Entire home

40 Acre Escalante Canyon Retreat

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Escalante Canyon Home
Exterior
Exterior
Kitchen
Private kitchen

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4121 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Escalante, UT
  • Calf Creek Recreation Area
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Lower Calf Creek Falls Trailhed
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Loft 1

1 Single Bed

Loft 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

40 Acre Escalante Canyon Retreat

Cross Creek Ranch (the property) is part of a 160 acre private in holding in the heart of The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, seated halfway between Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. Located where Scenic Highway 12 ('The Golden Loop') crosses the Escalante River, it is the hiking trail head to the renowned Escalante Canyons. The main home and guest house (see vrbo 652481) are the only structures on the last 40 acres downriver before 75 miles of wilderness area that runs all the way to Lake Powell.

This getaway is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath river front home tucked in between large cottonwood shade trees with views on all sides of the Escalante Canyon, meadows, cliffs, and river. The 1300 sq. ft. house sits in a lush riparian oasis surrounded by 600 ft. sandstone cliffs. Hike from the front door to first class scenic wonders.

The 16x28 ft. great room has 15 ft. cathedral ceilings with a massive stone fireplace and a 4x16 ft. built-in window seat. Magnificent views can be seen from the fully equipped kitchen with concrete counter tops, cherry wood cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. The master bedroom with a king bed has a glass wall view of a 200 ft. slick rock pour off, and a glass mosaic tile shower. Beautiful canyon and meadow views can be seen from the second bedroom (queen bed) as well as the spacious 8x30 ft. deck. The home has excellent wi-fi and no TV. A high clearance vehicle is preferable for the concreted low-water river crossing (generally 1 ft. deep).

We are using CDC certified Covid-19 killing disinfectant spray called QA Solution for our guests safety.

Property manager

Katie Howland 2
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This is a non-smoking property
**DO NOT CROSS LOW WATER CROSSING DURING FLASH FLOODS** 4 WD vehicles are always recommended Please respect our neighbors’ privacy

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Boulder

Located in Boulder, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, while Escalante Heritage Center and Anasazi State Park are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Escalante, UT

What's nearby

  • Calf Creek Recreation Area - 6 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Lower Calf Creek Falls Trailhed - 7 min drive - 4.8 km
  • Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - 31 min drive - 30.5 km
  • Escalante River Trailhead - 32 min drive - 26.9 km
  • Escalante Petrified Forest State Park - 35 min drive - 31.6 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Kiva Koffeehouse - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 40 Acre Escalante Canyon Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 40 Acre Escalante Canyon Retreat?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 40 Acre Escalante Canyon Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 40 Acre Escalante Canyon Retreat located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is steps from Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and within 3 mi (5 km) of Calf Creek Recreation Area and Lower Calf Creek Falls Trailhed. Upper Calf Creek Fall Trailhead is 7.8 mi (12.6 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 182 out of 185 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 185 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 185 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 185 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 185 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

will s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surreal Property

Unlike any place we have stayed. Red rocks out back door and the serenity of Utah's best 360 degrees with the Escalante River.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Perrin C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Back to Heaven

We have stayed here several times. Always magical. This time wild, beautiful fog! Another fabulous meal at Hell’s Backbone Grill. One of our favorite houses in the world.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Home

Just an amazing home. Beautiful inside, stunning grounds. Remote location in the Escalante River valley, but 20 minutes to the town of Escalante for coffee and food. Easy communication with the host. A definite place to come back to.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Allison H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home, unbelievable canyon location!

This was such a dream location for our family trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante. The home itself is beautifully designed and decorated. Cozy, comfortable, an amazing fireplace, great beds, everything you need for your visit, and views out *giant* windows in every direction. It's only upstaged by the towering red canyon walls it is surrounded by -- really, hard to describe in words how stunning the location is. Great hikes out the door, or short drives to trailheads, petroglyphs, and even dinosaur tracks. We feel very lucky to have stayed in this home, and cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for a special experience in the heart of the monument!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anna R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A gem in the red rocks!!

We had an amazing experience!! The house was beautiful and very comfortable, including the beds. Couldn’t imagine a more serene location…if you’re lucky to book it, don’t hesitate!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely home, beautiful setting

A lovely home in the one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine. My wife and I fell in love with it immediately and hope to return.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Escape to Paradise

Beautiful property and accommodations.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ryan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Escalante River Retreat

The house is awesome, tucked away in solitude, and perfectly balanced between inviting guests to stay in or venture out! Had a great time!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place

It's hard to imagine a better location for a vacation rental. This was our second time staying here and we hope to be back again. The house and location are unique and memorable--it feels like you're camping in your own corner of canyon country, but with all the comforts of a modern home. If you can stay here, do!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Grayson S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Getaway

The Escalante Canyon Retreat is a very secluded beautiful home. We especially loved how the property is surrounded by trees and native nature. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

EVALYNDA C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Getaway

Remote but still has WiFi to make all the hiking plans! Perfect location to relax and enjoy the beautiful Escalante River and Bryce Canyon
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rob S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular

The setting enabled a perfect experience of the Escalante River ecosystem.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stayed one night

What a beautiful home and property! Everything was very clean and comfortable. We loved the solitude and will definitely be back some day! Thanks
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Meghan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay of a lifetime!

This is such an incredibly unique and beautiful and private property. Hosts were more than responsive and gracious. The home is remote so be prepared, but that’s what we wanted, and it was everything we could imagine and then some.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jenny and Tom

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

Incredible privacy and peacefulness, communing with the ancestors in a canyon.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical-Unique-Restful

This is an amazing property. We felt privileged to enjoy our time in this very special corner of the spectacular Escalante area. The builders/owners deployed artistic and naturalistic flair to create a fantastic retreat in the middle of a cottonwood grove and red rock canyon. The extra touches, books and art were a pleasure. We would love to spend a month there if we could. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jay T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pure relaxation

We love the home and the area. This is our second stay at this home, and we stayed for ten days to have a real getaway. If you are considering this home, book it! It will exceed your expectations. We want to come back. The descriptions, if anything, understate the experience here.
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Escalante

The house is well located for hiking. The property manager, Katie, was very responsive to our questions and provided us with a detailed description of the route, and the amenities of the house. We highly recommend this property.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Darla T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What more to say?

We can't add a lot to what other reviewers have written about this property. Absolutely amazing location. Beautiful and unique home. Close to great hiking and dining. We want to return and listen to the wind in the trees, see the colors change on the cliff face, and lounge in the spacious (and comfy) living room. Each room gives a different view of the gorgeous surroundings. Can't wait for our next visit.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

John G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Possibly The Most Beautiful And Secluded House In The Escalante

It was a great pleasure to stay here. The custom carpentry and stonework were delightful. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms are on opposite sides of the great room, ensuring privacy for two couples. The house, with its large deck, is shaded by a cottonwood grove, and huge windows look out to the Escalante River canyon and to wild EGSNM lands. The kitchen had everything, within reason, that one could want, right down to a large dutch oven. We can't wait to go back.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

NIRVANA

The house & property was just as advertised & more. Absolutely gorgeous. Totally stocked kitchen, lots of pillows, blankets, towels, anything you need. Fans included. Just bring food. I cannot say enough good things about this property. A 5-STAR experience!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joe h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

This house is ideal for stay in the Escalante area. It is about mid-way between Escalante and Boulder so perfectly located for exploring the whole vast area. The home is really perfect - well designed, fully and thoughtfully equipped and very very comfortable. Katie and Doug are fabulous. We will try to figure out a way to get back as there was too much to explore to cover it all in one trip.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lori N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house

This is an amazing property if you want to truly get away from it all. Great views and private. It should be noted that there is a river crossing so high clearance and AWD is a must. The drive is narrow and impossible to avoid all shrubs rubbing. Some minor issues but all resolved with the owner just down the drive. Great responsive owner with great local stories and experience hiking.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nikki R., Lakewood CO

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bliss

This was my second stay at this property and it was wonderful. This is such a serene and beautiful place and I am grateful to the Howland family for making it available for us to enjoy. The area is wonderful for exploring and we did, but just relaxing and enjoying the view from the deck was what tempted us some days. The house is wonderful and equipped with everything one could ask for. The back window wall is amazing. The views from every room are great. Such a special place. Thanks Katie! Can't wait to come back again!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best of Escalante/Grand Staircase right outside your door

An amazing house in an amazing location! We had a great time here. You’re right in the middle of everything that makes visiting the area great: beautiful canyons, the river, the outdoors. It was so peaceful and quiet. Our kids loved all the critters and spending time in the river. The water crossing was easy in our Outback, the sand afterward might be challenging for some cars. The house stayed wonderfully cool during the day despite the summer temps outside. It is a good ways away from everything, but that’s what we wanted.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Katie Howland 2

Host profile image
About the owners Doug, Miranda, and Katie Howland: Doug is a 35-year designer/builder who built this beautiful home. His youngest daughter Katie lives in Portland with her older sister Miranda. After a career in the arts, Katie now manages the family’s properties. They built the house over a 7-year period in the late 90’s, commuting 7 hours each way from their home in Arizona. Doug now migrate between their properties in Arizona, Utah, and Hawaii. They like to hike, horseback ride, ski, practice yoga, whitewater raft, dance, and travel in their free time.
They also have vacation rentals in the town of Sedona in Northern Arizona and on the North Shore of Kauai.

Why they chose this property

Doug came across this property in the early '90s. He fell in love with it not only for its beauty, but also because it is both accessible and secluded with the Escalante River flowing through it.

What makes this property unique

There are many amazing natural wonders right out the front door and within an hour's drive (see above). Look for deer and wild turkey in the meadow in the mornings and evenings and watch the cloud shadows change over the canyon walls. Head up or down the canyon into rugged wilderness, and return home to comfort.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests