Boulder: Hotels and Trails Between Mountains and Cultural History

Boulder lies at the foot of Boulder Mountain and within the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Cultural history, hiking trails, and a cycling route are among the different themes you can consider when planning your trip. You can tailor your stay to the places and activities that interest you most.

The Landscape Around Boulder

The reference to Boulder Mountain describes the town’s location at the foot of the mountain. The broader landscape is a separate matter: Boulder Mountain has more than 80 lakes and ponds. Many can be reached via well-maintained gravel and dirt roads or by short walks from the road; access varies by season. These destinations are part of the wider Boulder Mountain area.

Death Hollow is also a destination in its own right, near the Boulder Mail Trail. Along a perennial stream, you’ll find waterfalls, deep pools, and rock alcoves. The hikes feature distinct landscapes: the mountain with its lakes and ponds on the one hand, and the canyon with its stream and rock formations on the other.

Coombs Site and Cultural History

At Coombs Site, the recovered artifacts and architecture reflect a blend of Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont characteristics. The site is near the presumed boundary between the cultures. Elements from other branches of the Ancestral Puebloans have also been identified there, pointing to an extensive trade network.

Coombs Site has nearly 100 structures and rooms; as many as 200 people are believed to have lived there. Behind the Anasazi State Park Museum, a short trail with interpretive signs leads to a self-guided tour and continues past ruin walls and other structures. This connects the archaeological context with a specific walk along the remains. When planning your trip, you can consider this experience separately from the longer hiking and cycling routes.

Boulder Mail Trail and Hiking Destinations

The Boulder Mail Trail was established as a mail route in 1902. Pack horses traveled the route connecting Boulder Town and Escalante. Today, the trail is also associated with a hike that follows part of the Boulder Mail Trail into Death Hollow. The historic connection between the towns and the canyon as a landscape destination are two distinct aspects of the same route.

The Boulder Mail Trail trailhead is in Boulder, 3.2 miles southwest of the junction of UT 12 and Burr Trail Road. Road conditions can vary; check them before setting out. The trailhead’s location helps with orientation, but does not replace checking current conditions.

Cycling Route on Scenic Byway 12

The cycling route on Scenic Byway 12 runs from Escalante to Boulder. The one-way distance is 27 miles, with an approximate elevation gain of 4,000 feet. After the summit, the route descends for two miles into Boulder. These figures give a concrete sense of the distance and elevation profile; route conditions can vary depending on road conditions.

There are no other services along the cycling route between Escalante and Boulder apart from Kiva Koffeehouse. As service availability can change, check before setting out. The cycling route differs considerably in length and elevation profile from the trails described at Coombs Site and on the Boulder Mail Trail.

Historical Development of Travel Routes

The history of the road connections can be traced to two dates. The completion of a year-round road enabled automobile travel to Boulder from the south and west in 1939. The northern section of Highway 12 over Boulder Mountain was paved in 1985. These historical details tell the story of how access developed; for your trip planning, the specific destinations and routes are also important.

Discover more destinations: Bryce Canyon, Panguitch, Escalante, Ticaboo, Tropic, Hatch, Cannonville, Henrieville.

For the broader travel overview: Garfield.