Exploring Devil’s Garden: A Hidden Gem in Escalante, Utah

The Devil’s Garden is in the Grand Staircase of Escalante National Monument, it was yet another place we wanted to climb around during our spring 2026 trip to Utah. This is another park I would recommend as it was a lot of fun and not at all crowded.

Location

Devil’s Garden in Escalante is located on the Hole in the Wall, an unpaved and also a rough road. As a matter of fact, it is on the same road that you will find Peek a Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons.

Take scenic route 12 east from Escalante. About 5 miles from the town look for the Hole in the Wall turnoff (BLM-200), although there is a sign, it is easy to miss. Drive just over another 12 miles on this rough road and you will find Devil’s Garden.

About Devil’s Garden, Escalante in Utah

Interesting to note, this lesser visited natural playground is not a National or State Park. Instead, it is designated as an “Outstanding Natural Area”. This area includes a wonderful grouping of rocks, hoodoos, two arches and also a “mini wave”. Much of the area is made of ancient sandstone which has evolved over the last 170 million years. Once a sand blown ancient dessert, through the years, the sands blue, compressed and also eroded into the stones you see today.

Although Devil’s Garden in Escalante is a bit remote and has no entrance fees, no paved trails or formal parameters, it is a fantastic area to roam around.

The Rocks, and Hoodoos

The minute you arrive at Devil’s Garden and see the first large rocks, if you are like us, you will want to jump out and get climbing around and exploring. At first site it looks like one large rock with hoodoos on top. Once you climb the rock and see the other side you will see a much more expansive area of these unique sandstone rocks, hoodoos, and also arches just waiting to be explored. If you don’t feel like climbing the first rock, you can walk around it as well.

The Four Wiseman

Make sure you look for the four wiseman while exploring in Devil’s Garden. These four tall sandstone hoodoos give the resemblance to four solemn men in robes. A fanciful take perhaps on judges or scholars.

The Wave

In addition to the hoodoos and rocks, there is an area which I like to refer to as the “mini wave”. Reminiscent of photos I have seen of the famous Coyote Buttes Wave at the Utah/Arizona border. Since we can never seem to get permits for The Wave at Coyote Buttes, seeing this “mini wave” was a bit of a consolation. All in all, I found this wave was much easier to scamper around on than I had thought it would be.

Matate Arch

This slim arch is actually quite nice as arches go. Matate Arch is probable the best reason to visit Devil’s Garden in Escalante as it is one of the more unique arches in this area of Utah. It has a delicate look to it and also makes for a great photo.

Mano Arch

Mano Arch, also in the Devil’s Garden is a more rugged looking arch which has a fun peek a boo aspect. You can also climb up on top of this arch which is also fun.

Conclusion

If you don’t mind the drive on the unimproved road, Devil’s Garden is a great stop while driving scenic Utah Route 12 through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. It is a great place to let your inner kid energy out, stretch your legs, and also see some remarkable landscapes. In addition, the two arches are an extra bonus!

Planning

I like “Utah’s Favorite Hiking Trails” book by David Day It is great for researching places to hike in Utah. You can find the Amazon link here.

Hiking Escalante & Glen Canyon Region by Ron Adkinson is also a good guide. You can find this at Amazon here.

For my favorite hiking gear and snacks, check out My Amazon Store at this link.

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