Hell's Backbone Modified GP

Hell's Backbone is widely advertised and is visited by many people that come to the Escalante area.  This is a modified version of the tourist route to add an ancient cliff dwelling view and a visit to a nice mountain lake.

Hell’s Backbone may not the last road ever built, but surely it was the last one that seemed nearly impossible to build.  Hell’s Backbone was another Civilian Conservation Corps engineering marvel that linked two of the most isolated communities in the country with that modern marvel– a road.  Built to connect Boulder, the last frontier town in the state that still relied on mules to deliver the mail, with Escalante, made famous by its tortuous Hole-In-The-Rock Expedition.  MyUtahParks.com

There is a GPS - gpx track file a the bottom of the page.

Box-Death Hollow Wilderness from near Hell's Backbone bridge

Tourist guides will have you start (or end) this trail in the Town of Escalante.  This modified version begins, or ends, 4 miles west of Escalante.  Bring a pair of binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens for a view of an ancient cliff dwelling.  We did not attempt to reach it.

Ancient cliff dwelling

Dwelling location

This version also allows you to visit Posy Lake, a very nice body of water at 9,000' elevation.  

Posy Lake

A successful fisherman

A few points along the road have nice views, but most of the time is in the woods.

Devil's Backbone Bridge, and views in the area, are highlights of the trail.

View west of Hell's Backbone Bridge

Hell's Backbone Bridge

Walk down the road from the bridge and go out on the point to your left to see the wreck pictured.  The same point offers good views of colored rock.

Old wreck in area of colored rock

Colored rock below bridge

Updated 2017.

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hells_backbone_modified_gp.gpx
File Size:	262 kb
File Type:	gpx

Download File

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