USA Photo Workshop 2019 (XV) – Hole In The…

The Hole in the Rock Trail is a historic trail running from the town of Escalante, Utah in the western United States,established by Mormon trailblazers. It crossed the Colorado River and ended in the town of Bluff. The Hole-in-the-Rock expedition routed the trail in 1879. Trail was named for the place where the San Juan Mission of Mormon pioneers constructed a descent to the Colorado River using the natural crevice on the 300 m tall cliff above the Colorado which was enlarged to allow travelers to lower the wagons down to river level, where it could be forded. The portion of the trail below the Hole-In-The-Rock is now flooded by Lake Powell. After the river crossing the trail continued past the Register Rocks, where the settlers recorded their names, now too lost as it is covered by the lake. The road rises through the Chute and across slickrock sandstone to Grey Mesa. Another difficult descent was required from Grey Mesa, requiring the party to cut a road from one ledge to another on the face of the mesa. A modern unpaved road called the Hole-in-the-Rock Road closely follows this historic trail to the point where it enters the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The modern road is an important access route for visiting the Canyons of the Escalante – such as those around Harris Dry Wash – namely Peek-a-boo slot and Spooky Gulch – as well as Devils Garden. The trail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.