Packing gear, drinking coffee, reading the route description one more time. I probably spent half the night just laying there waiting for the sound of my alarm, imagining all the possibilities that tomorrow could hold. Sleep that night was about as restful as the night before Christmas when I was a kid my eyes were closed, but the mind was too excited to fall asleep for any amount of time. Somewhere down there lies the Escalante River, and just beyond it, our objective, Neon Canyon.

Poised on the edge of the plateau we were greeted by an expanse of canyons, cliffs, and cacti stretching as far as the eye could see. With great relief, we made it to camp near the trailhead in one piece and got the lay of the land. Conditions were wildly variable one minute cruising along, then without warning the road turns to washboards, sending the car into a violent rattle that threatened to shake the whole vehicle apart. If there was ever a good reason to get to camp before dark, this road was it.

We turned onto Hole in the Rock road, a fifty-mile dirt road that leads all the way south to Lake Powell, and began our approach to the trailhead. It’s a low-key entrance not much more than a standard national monument sign on the side of the road. Be sure to stock up on any last minute items because this is the last sign of civilization you’ll come across for the rest of the journey.Įast of town we arrive at the border to the monument proper. Populated with a few motels, restaurants, and adventure guide services, Main Street has that ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ feel. Such was our experience with Neon Canyon, a technical slot canyon with one of the grandest finales I could imagine.ĭriving through the small town of Escalante, one can already get the sense that this place is a little bit out there. Ever heard of Grand Staircase-Escalante? By now people have explored every corner of the national monument, yet thankfully those that share information with the general public seem to provide just enough detail to entice you while reserving the right amount of details to keep it adventurous. I consider the American Southwest to be one of those regions that still holds distant locations full of adventure and mystery. Between the advancement of technology and the expansion of inhabitable areas, it’s hard to find places that are truly remote. It is no secret that we live in an ever-shrinking world.

Slot canyon escalante big water