Reflection Canyon near Escalante, Utah

This is the trip write-up from my September 2023 overnight to Reflection Canyon near Escalante, Utah. Roughly sixteen miles round trip over two days on unmarked slickrock off Hole-in-the-Rock Road, about 50.5 miles down from Escalante. Fewer people than the famous canyon overlooks, mostly because the approach costs that much work.

If you are here for hike planning: distance, navigation, water, permits, and what I carried are below. If you are here for the photograph, the sunrise frame is in the photos and in a shorter Foto Friday on the morning itself.

Getting to the Reflection Canyon Trailhead

To get to the trailhead, you’ll take Highway 12 southeast out of Escalante, UT, for about 5 miles. You’ll turn onto the Hole-in-the-rock Road (BLM200) and drive for about 50.5 miles. The trailhead is not marked, but you’ll know you are there when you see a bunch of Slickrock on the sides that look like parking (and perhaps there will be other vehicles there).

Parking GPS: 37.25212, -110.97354. Interactive map: CalTopo / Sartopo .

Hiking Reflection Canyon:

1. Trailhead: The hike begins at a nondescript pull-off along Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Parking GPS: 37.25212, -110.97354. Route map: CalTopo / Sartopo . Google Maps pin is here .
2. Distance and Difficulty: The hike is roughly 16 to 20 miles round trip (depending on your route) and is considered strenuous due to the lack of defined trails, steep inclines, and the need to carry all your water and supplies.
3. Navigation: GPS and map navigation skills are essential, as the route is not marked. You must navigate through desert terrain, including slickrock, sandy washes, and rocky ledges. I used the all-trails route and took the “lower” route to Reflection Canyon. You can find that route here . I also used Gaia GPS to keep an eye on the route – you can find the Gaia route here .
4. Best Time to Visit: Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are ideal due to milder temperatures. Summer hikes are not recommended due to extreme heat, sun exposure, and the lack of water sources.
5. Permits: A backcountry permit from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is required for overnight trips. You can get a permit at many of the more significant/official trailheads on Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
6. Be Prepared: Have plenty of water. And more water. Print out a paper copy of the map and be knowledgeable about navigating without electronic devices if you lose your phone (or its battery). Take an external GPS device like a Garmin (one with an SOS is preferred).

Notes on Reflection Canyon

• Take plenty of water—more than you think you’ll need. There is usually no water on the trail. There may be a few puddles after rain but plan on no water.
• Start early. Beat the sun and the heat and get onto the trail early. Start early, whether overnight or hiking in/out in one day. This will let you take your time hiking in (and out) and beat the afternoon sun.
• Be prepared to stake your tent without stakes. There are some grassy/sandy areas to pitch a tent in, but most of the area is rock. Take some rope to tie to rocks to tie your test down.
• This area is “pack it in / pack it out,” including your waste.

What I carried on the hike:

In my pack, I carried the following items:

• Garmin GPSMAP® 67i (with inReach technology)
• iPhone
• Paper map and compass
• Camera/Lenses/Tripod
• Food/snacks
• First Aid Kit
• Personal Care items (Toilet Paper, Wag Bags, etc)
• Change of clothes
• 1-person lightweight tent
• lightweight/warm weather sleeping bag
• Ten gallons of Water (3 gallons per day + extra for cooking). NOTE: I ran out of water about a mile before the end on the way out….I should have carried much more.

My pack weighed in at 48 pounds(!).

Aside from running out of water about a mile from the trailhead on day 2, the only other negative was the blisters. I made the idiotic mistake of buying new socks for the hike. The socks turned out to be too big and immediately started causing issues and blisters. When I finished the hike, I had two massive blisters across both feet and lost 3 toenails. The blisters and toenails weren’t a fun experience, but it only slightly diminished my enjoyment on this trip.

Here are a few more pictures: