It is one of the most amazing stories in utah history. This is the first really long slickrock trail i have done and has fueled a continuing search for ever more remote red rock country roads. Hole in the rock marks the only at which early pioneers could descend to the colorado river below with their wagons and animals. This 62 mile 100 km drive one way runs from escalante, utah to the hole in the rock on the western shore of lake powell following the general route of of the original hole in the rock expedition. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and bird watching and is best used from march until november. Miller, is widely regarded to be the most accurate. Pioneer descendants preserve history of the hole in the rock.
Many of these pioneers were already in san juan county when the holeintherockers arrived. Just prior to the creation of lake powell, a party of 49, including explorer scout post 36 from lds pleasant view 3rd ward, provo, utah, set out on an expedition to run the colorado river rapids between hole inthe rock and glen canyon. Hole in the rock an epic in the colonization of the. In 1879 when a group of mormon pioneers began the now famous hole inthe rock expedition, the san juan region of southeastern utah was one of the most isolated parts of the united states. Their six month journey would required conquering rugged impassable territory, sheer sandstone walls, steep mountainsides and solid rock ridges. Hole n the rock is an intriguing place located on highway 161 south of moab. His account of the adventure, romance, and sacrifices of. This historic 5,000 square foot home and unusual gift shop and trading post are open all year. It was a tough time, wyndee hansen, who owns the property now with her husband, erik, tells.
Not content to be just another guy with a drill and a dream, he handcarved his luxurious suite of rooms out of a natural cliff face in the 1940s. Gerald lund takes us through the hole in the rock and over miles of uncharted country that even today is impassable without allterrain vehicles. The roads inside the camping area have big ruts and dry washouts could be creeks in heavy rains, but im not sure so i wouldnt recommend arriving in the dark unless you know where you are going. Hole in the rock crevasse looking down at lake powell on january 26, 1880, after six months of blasting and chiseling, an expedition of 250 mormon pioneers with their wagons and livestock descended through a rocky crevice known as the hole in the rock to the colorado river below now lake powell. Hole in the rock road escalante 2020 all you need to. The 1,300 foot descent approaching 45 degrees could only be accomplished. Hole in the rock road out of escalante towards lake powell is the road the pioneers crossed 140 years. The incredible story of hole n the rock, utahs famous. Theron stoddard, provided by deseret book forty mile spring is part of the path that the hole inthe rock pioneers took in blazing their new trail. Monument valley arizona, utah and new mexico, james, h. Up till then i had never heard of the saga of the mormon pioneers building a wagon road between established communities in southwestern utah and the four corners area. At the main hole inthe rock site, the pioneers actually built a wagon road on the side of a cliff.
It was through this notch that the party intended to make its way. View all hotels near holeintherock escalante heritage center on tripadvisor. Hole in the rock rd is a bit washboard, but you are only on it for like 14 mile. The shortcut proved to be deceptive, and the pioneers spent the winter at fortymile spring. This book is a must read for anyone traveling to the hole in the rock sitemore. Hole in the rock expedition mormon historic sites foundation.
Millers book has withstood over 50 years of scrunity and research, and still remains the backbone of hole in the rock history. In all the annals of the west, replete with examples of courage, tenacity and ingenuity, there. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. The mormon expedition to colonize the san juan area in the four corners of the. The hole in the rock trail often hyphenated as hole in the rock is a historic trail running eastsoutheast from the town of escalante in southern utah in the western united states. A utah legislative proposal to make hole in the rock a state park has garnered committee approval. Hole in the rock day trip is a fascinating trip through time. Hole in the rock information hole in the rock road. This road has major historical significance and also leads to some of bryce canyon countrys most incredible slot canyons. In addition to the historical value of the story of these pioneers, this guide includes road logs, maps, and hiking trails along the historic trail. Supplies had to be brought in to the company by mule train. San juan pioneers who came to the area between 18791880 from other directions, other than holeintherock will be identified with after their surname. Holeintherock the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. It is 34 miles each way, through some of the most uninhabited, unspoiled land in utah.
In addition to the historical value of the story of these pioneers, this guide. Clayson lyman, a realestate broker who lives in orem and is the greatgrandson of platte d. Visitors can make the 15 mile drive from esccalate across a dirt road to the top of the hole in the rock site and walkclimb down the notch to lake powell. In 187980, mormon pioneers built a wagon road between established communities in southwestern utah and the four corners area. I always wondered what in the world that group of mormon pioneers were doing. The hole in the rock colonists literally carved out a wagon trail through presentday grand staircaseescalante, crossed the colorado river and grey mesa, and then up san juan hill to reach the area of presentday bluff, utah. Hole intherock pioneers is a name that originated from the pioneer. Pioneers in covered wagons by minerva teichert, a mormon artist who painted in the american impressionist style. The remnants of the pioneers efforts are still visible in the sandstone today for visitors to the area. Located in the heart of canyonlands country 12 miles south of moab utah on us highway 191. Holeintherock trail in 187980, mormon pioneers built a wagon road between established communities in southwestern utah and the four corners area. Getting to escalante when coming from northern utah is really pretty, especially when you get to the fin part of the freeway where you have to slow down to 20 miles per hour. They were fulfilling an assignment from their church, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, to establish a settlement in the area. The mormon trailblazers who established this trail crossed the colorado river and ended their journey in the town of bluff.
Mormon pioneers descend the hole they had blasted into the rock. The home is so livable and comfortable, charming and almost entertaining. Holeintherock road, grand staircaseescalante national monument, utah 55 mile route alongside the straight cliffs and fiftymile mountain, from hwy 12 near escalante to lake powell, passing many trailheads, for hikes along the tributary canyons of the escalante river. The undaunted is broken into books covering set periods of time and. The pathway at hole in the rock is still cleared out, and you get to hike through the path that these enduring people traveled, bringing wagons down with all of their stuff and their oxen. Hole in the rock trail travels historic slickrock or weathered sandstone. Pioneer trek across the barren wast land of southern utah via the hole inthe rock in. The landmark began as a modest cave where cowboys camped in the early 20th century, but in 1945, brothers albert and leo christensen expanded the space and founded the hole n the rock diner. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential geologic. It will include dinosaur tracks, a trip on the famous hole in the rock rd and.
It seems that most books focus on the trail from escalante to hole in the. He and his wife, lynn, are the parents of seven children and live in alpine, utah. Together with another canyon on the eastern side of the colorado river, it provided a route through what would otherwise be a large area of impassable terrain. It also points out fascinating natural history along the way, making a guide to southern utahs holeintherock trail a significant reference for a variety of readers. You will hang on every word from your gracious guide at a cost anyone can. Much of hole in the rock road is passable to highclearance, twowheel drive vehicles in dry weather. The book opens with christian probascos story of the persistent hole inthe rock mormon pioneers, who widened the trail through the rough terrain of southern utah to the san juan river, and it is probably one of the most wellknown stories in the book. Holeintherock escalante heritage center 2020 all you. The pioneers were able to perform some amazing road building. An epic in the colonization of the great american west miller, david e. During this time he completed his famous painting sermon on the mount and his sculpture of franklin d. They were fulfilling an assignment from their church, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, to.
Hole n the rock moab 2020 all you need to know before. Highway 191 in southern utah, in the heart of canyonlands country, is one of the most unique roadside attractions in the united states. Even so, the pioneers never encountered anything on the entire journey as difficult or dramatic as blasting their way through hole inthe rock. A portion of the group camped at the top of the hole in the rock, a narrow crack in the canyon rim 2. The miracle of the holeintherock pioneers gerald n. A portion of the group camped at the top of the holeintherock, a narrow crack in the canyon rim 2. Feb 07, 2007 sure enjoyed your pics of hole in the rock. One of the few published historical accounts written of the mormon pioneers called by their president and prophet to colonize. Visit hole n the rock, a most unique home, carved out of a huge rock in utahs canyonlands country. A halfmile wide, the sandstone formation rises nearly 500 feet above the surrounding landscape. An epic in the colonization of the great american west by david e. Skillfully interweaving historical figures and events with fictional characters, gerald lund takes us through the hole in the rock and over miles of uncharted country that even today is impassable without allterrain vehicles. On january 26, 1880, after six months of blasting and chiseling, an expedition of 250 mormon pioneers with their wagons and livestock descended through a rocky crevice known as the hole in the rock to the colorado river below now lake powell.
Visit hole n the rock, a most unique home, carved out of a huge rock in utah s canyonlands country. Because of these challenges, the entire trek became known as the hole inthe rock expedition. Mormon history mormon pioneers st george utah temple square church history family history lds church church ideas book of mormon to commemorate the entry of the mormon pioneers into the salt lake valley, utahns across the state participated in. The late david miller, then a professor of history at the university of utah, wrote this concerning these pioneers. Hole in the rock, mormon expedition trail, utah, on may 1. The rough and broken country is characterized by sheer walled cliffs, mesas, hills, washes, slickrock, cedar forests, and sand.
Hole inthe rock pioneers is a name that originated from the pioneer group that met the harrowing challenge of a narrow crevice in a rock ravine that sent them down a 45degree plunge over 2,000 feet to the colorado river. The roughly two hundred and fifty mile hole in the rock trail took the mormon pioneers over six months to complete. A memorial wall to the original hole in the rock pioneers was planned, installed, and dedicated in 2004 by thenpresiding bishop h. Hole in the rock trail utah motorcycle and atv trails. Hole n the rock photos a memorial to the homes builders, albert and gladys christensen travelers along u. Riding in an open truck, they reached this point at approximately 3. The trail is located within the borders of the grand. Lyman, a captain of the hole in the rock pioneers, said he. Twentyfoottall white letters painted on the side ensure that you dont miss moabs hole n the rock, a 5,000squarefoot home carved into sandstone by the christensen family nearly a century ago. A small seep where the first major camp was established after departing from escalante. The first 85 miles of the pioneers route between parowan and escalante, utah, which were over established roads, are not shown on this map. Take a guided tour of the home, and appreciate the rich history within its walls. The hole in the rock road is a gravel road which brings you to devils garden and the holeintherock, where pioneers created a hole with the canyon wall on the banks of lake powell within glen canyon national park.
The hole in the rock refers to the narrow opening in a cliff through which mormon pioneers lowered their wagon train to cross the colorado river in 1879 which was later dammed to form lake powell. In a 12 year period albert excavated 50,000 cubic feet of sandstone from the rock. It also points out fascinating natural history along the way, making a guide to southern utahs hole inthe rock trail a significant reference for a variety of readers. Free trail maps, driving directions, regulations, fees and camping information for hole in the rock trail in utah. An epic in the colonization of the great american west. It is called the undaunted and is the story of the hole inthe rock pioneers. In all the annals of the west, replete with examples of courage, tenacity and ingenuity, there is no better. Ive never read any of gerald lunds other books, so i wasnt familiar with his writing style and his approach to historical fiction.
Mormon pioneers took six months to get through this journey. Beautiful decorative gravel for xeriscape landscaping. In 1879, a band of lds more properly, church of jesus christ of latterday saints or mormon pioneers. Hole in the rock an epic in the colonization of the great american west. This is an exciting account of their perils which i am sure you would enjoy since you were there. Known as the hole inthe rock trail, its direct penetration through the colorado river gorge and surrounding topography shortened distances over alternative routes by up to hundreds of miles. The hole in the rock trail is a historic trail running eastsoutheast from the town of escalante in southern utah in the western united states. Hole in the rock is a narrow and steep crevice in the western rim of glen canyon, in southern utah in the western united states. Utah history encyclopedia, 1994 in the spring of 1880 a direct supply and access road connecting southwestern and southeastern utah was completed. Highway 191 in southwestern utah are amazed to discover this historic 5,000 square foot home which began taking shape almost a century ago by the christensen family. After much more work, the majority of the square was acquired, a visitors center was opened, and plans were made for reconstruction of the coop store.
Brigham young was the foremost mormon pioneer and led the church to the utah territory. This map shows the pioneer trek from escalante through holeintherock and. Click to buy if you thought the mormon pioneering days were over with the. The hole in the rock road runs through rugged areas of the the grand staircase before ending at lake powell. The route was meant to be a shortcut, but the topography, weather and resources proved to be a formidable foe. I n the spring of 1880 a direct supply and access road connecting southwestern and southeastern utah was completed.
The town of escalante, a few miles west of this junction, provided the last chance for the pioneers to obtain food and supplies and to make repairs on their equipment. Youth groups and the hole inthe rock trail trekking groups who visit a site of historical significance along the hole inthe rock trail or walk over ground, hallowed by the sacrifice and struggles of the san juan pioneers, can have a remarkable experience. Hole in the rock american western expansion the fur trapper. In all the annals of the west, replete with examples of courage, tenacity and ingenuity, there is no better example of the indomitable pioneer spirit than that of the hole inthe rock expedition of the san juan mission. Scroll down the left column labels to find the surname of the pioneer. Hole in the rock i was in bluff,utah three years ago and. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Hole in the rock is a historic site in utah where the mormon pioneers had to dynamite a path down the mountain to get through to the colorado river. In november, 1879, a group of mormon pioneers headed south out of escalante to colonize the san juan mission, now the town of bluff. In the spring of 1880 a direct supply and access road connecting southwestern and southeastern utah was completed. Gerald n lund in 1879 a stalwart group of mormon pioneers are called to create a settlement that will serve as a buffer between the established communities of utah and the lawless frontier of. The story of the december 1879 holeintherock expedition, when 250 men, women, children, with 80 wagons and many cattle and horses, passed through 200 miles of impossible country to lay foundations for a mormon settlement in the four corners area. The holeintherock expedition established the trail in 1879. Holeinthe rock glen canyon national recreation area u.
Lynn griffin last wagon hole in the rock mormon pioneers. Hole in the rock is a cleft in a steep cliff face within glen canyon national recreation area. Hole in the rock i was in bluff, utah three years ago and stopped at the museum. As young grew older, his arthritis precluded him from spending winters in the salt lake city region, so his followers built him a winter home in st. You can learn more about why the pioneers came to bluff and their arduous journey over the hole inthe rock trail. The original bluff fort has been rebuilt and lovingly restored through the efforts of the hole in the rock foundation. There are a few good sources of information on this trek. Hotels near holeintherock escalante heritage center.
Moab, utah albert christensens home is in a neighborhood of its own the knobby, treeless void of southeastern utah. The hole in the rock trail is the route a hardy group of mormon pioneers took from escalante, utah to bluff, utah. Recent discoveries of scattered stories from other pioneers on the trek. Strange as it may seem, the holeintherock pioneers ex pressed. The pathway at hole in the rock is still cleared out, and you get to hike through the path that these enduring people traveled, bringing wagons down. Gerald lund highlights pioneers struggle across untamed. In 1879 a faithful group of utahans sought to establish a settlement in southeastern utah. Hole in the rock trail the slickrock channel called the chute and canyons beyond are the most difficult parts. Holeintherock road, grand staircaseescalante national. The story of the december 1879 hole inthe rock expedition, when 250 men, women, children, with 80 wagons and many cattle and horses, passed through 200 miles of impossible country to lay foundations for a mormon settlement in the four corners area. The pioneers began by blasting a roadway through a rocky crevice barely large enough for a man to walk through. Hole in the rock an epic in the colonization of the great.
The history of the hole n the rock is so fascinating, how two people could carve a home out of a rock is beyond comprehension. Hole intherock pioneers is a name that originated from the pioneer group that met the harrowing challenge of a narrow crevice in a rock ravine that sent them down a 45degree plunge over 2,000 feet to the colorado river. Rather than endure a long, tedious journey around glen canyon, they decided to create a shortcut across the canyon. A guide to southern utahs holeintherock trail aitchison, stewart on. The itinerary starts from the stone canyon inn going east on rt.
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