Phipps-Death Hollow Wilderness Study Area

The Phipps-Death Hollow Wilderness Study Area is a BLM-managed backcountry zone in the upper Escalante River drainage, northeast of the town of Escalante and adjacent to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The area protects roughly 42,700 acres of canyon country characterized by deep, steep-walled sandstone slot canyons, natural bridges, arches, and mesas — terrain that sees far fewer visitors than the nearby national monument's more accessible highlights.

What Makes It Distinct

The WSA sits in the upper portion of the Escalante drainage, where the Navajo sandstone appears in greater abundance and in shades of white and yellow not as common further downstream. The canyons here are among the deepest in the entire drainage system. The BLM has recommended about 39,256 acres of the 42,731-acre WSA for formal wilderness designation, reflecting its largely unmodified character.

Hiking and Access

This area is strictly for experienced, self-sufficient backcountry travelers. The signature route is a 4–5 day backpacking trip through Death Hollow, which begins in the adjacent Box-Death Hollow Wilderness to the north. The route involves technical canyon descents, deep cold pools that must be forded or swum, and routefinding with no established trail in sections. The Old Boulder Mail Trail — a 15-mile historic route that once connected Escalante to Boulder as a mail road in 1902 — passes through the area and offers a more navigable entry. No maintained trailheads, restrooms, or services exist within the WSA.

Planning Notes

Stop at the BLM Escalante Interagency Visitor Center before heading out — staff there have current route conditions, water sources, and permit requirements. Escalante is the nearest town with services. State Route 12 provides vehicle access to the eastern portions of the area.