Exploring Hole in the Rock Road: A Journey Through Utah's Rugged Backcountry

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The Cosmic Ashtray might be the coolest looking place with the worst possible name! Great video as always. It's amazing how much amazing otherworldly scenery there is in Utah.

[@CactusAtlas]

😅 I don't know... I kind of like the name. Better than Cosmic Navel, another name I see it referred as. 😂

[@susanasalinas4273]

Amazing views in Utah. Great Dog too. Thanks for letting me tag along. Enjoyed the scenery. Hi Amy.

[@CactusAtlas]

Hi!! 👋😊 Glenn, I think, is in love with that dog. 😅

[@VINTERIUM..EXPLORIUM.1]

👍

[@hobby-cantina]

I hiked to the cosmic ashtray one time with my wife! It was one of the hardest longest hikes we have done to date. I saw the road out there and a river crossing I believe to get out there. River crossing may be dry now so maybe you were in the right spot. Place was awesome though. You can’t see it until you get up to the top. I’m going to be in the area next week I will try and find it! Awesome content man! Always enjoy your Utah episodes. I will definitely not be hiking there again. That’s for sure. Unless it’s right at the base where I start the hike.

[@CactusAtlas]

Neat! Would you say it was worth it to see it in person though? I saw that there is another way to reach it from the North. Not sure if it's any easier though. 😅

[@hobby-cantina]

@ It was definitely worth it. We camped by an area called the Moqui Marbles Hill. I recommend that area too for off the grid camping. I think it’s off Spencer Flat Road. Cosmic Ashtray plays tricks on you when you try to find it. I think you were right there in the video. You have to walk way up the slick rock. It’s massive. You can get down inside it too where the sand is. There are steps from what I remember. Man made ones to get out. The whole time you are up there though looking at it you’re basically on a steep incline the entire time. I would say the devils garden place you went makes up for it. That’s my favorite spot in Escalante. So is the Boulder Mail Trail. Death hollow area. To me the Cosmic Ashtray is worth seeing again. So I would definitely get out there and try again!

[@hobby-cantina]

@ I meant to say the pizza place at the outfitters is my favorite place in Escalante lol.

[@VINTERIUM..EXPLORIUM.1]

Nice Work & Video 👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you 👍

[@bloodyeyeful]

Another great video!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks again! 😄

[@johnchedsey1306]

I had days like this in the past where I didn't plan adequately (though I wasn't making videos, just doing photo road trips). These days I'm all about having a good outline and figuring out what can be fit into a day and what I should prioritize. GaiaGPS has been outstanding for plotting any hikes and creating routes that show elevation changes & distance. Glad you mentioned those slot canyons. It's now on my list of places I'll be checking out someday!

[@CactusAtlas]

I've heard other people using Gaia. We are using AllTrails (I had linked the hike but it got missed while Glenn was out there because spreadsheets on a mobile phone aren't super practical 😂). Curious if Gaia is better...

[@rebeccaspencer1343]

It sounds like your getting burned out. The only way I get to see anything like a cosmic ashtray is if you or another youtuber go. When you try to cram content you miss all the fun of doing it.

[@CactusAtlas]

Very true. One of the downsides of trying to get in as much as possible to make the travel worth it. 😅

[@Gail-ux2ly]

I guess success depends on your definition of what successful means. When you are out exploring an area it is worth the time it takes to really explore. You miss so much if you are so driven that you miss the adventure. Seems to me that taking the spontaneity out of your explorations robs you of most of the joy.

[@CactusAtlas]

We just had a breakdown in information and communication with one another. 😅

[@GoHighOctane500LC]

You need the guidebook by Michael Kelsey, than you can spend 2 weeks in the area. There is good truck camping to the right before the Devil's Garden at the well w. solar panels. Some of the best sites are the Golden Cathedral and Coyote Gulch.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks for the tips! We'll have to keep it in mind if we find ourselves out there again. 👍

[@imbdileva]

We went down Betty Pass Caves road and probably turned around about a 1/4 mile from the caves. 🤣 Sucks to be me. Next time I'll make sure to finish it. The entrance to Spooky was right at that road on Hole in the Rock. As a bigger fellow, that was a tough slot canyon. I barely fit thru it. Devil's Garden is spectacular!! Another fun video, Glen!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh no! That's too bad. Glenn did drive to see how crowded the lot was for Spooky Canyon. Sadly the screw up earlier just prevented that hike. Been on our list for a while. 😅

[@imbdileva]

​@@CactusAtlas and that Mercantile store is our fave!

[@denise20240]

Googled and yes it was worth it! Missed out

[@CactusAtlas]

The Cosmic Ashtray? Yeah, I know. Pretty wild, isn't it? Especially when you see the photos of people in it and get the sense of scale. I was trying to provide as many options as possible that were along that road as there was a pretty wild storm a day or two before and I wasn't sure what the road conditions were like out there. 😅

[@SwiftyTravels]

The caves were interesting, even if the day didnt turn out as planned. Keeping up with your content schedule has to be crazy tough! Hope you are well!

[@CactusAtlas]

It's been hectic for sure at times. Much more so lately, but we're hanging in there. We kinda touch on it next week.

[@SwiftyTravels]

@ I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving episode!

[@tinabrumbaugh455]

I did enjoy the drive. I've never been to that part of the country. 🙂

[@CactusAtlas]

Oooooohhh. You're missing out! 😊

[@tinabrumbaugh455]

@CactusAtlas definitely on my to do list! 😁

[@dustyc5376]

If you’re getting spent and felling like your running out of time for content between posts just make some reruns in between new content. Take your time and have fun.

[@CactusAtlas]

Appreciate it. We actually are kind of doing just that in the upcoming months. We explain more in next week's video.

[@keith9875]

Careful what you say about Amy, we both know that she is watching. 😁

[@CactusAtlas]

😂 Oh, I'm always listening. One of the joys of editing the videos. 🤣

[@P.T.A.655]

Really neat drive. But you won’t get me on that non paved road when I’m traveling I’m chicken. But it’s a great video

[@CactusAtlas]

Totally understand. 😅 The idea of breaking down isn't fun.

[@primarytrainer1]

It used to just be called the volcano! I mean worse come to worse, you can always coordinate with a guide or a group of hikers to see it. However, I have a feeling when you realize how close it is to the wash road, you'd regret paying for the guide 😅

[@CactusAtlas]

Volcano sounds a lot better! Wonder why it changed? 🤔

[@dorothylewis1207]

Well sometimes you get the Bear sometimes the Bear gets you😬💙🩵💜

[@CactusAtlas]

So very true! 😅

[@dustyc5376]

You can’t always plan an adventure

[@CactusAtlas]

So true! So true!

[@6T9GHIA]

Seems like you’ve had a rough year with the punk kids splashing you, the motorcyclist with Asperger’s and now this particular trip that kind of went south. Hopefully the next year will treat you kindly.

[@CactusAtlas]

This one might actually be the turning point in my luck with plans/people. I took one other trip that went fairly smoothly in that regard, although life would have more surprises in store in other areas I’ll touch on soon.

[@jojeanbeller6439]

We usually like your adventures, but we were disappointed in your attitude on this one.

[@CactusAtlas]

Sorry about that! I guess I can be at fault as well - my spreadsheet was not clear and I'm the one who edits. 🤷‍♀️ We do our best and it isn't always easy with regular life going on in the meantime.

[@gstiles7]

Next time for the Cosmic Ashtray and camping w/ rat poop. Talk about clickbait 😂

[@CactusAtlas]

🤣🤣 Oh, man. What a trip that would be. Take an exhaustive hike and then make friends with the rats. 😂

[@sueannhawkes]

Can I be honest here with you guys? These long 4 wheel driving videos just don't appeal to me. There fun if you are in the truck but not from the living room. I liked your adventures before you started this new format. Sorry

[@CactusAtlas]

So sorry to hear that. 😞