1: San Juan Hill
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The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail
Near starved oxen and horses quivered, fell, took to convolutions and even died as they pulled covered wagons up the steep, solid rock slope of San Juan Hill. San Juan Hill was the last major barrier for 70 families of the San Juan Mission / Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition who were answering a call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to establish a settlement in the Four Corners region. In reaching the area, these Mormon pioneers built a wagon trail through the Colorado River gorge, descended crevices and crossed deep ravines, mountains, deserts and forests - terrain so inhospitable many of their own scouts deemed it as impassable.
2: Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice
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The 250-mile trek took twice as long as it took some the same participants to pull handcarts 1300 miles to the Salt Lake Valley. The Hole-in-the-Rock journey stands alone in its difficulty in the annals of western pioneering. With many sections of the trail blasted out of solid sandstone, nearly no vegetation and little modern development, the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail is very well preserved. Many of the trail’s most challenging sites are as the pioneers left them.
Visiting the Trail
3: Cottonwood Hill, the pioneer’s path out of the Colorado River gorge
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Walking where the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers once walked and seeing first hand theformidable obstacles and challenges is an experience never to be forgotten. This web site will eventually be expanded to include detailed trail information.
4: Slick Rocks
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In the meantime, we will answer all inquires pertaining to specific sections of the trail. With respect to the Hole-in-the-Rock crevice, access to it can be gained via a boat on Lake Powell or by following the 65-mile-long Hole-in-the-Rock Trail road which is now part of the National Golden Staircase Monument.
5: The Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice, the only feasible path to construct a wagon road down the 1300’ cliff face of the Colorado River
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The road originates near Escalante, Utah. The first 55 miles of this dirt road is well maintained but only high ground clearance vehicles are recommended. The last ten miles to the Hole-in-the-Rock requires four-wheel drive and can be technically difficult in a few places. Please contact the Golden Stair Case National Monument for current road conditions. Summer temperatures can be very high; ample water is essential.
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