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.
Post updated June 2018.
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Comments 3
I love all of these pictures! I’ll definitely be stopping by Devils Garden on my next trip to Utah!
I love all of your trip advice but I have to emphasize just how bad the road is getting into Devil’s Garden. Hole in the Rock Road is a bumpy washboard that is pretty much impossible to travel unless you are in a high clearance vehicle. We spent about 45 minutes rattling down this road in a Honda Odyssey and finally had to give up and turn back. We didn’t even get within sight of Devil’s Garden. It was so slow going and beating our van to death. I’m sure it would have been great if we were in an SUV or something else. Not worth it in anything low clearance though!!!
Author
The condition of the road can change month by month, from what I know. Just depends on the maintenance of the road. We learned that driving at a fast speed actually makes your vehicle rattle less. I don’t if it’s better for your car but it sure doesn’t feel as rough. Cheers, Julie