Escalante is small ranching town along the Escalante River. In all directions is wild, uninhabited and beautiful land. Indeed, though it has only 850 residents, it is the largest town for 70 miles around. To the north of town is the high alpine wilderness of the Aquarius Plateau and Boulder Mountain; to the south and east lie the rugged red rock desert canyons of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
The town of Escalante features tidy rows of well kept homes and a sleepy main street with a few cafes, grocery stores, activity outfitters and motels. It's a convenient base for exploring the nice recreational opportunities in the surrounding areas. You can hike or fish on the Aquarius Plateau or explore the magnificently rugged and pristine Grand Staircase National Monument. On the outskirts of town is Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, filled with dinosaur bones as well as petrified wood.
Escalante is located in south central Utah off Highway 12. It is about 50 miles east of Bryce Canyon National Park and 75 miles south of Capitol Reef National Park.
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