Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument captures the 7,000 foot rise in elevation and terrain from the floor of the Grand Canyon and the rim of Bryce Canyon.  This elevation gain does occur with one giant step, but rather in spectacular cliffs and mesas or plateaus.  The Staircase's geology contains approximately 4 billion years of history, and its fossils represent the story of Earth's changes and evolution.  It is about 100 miles wide, ranging from Zion National Park to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, encompassing about 1.7 million acres of beauty.  Although designated as a National Monument, the Monument is currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, not the National Park Service.  This will change within 3 years.

The Park is open year round.  Winter makes many of the roads impassable, and/or dangerous, even to 4-WD vehicles. 

GETTING THERE:

To get there you will take one of two routes:

1.  For the Northern regions:  Take Utah Hwy. 12 east from Bryce Canyon National Park (from I-15, take exit 95, then Utah Hwy. 20 and US 89 to reach Bryce).  From I-70, travel 106 miles south on Utah Hwy. 72 (Fremont Junction), if you are coming from the east.  

2.  For the southern regions:  Drive 77 miles east from I-15 and Cedar City on Hwy. 14 and US 89 to Utah Hwy. 9.  From St. George, head east through Hurricane on Utah Hwy. 9 through Zion National Park and US 89 to Kanab.    

MAP:  Click on Globe to go to Map of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  

 

FEES:

Entry into the Monument (park) is free, except for a few areas.  Overnight permits are required.  Group size is limited to 12.  Obtain permits at locations shown at bottom of this page.  It is also possible to register at many trailhead registry boxes. 

CAMPING:

Backcountry camping is allowed by permit, only.  Pick up a permit at the offices shown at the end of this page.  To assure availability, reserve your permit well in advance - see the addresses and phone numbers below.  There are established backcountry primitive campsites, and you also camp "at large," but camp well away from any road.  Absolutely NO wood-burning fires are allowed, except when fully contained in a metal container, and when all ashes, etc. are removed.  I make my small fire in a metal trash can lid, then remove everything in the trash can.  It is strictly forbidden to burn any wood found in the Monument.  Bring your own firewood.  Absolutely NO open fires are permitted in the Glen Canyon Rec. Area of the Monument.    Please practice Leave No Trace®, minimum impact hiking and camping.  Permits are still free of charge at this time (3/02)

Do not camp near roads or trailheads - stay 200' away from all roads.  Stay 300' from springs, corrals, streams, or other water sources.  Finally, and very important, try to camp only in obvious primitive campsites.  There are dozens of such campsites in the Monument.  Try not to camp on virgin land.  This will reduce the impact of your stay on Nature.  For an excellent list of recommended Primitive Campsites, go to: http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/Visitor_Information/camping.html

Developed Campgrounds are located at the edge of the Monument (park) along Hwy. 12 and Hwy. 89.  The BLM runs additional developed campgrounds within the park.  Deer Creek Campground has 4 sites at $4 per night, and is located 6 miles east of Boulder on the Burr Trail.  Whitehouse Campground has 5 sites at $5 per night, and is situated on Hwy. 89 between Kanab and Page at the trailhead for The Paria Canyon Wilderness.  Calf Creek Campground has 13 sites at $7 per night, and is located on Hwy. 12 between Boulder & Escalante and is the trailhead for Lower Calf Creek Falls trail.  

Campgrounds outside the Monument - Contact:

*Triple S RV Park - Escalante, UT - (435) 826-4957
*Paria Canyon Adventure Ranch Campground - Hwy. 89 between Kanab & Lake Powell - (435) 689-0398
*Escalante Petrified Forest State Park - 1 mile west of Escalante  (RVs, showers)

RV camping is also available in the Moab vicinity, as are public, improved campsites.   There are a good number of public campgrounds in Moab, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a campground just across the Colorado River, east of the Park.  These campgrounds are good stopover sites for the night before or after visiting the Monument, but the are not close enough to serve as campgrounds while using the Monument.  Contact:

Slickrock - (435) 259-7660
Arch View RV - (435) 259-7854
Canyonlands Campark - (435) 259-6848
Moab KOA - (435) 259-6682
Pack Creek (435) 259-2982
Spanish Trail RV Park - (435) 259-2411 

 

BASIC RULES & REGULATIONS:

1.  Pets must be on a leash at all times, but are permitted on hiking trails.  Dogs are permitted in the backcountry, but must be tethered at all times.  Domestic pets may spread disease to native animals, and may wipe out entire native species who have no natural immunity to domestic animal diseases.
2.  Wood gathering is not allowed.
3.  Do not disturb wildlife, which will include deer, fox, rabbits, Kangaroo rates, lizards, toads and the Western Rattlesnake.
4.  Campfires outside of developed campgrounds are discouraged, unless fully contained within a metal container, and unless all ashes are removed when you depart.  Camp stoves are encouraged.  Burning of any native wood is forbidden.  Bring your own fuel.

TRAILS & THINGS TO SEE:

1.   Horseback Riding is welcome.  Availability of water may limit trip distances.    Reserving your permit is advised - call the reservation number below. 
 
2.  The Grand Staircase:  A series of cliffs and plateaus, including the Pink Cliffs, Roan Cliffs, White Cliffs and Vermillion Cliffs, as well as the incredible beauty of the Kodachrome Basin, 2 miles south of Henrieville, just east of Bryce Canyon NP.

3.  The Kaiparowits Plateau:  650,000 acres of massive geologic upthrust.

4.  Canyons of the Escalante River:  Stunning views of colorful redrock and sandstone.

5.  Wildlife, including Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Lion, Coyote, Cottontails, Elk and Mule Deer make Escalante their home.  Resident raptors include Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Golden Eagles, Hawks, and Vultures.

6.  Grosvenor Arch (actually arches):  9 miles southeast of Kodachrome Basin State Park off Hwy. 12.  A truly beautiful sight.

7.  Devil's Garden natural Area:  Located about a dozen miles down Hole in the Rock Road off Hwy. 12, are fascinating rock formations - no overnight camping here.

 

GETTING AROUND - MAJOR ROADS WITHIN THE MONUMENT:

There are four major roads, each fair-weather, dirt and gravel roads,  accessible with a good 2WD, good clearance vehicle, but better taken in a 4WD, high clearance vehicle in inclement weather.  

1.  Burr Trail - 65 miles, mostly paved, runs between Boulder and Bullfrog Marina, Lake Powell.
2.  Cottonwood Creek Road - 47 miles between Cannonville and Hwy. 89.
3.  Smokey Mountain Road - 85 miles between Escalante and Hwy. 89 at Big Water.   This route goes through the Kaiparowits.
4.  Hole in the Rock Road - 57 miles from Escalante to a dead end overlooking Lake Powell from atop a cliff.
 

MIKE'S RECOMMENDED HIKES:

I am going to do something different here.  I am not really going to recommend specific trails at this time.  Why?  Because most of the Grand Staircase - Escalante is not trailed, not marked and remains a true paradise for wanderers and adventurers.  Also, I have not yet hiked much of the Monument myself, and I do not wish to mislead you about any route.  Hikes may prove difficult and uncomfortable during July and August due to climate.  Trails traverse slickrock faces, and may rate as strenuous due to difficulty.  Be especially careful on wet rock surfaces.  Take more than plenty of water - dehydration is one of the Park's most serious threats to life; falls also rank near the top.  Always be alert to flashflood danger, especially in narrows and deep canyons.  Do not attempt river crossings after storms or when flooding has occurred - otherwise, most rivers may be crossed, and in fact, must be crossed to access parts of the park.

I will list the following hikes, information drawn from the December 1997 issue of Backpacker Magazine, "The Last, Best Place," but for which I can attest to little:

Resources and Maps:  
DeLorme Utah Atlas & Gazeteer (www.delorme.com)
Hiking the Escalante and Hiking and Exploring the Paria River (GORP) - (888)994-4677
The New Paria Hiker's Guide (435) 688-3230
Bureau of Land Managment Maps (USGA 1:100,000 topos) Escalante, Smoky Mountain and Kanab - www.usgs.gov
Trails Illustrated Map - "#710 Escalante - www.colorado.com/trails
Canyoneering 3: Loop Hikes in Utah's Escalante - (800) 773-6672


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USGS Topo Maps:  Various - numerous maps apply due to the size of the Monument.   

Escalante & Boulder areas:
Lower Calf Creek Falls, Phipps Wash,  and Escalante Natural Bridge use Calf Creek 7.5 quadrangle.  Escalante River Gorge and Boulder Mail Trail use both Calf Creek and Escalante 7.5 quadrangles; for The Gulch and Escalante River to hwy. 12, add the King Bench and the Red Breaks 7.5 quadrangles.  The Wolverine trail uses Pioneer Mesa and King Bench 7.5 quadrangles.

The Kanab Area:

Lick Wash area requires Deer Spring Point 7.5 quadrangle.   Starlight Arch calls for Five Mile Valley and Calico Peak 7.5 quadrangles.  Hackberry Canyon needs Calico Peak and Slick Rock Bench 7.5 quadrangles.

I recommend that you study your intended route carefully, and make certain that all members of your party understand it and have a map.  Take your GPS or be proficient with your compass and maps.   I will  add a specific hike from time to time, once I have hiked it myself and feel comfortable recommending the trail.

   

Four Wheel Drive Roads:

There are hundreds of miles of  backcountry roads available for exploration.  Difficulty of travel ranges from fairly easy to moderately technical.  Great care must be taken on the park's extremely remote backcountry roads, and a good knowledge of maps or GPS systems is vital.   The maze of canyons can lure one into areas from which a return is difficult.  Travel by 4-WD is recommended in groups.  Unlike Canyonlands National Park, the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument is not a true 4WD, off-road use facility.

Visit my special 4-WD Page by clicking on the Jeep icon>>>.  See links on Page for further, excellent information on backcountry 4-WD outings.  

Permits are required for all overnight trips - see phone number below to make reservations.  Absolutely NO ATVs or non-stock/not-licensed-for-road-use vehicles are permitted.  No racing or sport usage is permitted.  No travel off roads is permitted - always stay on roads. 

 Be aware - towing charges may be expected to run as high as $1,000.

Stay on 4WD Roads!  Protect the beauty of Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument.  Take plenty of water and have a good spare.

HOW TO CONTACT THE PARK:

NOTE:  There is no official Visitor Center at this time.  You should check in at one of the listed stations; call or write for more info.

Escalante Interagency Visitor Center
755 West Main
Escalante, UT 84726
(435) 826-5499
*OR*
Kanab Resource Area Office
318 North 100 East
Kanab, UT 84741
(435) 644-2672 or 435-644-4600
*OR*
Cannonville Visitor Center - GS-E
10 Center Street, Cannonville, UT
(435) 679-8981
*OR*
Anasazi State Park
425 No. Highway 12
PO Box 1429
Boulder, UT 84716
(435) 335-7308
*OR*
Paria Contact Station
Highway 89 (44 miles east of Kanab, UT)

Email:  Escalant@ut.blm.gov

 

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