Escalante was settled in 1876 by Mormon pioneers who were advised by members of the second Powell Expedition to name the town after the river running through the valley. The river had been named a few years earlier for Silvestre Velez de Escalante, a Spanish priest and explorer who had travelled through the region searching for a route between Santa Fe and California.
Escalante is often called the “Heart of Scenic Byway 12” as it is nestled between the elevated meadows of the Aquarius and Kaiparowits Plateaus and the low desert country surrounding the Escalante Canyons in the middle of the byway. Festivals honoring both the area’s rich heritage and its ability to inspire artists are held annually.
Escalante Chamber of Commerce – Click Here
