Grand Staircase National Mounument Information
| Grand Staircase National Mounument Information |
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Information
courtesy of the National Park Service
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The
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
is partly named for the Escalante River, which
flows from Boulder Mountain to the Colorado
River. Deep canyons and gorges have been carved
over eons of time. These sandstone labyinths
with unusual rock shapes and slot canyons offer
some of the best hiking and backpacking in the
world.
When early geologist saw the series of cliffs
and plateaus rising 6,000 feet from the Colorado
River at the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon, they
called it the Grand Staircase. Three billion
years of geologic history make up the layers
of sedimentary rocks. Each of the five "steps"
has been eroded, revealing cliffs of distinctive
color. Travelers can see the Grand Staircase
from some of the viewpoints in Bryce Canyon.
The new monument by Presidential Proclamation
is a natural treasure of minerals, wildlife
and plant life. It was home to the Anasazi Indians
and remains of their civilization are scattered
throughout the area. (Be sure to stop at the
Anasazi Indian Village State Park in Boulder
and tour the museum and exhibits). It is a place
of breathtaking vistas, desert flowers, canyons
and plateaus, and scenery that changes with
every turn. It is a place of solitude. It is
also a recreational paradise for outdoors enthusiasts
offering hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping,
horseback riding, ATV riding and mountain biking.
Guided hikes and pack trips are available locally,
as well as horseback riding, ATV, llama, and
Jeep tours.
The Bureau of Land Management manages the Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument. When
planning to visit the monument, travelers should
contact the Interagency Office in Escalante
(801-826-4291). Current information on the monument,
road conditions, maps, and hiking information
is available.
You
can access the Monument through two main avenues
of travel. Visitors are enchanted by beautiful
Scenic Highway 12 in the northern portion of
the Monument. In the southern portion, Highway
89 between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona offers
spectacular vistas of the vermilion cliffs layer
of the Grand Staircase geologic feature.
Other
roads that are partially surfaced include the
Burr Trail (to Capitol Reef National Park) and
Johnson Canyon (to the Skutumpah turn off).
Gravel roads include the Glendale Bench road
and a portion of Hole-in-the-Rock road. Driving
conditions on sandy and clay roads, such as
cottonwood (connecting Kodachrome State Park
with Highway 89), Smoky Mountain, Skutumpah,
and Croton depend on weather and current maintenance
status. Please check current road conditions
before traveling on these routs.
• Annual Pass: $80, good for one year at any National Park or Federal Recreation Area. Purchase your Annual Pass online Here.
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Hiking:
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Perhaps
the best way to experience the diverse terrain
of the Monument is to walk through it. Even
though developed trails are nearly nonexistent,
there are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles
of outstanding hiking routs found in the Escalante
Canyons, the upper Paria drainage, and other
areas. Spring (March through May) and Fall (September
through October) are usually the ideal times
to hike or backpack. A good map and route finding
abilities are a must. Self-register at established
trailheads or obtain a free backpacking permit
at the Interagency Office if backpacking in
the Escalante region. Please leave no trace
of your passing.
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Scenic
Drives:
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Many
of the principal roads to and through the Monument
have been designated scenic backways. Highway
12 is widely recognized as one of the most scenic
drives in the United States. Highway 89, along
the southern boundary of the Monument between
Kanab and Big Water offers outstanding views
of the Vermilion Cliffs and the Kaiparowits
Plateau. Six designated Back Country Backways
along more primitive secondary roads provide
an off-the-beaten-path adventure into the Monument.
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| Camping: |
| Two
small, modestly developed campgrounds are open
year-round on a first-come, first-served basis
in the Monument. Calf Creek (13 sites) next to
Highway 12 and Deer Creek (5 sites) along the
Burr Trail have picnic tables, grills, and toilets.
Water is available spring through fall at Calf
Creek only. Nearby state parks, national forests,
and commercial campgrounds in neighboring communities
provide additional campground options. Backcountry
camping at undeveloped campsites is allowed at
certain areas of the Monument. Please observe
minimum impact camping techniques to preserve
the land. Camp at previously used sites, cook
with a camp stove rather than an open fire, and
locate your camp at least 300 feet from springs
and other scant water sources. Proper disposal
of human waste and packing out what you pack in
will help to keep the backcountry clean.
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| Mountain
Biking: |
| Several
secondary roads such as the Hole-in-the-Rock road,
Burr Trail, Cottonwood Canyon, the Wolverine Loop,
and the Paria Valley roads offer good mountain
biking routs, both long and short. Please do not
ride cross-country or alone, and take the same
precautions as if you were hiking. |
| Hunting
& Fishing: |
| Hunting
and fishing are traditional uses of the Monument's
lands and they will remain so under the management
of the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Please inquire locally for seasons, licenses,
and other regulations.
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| 4WD
Roads: |
| An
extensive network of primitive 4WD vehicle routs
provides access to much of the Monuments backcountry.
Please stay on established routes. Some roads
may be closed for the protection of resources:
please obey these closures. Respect private property
and lands: leave gates open or closed as you find
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| Preserve
The Past: |
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Whether
you drive or hike the backcountry, please remember
that, long before the arrival of Europeans,
people have lived over much of the Southwest.
Signs of these ancient cultures are found within
the Monument in the form of ruins, petroglyphs,
and potsherds. To the native peoples of the
Southwest these sites have significance. Admire
the ruins if you come across one, marvel at
those long-gone people who lived in an often
inhospitable environment, ponder our common
humanity - but leave everything where it is.
To do otherwise is not only disrespectful but
it is also against the law.
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| Guided
Trips: |
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Given
the remote, undeveloped nature of the Monument,
guided adventures led by seasoned professional
outfitters may be the best way for many to experience
the Grand Staircase-Escalante. Many types of
tours and activities, including hunting and
fishing, bicycle treks, vehicle tours, and backcountry
hiking trips, are offered by local outfitters
and guides. A list of professional guides is
provided on our activities
page.
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