Escalante, UT - Drive down Hole in the Rock Road to Lake Powell

Gary has been wanting to drive to the end of Hole in the Rock road,

so today is the day.

We get on the road at 9:00.  By 9:15 we arrive at Hole in the Rock Road

It is a gravel/dirt road for 57 miles to the Hole in the Rock

No rush hour traffic here.

It's already 81 degrees

It's a long and winding road . . .

a small ranch house

We make it past the turn off for Spooky Gulch and Peek a Boo Canyon, so it's uncharted territory  from here.

Looks like a long road ahead

27 Miles to go

We stop at a small cattle holding pen

Tucson says no cattle here

Looks like someone make it out earlier than us

Seems like a long way to go just to sit down.

Next stop is the famous Dance Hall Rock

Tucson looks like he's ready to shake a leg

A little hike up to the dance floor

Room for social distancing here

Sorry Gary - you missed the last dance!

Only 21 miles to go!  We are currently going 21 mph so it would be an hour if it weren't for those 5 mph sections!

I love how the colors keep changing

Always stop for plaques and monuments

a view of  the road

Back to red

and then Green

Making good time!

and we're climbing the highway to heaven!

Leaving Grand Staircase Escalante NM. 

There's hope!  Lake Powell is in Glen Canyon

Sure could use one about now!

Some interesting formations

Looks like our road down there

Lake Powell is out there somewhere!

an interesting solar powered water pumping station

Ooh a plaque on the wall

Must be getting close

At least Lake Powell is on the Map

We have entered a lunar landscape

Looks like it may be ahead

Made it!

Gary finds a parking space.  He didn't realize it was a dead end trip - he was thinking we would get to Lake Powell and could take the highway home.

Let's go check it out

Gary jokingly asked Tucson if he wanted to go for a swim.  He was 1/3 of the way down before I got him to come back.

How did they ever get the wagons down this!

We could hike down, but Gary's foot is hurting and besides we would have to climb back up and it's 90 degrees out.

I decide to climb up the rocks to see if I can get a better view of the Lake

Really looks inviting

Head back to the Truck

We head away from the Lake and back home.  What a ride 4 hours- and now we get to do it in reverse!