Before setting out into the Escalante District of the Dixie National Forest, a roadmap gives a few clues about traveling this canyonlands area. The chilling names, Box-Death Hollow Wilderness and Hell's Backbone Road are enough to scare off any timid adventurers. Backcountry guests start off through a wilderness area on a dirt and gravel road from Utah's Route 12, south of the town of Boulder. This scenic route leads through the Escalante Ranger District and passes by spectacular views of the gorges in Box-Death Canyon.
     The 1930's Hell's Backbone Bridge (photo) turns out to be not that scary at all, and was once the only road connecting the towns of Boulder and Escalante. The route is about 35 miles in length and may take two hours of travel time depending on road conditions. Modern Route 12, connecting these two towns, is also a scenic byway and quite an engineering marvel. Here, sightseers take a high elevation route along the mountain ridges through the Escalante Canyons and over some of the most thrilling miles in Utah, passing over the crest of Hogback Ridge.