Escalante, Utah is a small ranching community. It is surrounded by a rugged wilderness of vast forests, towering peaks, incredible canyons, and one-of-a-kind rock formations. As the last explored territory in the continental United States, Escalante offers visitors spectacular scenery and an unmatched sense of seclusion. It is easy access to so many National Parks and Monuments and its incredible variety of things to explore make Escalante the perfect place to vacation. The first settlers to Escalante arrived in 1875, they were Mormon pioneers who were attracted by the areas mild climate and abundance of grazing land. The settlers named the town Escalante for Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante, who passed near the Escalante River on his expedition from Santa Fe to California in 1776. Located along scenic Highway 12, one of the most beautiful drives in America, Escalante is surrounded on every side by unparalleled geological wonders.