I'd suggest looking into Collet Canyon Road. This will connect Hole in the Rock to the Smokey Mtn Byway. It will save you the long trek back into Escalante. You won't miss much on the first part of Smokey that Collet Canyon will bypass. Plus I am thinking Collet would be a very fun route.

I have not actually driven Collet Canyon. So don't let me get you in over your head. However, I have heard it is reasonable, but probably requires 4WD. The road actually heads up the canyon and then climbs to the mesa just W of Hole in the Rock Road. You can see the route on Google Earth. Also will show up on a good atlas. We will definitely be trying Collet next time we are in the area.

Always keep an eye on the weather upstream from you. We were going to try Collet Canyon this last trip but heavy clouds to the W made us think twice. Wouldn't want to be there when the rains get heavy. Same applies for exploring the slot canyons on foot... but I am sure you know all this already.

Also, even though Smokey Mtn Byway is not an advanced 4WD road, there are some sections that will require thought. High clearance would be strongly suggested. Stock 4Runner will be fine. Lot's of washes to cross as well. They were mostly dry for us, but I could see them getting very deep with weather. You'd be stuck with no way forward and possibly no way back if the level rises.

Be prepared to last for a few days on this road should something happen. There is limited (as in basically no) cell service and a very, very low volume of traffic. You are on your own and should be as self sufficient as possible. Unless you can communicate with cows... there seems to be a few of those out there. "Run for help Bessie... run like the wind..."

Try to work out a way you can let some one know your route so if you don't show up, they have a place to start looking. Escalante and Utah are way to big for a search party to just guess.

Not every truck problem can be fixed with a mere Peach can after all.

 

SOAZtim- plug these coordinates into your GPS software, so you can figure out where to go:

Dry Fork Parking Lot: N37 28.589 W111 13.210

Peekaboo Gulch Start: N37 28.885 W111 13.000
Peekaboo Gulch End: N37 29.105 W111 13.005

Spooky Gulch Start (Top): N37 29.088 W111 12.565
Spooky Gulch End (Bottom): N37 28.890 W111 12.525

 

Perfect! I'm going to save myself a lot of time and head ache during the trip, by putting in turns I need to make, stops, hikes, camping spots etc in my gps. That way I can always go somewhere else, but I'll have tons of things marked too. Thank you!

 

xplorx4,
I just put thos coordinates in. Thankyou!!

 

I just gotta say a BIG thank you! for all of the help. The trip was a blast.
Before:

and after:

With tons of stuff in between!


I've got a ton of pics to go through and post.
Thanks,

 

Rig looks much, much better in the after.

Glad you had a good time. Utah is an amazing place.