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Show i Welcome To Escalante's Scenic Wonders !S Ml'..! L"; Velcome to almost two million m.s of scenic high plateaus and . , canyons. The east half of the 'aseiixie National Forest is near two stmfIational parks, Bryce Canyon and Je" t-ipitol Reef. Snafe The Dixie possesses numerous 1 pportunities for rewarding back-s, back-s, with .auntry recreational experiences, half hunting, fishing, back-packing, loolyk.ack trips, camping, photography, over siiross-country skiing and snow-Iscate snow-Iscate loeing can all be enjoyed in the ig)1TO-)r2St. The Dixie National Forest pro-Jfr pro-Jfr a variety of recreational envi-jnments. envi-jnments. For people who like xlusion, the forest has many un-eveloped un-eveloped back-country areas. For Qjj lose who prefer camping with pre facilities, developed recre-Aj recre-Aj ial areas are available. Escalante was first settled in 876 by about a dozen Mormon SSanchers and farmers and their fami-ies fami-ies from Panguitch and elsewhere XIvtl wished to find a climate more jonducive to agriculture and to expand ex-pand their grazing lands. " The road between Escalante and 1 lorrey (in Wayne County) was described de-scribed as "the most scenic road in southeastern Utah" and Escalante as identified as a "gateway" town iih great potential as an important wreation center. Within 100 miles rf Escalante are Bryce Canyon, -apitol Reef and Zion National ! ks, Cedar Breaks National Mon-rnient, Mon-rnient, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, three state parks, Anasazi Indian Village, Escalante Petrified Forest, and Kodachrome Basin and part of the Dixie National Forest. Due to the abundance of recreational opportunities in a relatively rela-tively small area of the state, visitors visi-tors often discover the Escalante-Boulder Escalante-Boulder area without it being their original destination. Motor vehicle tourists enjoy the scenery on Utah Highway 12, Hell's Backbone and in the Circle Cliffs. The color contrasts of the semi-arid canyon country to the pine and aspen covered mountains adds to the beauty of the area. Car camping is considered to be a major recreational use of the area. The most popular sites are Calf Creek, Posey Lake and Blue Spruce. The Calf Creek Recreation Site and campground (elev. 5,346) is located along Utah Highway 12, 15 miles east of Escalante. Facilities at the site include 10 individual campsites, three picnic sites, a group site, and a two and three-quarter three-quarter (one-way) interpretive trail to the 126-foot Lower Calf Creek Falls. Hell's Backbone and nearby campgrounds provide an alternative route to Boulder by way of Salt Gulch. Hell's Backbone was part of the old mule train route from Roger Peak to Death Hollow. A bridge now makes auto travel possible. Under the bridge are marks left by many years of mule travel. The narrow ridge of nearly solid rock remains to form the "backbone" between two canyons resembling someone's version of "hell." The scenic trip, leaving from and returning to, Escalante, is 59 miles. It passes through stands of pine and aspen and offers spectacular views from the Hell's Backbone Bridge. The deep chasms of Death Hollow and Sand Creek and the distant views of Fiftymile Mountain, Navajo Mountain and the Henry Mountains offer excellent photography photog-raphy opportunities. (Continued On Page 11D) r ... y .. . ...'.-;'. j - ; .... 1 ' - :, ' . v . . . .'.-' " ' A Y J ' ' '- ' ''- '-' ' ' - -'- ': ' v - ..... t , . - - ,- . .... fc ... ' f V ; :;;y V . y . - y y v Y, I i y . v r; - 4 -v.-i ' 'y -"V A'f I '' k - , , -r, ' - ' ; V V y s Who could resist a trip over Hell's Backbone in Escalante Boulder Area. jelcome To Escalante's dcenic Wonders jjfontinued From Page 9D) ijPoscy Lake (elev. 8,676) is loir lo-ir icd about 16 miles north of Es-fiMite. Es-fiMite. There are 23 campsites, ) s (no showers) and drinking r- The lake offers excellent .sning for rainbow and brook trout. l-mf .SPruce Campground (elev. i "5) is another beautiful area, grounding by numerous blue ypruce trees. A stream running M 'rough the campground has good inning for pan-size trout. The $!);all campground has six camp-M camp-M ies toilet facilities (no showers) f'3r5 """king water. Blue Spruce is Paled about 18 miles north of Es-ante. Es-ante. rj Barker Reservoirs (elev. 9,550) n be found by lhe right f 1 aid turnoff five miles west of Es-"ante. Es-"ante. A short 20-mile trip will ummerl989 reveal several lakes. Lower Barkers Reservoirs and Upper Barker Reservoir Reser-voir have nice Forest Service campgrounds, and the other reservoirs may be reached by hiking. Fishing is great! A camera will be worthwhile and the traveler should watch for lots of deer. Devil's Garden is an Outstanding Natural Area (elev. 5,280) located along the Holc-in-thc-Rock Road about 19 miles southeast of Escalante. Es-calante. Facilities consist of three picnic sites, a graveled access road, parking area, and sanitation facilities. facili-ties. There is no water at Devil's Garden. The visitor can explore and photograph the unique crosional sculptures where sandstone arches and pedestals offer an opportunity for a short hike and excellent photography. pho-tography. I lor |