Roadside Attraction Dance Hall Rock

Hole In The Rock Road

Overview

( Rated 3.0 / 1 Ratings )

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RATING: Roadside Attraction

LENGTH: less than an hour (0.7 mile)

MAPS: SOONER BENCH, UT

Fri

50 | 29

Sat

55 | 33

Sun

55 | 38

Mon

50 | 37

Tue

51 | 37

View Full Weather Details

SEASON: Any when roads are dry. Very hot in the summer. Fall, Winter, Spring preferred.

WATER: None

NOTES: Reaching the trailhead requires a long dirt road that is often quite rough. Low clearance vehicles are often driven to the trailhead, but I would recommend high clearance. The washboard sections will be very slow in a low clearance vehicle.

Fri

50 | 29

Sat

55 | 33

Sun

55 | 38

Mon

50 | 37

Tue

51 | 37

View Full Weather Details

roadside

dog friendly

family friendly

beginner

access: high clearance

Dance Hall Rock

In 1879, Mormon pioneers answered the call to colonize the southeast corner of Utah. Thus began an incredible and legendary journey from Escalante to Bluff. The terrain between the two places was inhospitable, rugged, and complex.

About 2 weeks into their journey, and 65 miles from Escalante, they reached the Colorado River Gorge and a major obstacle. To cross the river and continue their journey, they would need to manufacture a road down to the Colorado River through a narrow crack. This spot became known as the Hole-in-the-Rock.

It took six weeks to make Hole-in-the-Rock passable. During this time, Dance Hall Rock became a congregation place. The flat area and great acoustics made for a true dance hall experience. It must have been something to hear fiddle music and see dancing at Dance Hall Rock under the stars.

Today the site has an informational sign, a pit toilet, and a short trail that visits Dance Hall Rock proper.

Great light on Dance Hall Rock

Getting There

Head east out of the town of Escalante about 5 miles on highway 12 until the well signed Hole in the Rock road on the south side of highway 12. Reset the odometer as you turn onto this road.

Mile 0 - Hole-In-The-Rock Road Turnoff ( 12S 453167mE 4175716mN / N37° 43' 39" W111° 31' 53" )
8.0 miles - Parking area after a cattle guard. This is the Zebra/Tunnel trailhead. ( 12S 460681mE 4165896mN / N37° 38' 22" W111° 26' 44" )
12.3 miles - Devil's Garden turn off on the right. The trailhead is about 1/4 of a mile down this road. No camping, but a pit toilet. ( 12S 463808mE 4160175mN / N37° 35' 17" W111° 24' 36" )
16.6 miles - Egypt road on the left. This access the Egypt and Neon trailheads ( 12S 468045mE 4154960mN / N37° 32' 28" W111° 21' 42" )
24.8 miles - Upper Dry Fork Trailhead on the right (south). This has a large parking area and pit toilet. ( 12S 478657mE 4148035mN / N37° 28' 44" W111° 14' 29" )
26.1 miles - Dry Fork Trailhead Road on the left (north). The trailhead is at the end of the road in about a mile. ( 12S 480198mE 4146661mN / N37° 27' 60" W111° 13' 26" )
30.9 miles - Red Well side road on the left. Follow this 1 mile to its end for the Red Well Trailhead. ( 12S 485669mE 4141593mN / N37° 25' 16" W111° 09' 43" )
33.1 miles - Chimney Rock side road on the left (north). ( 12S 487309mE 4138502mN / N37° 23' 36" W111° 08' 36" )
34 miles - Hurricane Wash Trailhead on the left. ( 12S 488275mE 4137666mN / N37° 23' 08" W111° 07' 57" )
36.3 miles - Fortymile Ridge side road on the left. This road goes to the Stock Tank and Fortymile Ridge trailheads commonly used for Coyote Gulch. This is also the road to Sunset Arch. ( 12S 489827mE 4135057mN / N37° 21' 44" W111° 06' 54" )
36.9 miles - Dance Hall Rock Trailhead on the left. There is a pit toilet at the trailhead and small parking area. ( 12S 490766mE 4134519mN / N37° 21' 26" W111° 06' 15" )

View from the dance floor at Dance Hall Rock

Route

From the parking area, it is a short walk along the gravel travel as it winds around an outcrop and up to Dance Hall Rock proper. Be sure to test the acoustics while visiting. This is a magnificent spot for a lunch break if travelling this far out on the Hole-in-the-Rock trail.

Note: Most make the short hike and return. If you have time, Dance Hall Rock and the surrounding area are composed of Entrada sandstone. If you wander east about a 1/3 of a mile, then north you will be in a slickrock area with domes and enormous potholes similar to Sooner Rocks just down the road.