upstream from the old chimney on the same side of the canyon as the chimney. It is about 1/3 of the way up the cliff face. There doesn't appear to be much left of it.

Old Sheffield to Upper Sand Slide (1.3 miles)
Continuing upstream, it is only about 30-45 minutes and a couple of bends before the Upper Sand Slide is clearly visible on the left (looking upstream) side of the river. If doing the loop hike, this is the exit to the cross-country section.

Side Hike to Horse Canyon (3 miles roundtrip)
If time and energy allow, it is about 1.5 miles up river to Horse Canyon. Just before Horse Canyon, there is a small arch high on the skyline on the right (looking up stream). On your return downstream, after the arch, stay along the right side (looking DOWNSTREAM). The river goes around a peninsula, with a big sandy area along the river. As you head downstream and the river bends back to the base of the cliffs on the right (again looking DOWNSTREAM), look for an interesting pictograph a bit up on the cliff face. Just below the pictograph another minute or so is the inscription of "J A Burr 1891".

History Note: James Atlantic Burr was born in 1846 aboard a ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Burr eventually ended up in the Escalante area and was the person responsible for building the Burr Trail to move his cattle from Boulder to Bullfrog. Unfortunately, he died in the wilderness due to a urinary tract infection that he tried to treat himself with a piece of wire. That seems quite the way to go.

Upper Sand Slide to Trailhead (about 9 miles)

Caution: Before heading up the Upper Sand Slide, be sure to have plenty of water. There isn't any once you leave the Escalante River. Also be certain you are not timing the last section in the heat of the day if it is hot. There is little shade along the route.

Slog up the sand hill, starting on the upstream side of an abandoned meander. There is a bit of a shallow drainage to follow up at times. It is steep and sandy. As you near the cliff band, there are some cowboy glyphs on the left where the old trail used to come down. The drainage here goes right just below the cliff band and the direction to go after visiting the glyphs. Follow the base of the cliff northwest up to the sand's apex, where a little easy scrambling gains the rim.

The terrain ahead is convoluted and void of many landmarks or trails. Head southwest. It is about 2.8 miles from the river, up the sand hill, and across the open terrain to the V Road, a jeep road that is still in use today. As long as you head southwest, you should hit it. Once on it, go right and follow it. The V Road heads southwest and crosses a deep section of sand. Just after the sandy section is a sign warning of "Deep Sand". This is the trailhead to the Volcano.

Side Trip: If time and energy allow, it is about a 2 mile roundtrip side trip to The Volcano, a very neat geological feature. The track is on the map. See the The Volcano / Cosmic Ashtray - Harris Wash route for more detailed information.

Continue along the V Road. From where you intersect it to the Harris Wash Trailhead is about 6 miles depending on where exactly you intersect the road after the cross-country section.


Maps

Printable Maps:

Harris Wash Trailhead

12S 469894mE 4165264mN

N37° 38' 02" W111° 20' 28"

Old Fence and Gate

12S 472658mE 4165973mN

N37° 38' 26" W111° 18' 36"

Glen Canyon

12S 473566mE 4165937mN

N37° 38' 25" W111° 17' 59"

Harris Wash Bottom

12S 480984mE 4168484mN

N37° 39' 48" W111° 12' 56"

Lower Sand Slide

12S 479123mE 4169878mN

N37° 40' 33" W111° 14' 12"

Old Constructed Cattle Trail

12S 479287mE 4170545mN

N37° 40' 55" W111° 14' 06"

Sheffield Chimney

12S 477501mE 4172139mN

N37° 41' 46" W111° 15' 19"

Moki Steps

12S 477269mE 4172046mN

N37° 41' 43" W111° 15' 28"

Granary View (small)

12S 477605mE 4172316mN

N37° 41' 52" W111° 15' 15"

Cowboy Glyphs

12S 476750mE 4172892mN

N37° 42' 11" W111° 15' 49"

Upper Sand Slide

12S 476606mE 4173016mN

N37° 42' 15" W111° 15' 55"

Burr Inscription

12S 476428mE 4174195mN

N37° 42' 53" W111° 16' 03"

Pictograph View

12S 476441mE 4174220mN

N37° 42' 54" W111° 16' 02"

Arch

12S 476909mE 4174457mN

N37° 43' 01" W111° 15' 43"

Volcano Trailhead

12S 471716mE 4169370mN

N37° 40' 16" W111° 19' 15"

Volcano

12S 472164mE 4170672mN

N37° 40' 58" W111° 18' 56"

Road

12S 474903mE 4170966mN

N37° 41' 08" W111° 17' 05"

Long Deep Sand

12S 471558mE 4169299mN

N37° 40' 14" W111° 19' 21"

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