Devils Garden is a fun to explore, scenic spot to visit in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. If you have plans to drive down Hole-in-the-Rock Road, here are five reasons why you should visit Devils Garden.
#1 This Place is a Beauty!
With hoodoos, crazy rock formations, and arches, Devils Garden is a beautiful spot to visit in Utah.
#2 It’s a Very Quick Visit
On the fastest of itineraries, Devils Garden deserves at least a quick peek. Most people spend around a half hour to an hour here, but with as little as 15 minutes of your time, you can go exploring and snap a few photos.
There is no official hiking trail. This is more about wandering among the rock formations than hiking point to point.
#3 Perfect for Kids
Traveling with kids? Devils Garden is perfect! There are so many nooks and crannies to explore, with spots to go rock scrambling and exploring.
#4 It’s Free!
Entry into Grand Staircase-Escalante is free.
#5 Less Crowded than Bryce Canyon
If you want to see hoodoos without the crowds, Devils Garden may be perfect for you. It may not be as spectacular as Bryce Canyon, but this is a quieter, off-the-beaten-path destination that makes for a wonderful experience. We were here on a late afternoon in May and had Devils Garden all to ourselves.
Plan Your Trip
Getting Here
Devils Garden is located on Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. From Highway 12, drive 12 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road. There will be a sign identifying Devils Garden and a parking lot located just off of the road. There are restrooms here.
When to Go
Grand-Staircase Escalante is open year round. The most pleasant times to visit are during the spring and fall seasons. It can get very hot in the summertime. If it is raining, Hole-in-the-Rock road may be impassable, even if you have a 4×4.
What Else to Do in the Area
On Hole-in-the-Rock road, there are many more hiking trails. We hiked Zebra Canyon (just 4 miles away from Devils Garden) and Peek-a-Boo Canyon and Spooky Gulch. Further down Hole-in-the-Rock Road you can also hike the Dry Fork Slots, Chimney Rock, and several other trails.
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
If you have any questions about visiting Devils Garden, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information about Utah
GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE: In Grand Staircase-Escalante, drive Cottonwood Canyon Road, hike Willis Creek, and hike through Peek-A-Boo and Spooky Gulches.
ZION NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Zion National Park Travel Guide for important travel planning tips, sample itineraries, advice on when to go, where to stay, and more.
BEST OF CAPITOL REEF: Top experiences in Capitol Reef include hiking Cassidy Arch, driving through Cathedral Valley, and hiking one of the many trails in the park. For the full list, read our article Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef.
ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS: If you have limited time, learn how to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day.
BRYCE CANYON: Learn how to plan your visit in our Bryce Canyon Travel Guide. We also have information on how to spend One Day in Bryce Canyon and how to hike the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trails.
GOBLIN VALLEY: Goblin Valley is a small state park packed with unique rock formations that’s a fun place to explore, especially for kids. Nearby you can also hike through Little Wild Horse slot canyon.
We have LOTS more information about Utah in our Utah Travel Guide and the USA in our United States Travel Guide.
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Comments 24
Hello,
Where is a good place to stay to access all these hikes?
Author
You could look into Escalante, Boulder, or Tropic, Utah. We stayed in Tropic.
Do you have to have 4 wheel drive? We have rented an SUV for our trip but it’s not a 4wd and would like to go to Devils Garden
Author
No, to go to Devils Garden an SUV will be sufficient. Hole in the Rock Road is a graded gravel road so no 4×4 is necessary. It can be rough, depending on when it was last graded. Cheers, Julie
Hole in the Rock road was washboardy but not too in late October 2021. No need for high clearance. And Devil’s Garden was empty and delightful, exactly as described!
Author
Awesome! Thanks for writing in!