Quote: After camping on a Bureau of Land Management area just east of Capitol Reef, we decided to head farther west and possibly do some backpacking. Soon after we started driving, we found a tiny organic veggie/coffee place along the road. We stopped in for java and spoke to the eccentric owner for a while. We talked a bit about the damage done by Off Road Vehicles near the place we camped. He knew about the problem, and was actively involved in a conservation group to try to stop ORV use and protect the desert vegetation. He seemed like a good person to ask about backpacking. We had been concerned about backpacking in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument because it was June and well past the prime backpacking time…. It was already starting to be too hot and some water sources were already dry. When we asked the coffee shop owner for recommendations, he suggested Box Death Hollow Wilderness in Dixie National Forest. He said that it was a small canyon with a year round creek, with lots of trees and shade, so it was cooler than most areas at this time. Plus, he said, not that many people go there, so we’d have some solitude. It sounded perfect!

After a brief stop to look at some petroglyphs in Capitol Reef, we headed toward the town of Escalante. Shortly after leaving Capitol Reef, we entered the Dixie National Forest. Dixie NF is an island of cool green in the middle of redrock desert. It was refreshing and surprising to see a forest where I hadn’t expected it. When we reached the town of Escalante, we stopped in the Ranger Station for a backpacking permit and then headed out immediately. Box Death Hollow is about 10 miles north of Escalante on a dirt road. We were the only ones at the trailhead parking area – a good sign. After loading our packs, we headed up the trail.

The trail sort of fizzled out before it even started, but not so much that we couldn’t follow it. It basically meandered along the creek, crossing the creek often. Sometimes we could jump the creek and sometimes we just stepped in. We had gotten a late start, so it was really HOT. Good thing we had the canyon to ourselves…. when we got too hot and found a deep spot in the creek, we just dropped our packs and skinny dipped to cool off.

After a few hours, we found a nice flat shady spot to set up camp. We still hadn’t seen any other people. Dinner was delicious and peaceful, and afterward we scrambled up some nearby rocks for a better view of our home for the night. What a beautiful canyon – I am so grateful to our new friend for recommending it!

The next morning we hiked out to the trailhead in cool of the morning, again without seeing another soul. We were headed on to our next adventure… Bryce Canyon National Park.

From journals Utah Roadtrip