Grand Staircase-Escalante
Things To Do
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Camping
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument area offers campers superb opportunities to sleep under the stars. Whether you camp in the Monument or at a nearby campground, you’ll have an awe-inspiring experience you won’t get elsewhere.
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Scenic Drives
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument offers excellent scenic drive opportunities, especially if you don’t mind doing some miles on gravel roads. Explore all the options to decide which drive (or two) you want to take.
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Hiking
From the premier slickrock of Escalante to the remote slot canyons of the Grand Staircase region, hiking in the Grand Staircase area is a world-class experience. Learn more about the numerous hiking trails within and near the Monument.
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Backcountry Camping in Grand Staircase-Escalante
For adventurous campers, backcountry (or primitive) camping is allowed in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. If not identified as a designated backcountry campsite, look for sites showing signs of prior use. Do not camp at any trailhead or within 300 feet of corrals, springs, seeps or streams. The Monument requires overnight permits for all overnight car camping. Permits are free and available at visitor centers or developed trailheads.
Explore the Regions
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Escalante Canyons
The Escalante Canyons region of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument draws interest year round for hiking and canyoneering.
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Grand Staircase
The Grand Staircase region of Grand Staircase-Escalante is remote and infrequently visited, but it is spectacular and contains the most extensive network of slot canyons in Utah
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Kaiparowits
The Kaiparowits plateau falls between the Grand Staircase region (to the west) and the Escalante Canyons region (to the northeast). It is separated from the proposed Grand Staircase National Monument by the Paria River.
Quick Tips for Visiting Grand Staircase-Escalante
Know Before You Go
Voyagers find a vast and pristine backcountry that affords excellent opportunities for solitude and unconfined wilderness recreation, along with great scenic driving opportunities and endless camping options, both developed and primitive. But wherever you travel in this magnificent landscape, whether a drive down remote desert roads or a hike up lonely canyons, you will be rewarded at the end of your trip with vivid memories and a yearning to return.
Much of the sweeping Grand Staircase region is quite remote. Very few trailheads can be reached on paved roads.
- The Escalante Canyons area is the most popular area of the monument, especially among hikers. Active waterfalls, arches, riparian oases, sculpted slickrock and narrow canyons are part of the appeal of hikes through the Escalante’s backcountry.
- The Grand Staircase area is more remote and less visited. It is spectacular and contains the most extensive network of slot canyons in Utah.
- These two areas are separated by the 1,600-square-mile Kaiparowits Plateau, which features unique sedimentary rock formations containing an unbroken record of fossils spanning 30 million years.
Come Prepared for Heat, Flash Floods, Freezing Temps
Visitors to the backroads should carry plenty of water (at least one gallon — 4 liters — per person, per day) and be equipped to get themselves out of any difficulty they might encounter. Summer temperatures can range over 100° F (38°C) and winters can drop well below freezing at night. Perhaps most importantly, sudden heavy rains may make this road impassable — even for high-clearance, 4WD vehicles.
What's Nearby
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Anasazi State Park Museum
The Anasazi State Park Museum near Boulder, Utah is the former site of one of the largest Puebloan communities in the region. Learn more and plan a visit!
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Bryce Canyon National Park
An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon.
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Capitol Reef National Park
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
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Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
The Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir. This small reservoir is popular for boating, canoeing, and fishing.
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Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin covers 2,240 acres of canyon country and is surrounded by Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on three sides.
Read the Stories
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10 Top Stops Along the National Pioneer Mormon Heritage Area
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15 Non-Technical Slot Canyons
You don’t have to be Spider-Man to explore some of the best slot canyons Utah has to offer. You just need to be ready for an adventure in tight spaces with huge photographic rewards
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5 Places You Can Try Glamorous Camping in Utah
Experience the fun and adventure of camping with a side of luxury.
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A Van Lifer’s Guide to Responsible Travel in Southern Utah
When Utah’s dirt roads are calling you, it’s time to plan your van life road trip. Here’s what you need to know to travel safely, support Utah’s rural communities, and help preserve the delicate desert landscapes.
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A Winter’s Desert: Visiting Southern Utah in the Slow Months
Experiencing the peace of canyon country in the winter is an attraction of its own.
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Cycling Scenic Byway 12: Escalante to Boulder
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Devil's Garden Outstanding Natural Area
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Dog-Friendly Utah: The Road to Mighty
Want to bring your furry friend on your next vacation? Utah is home to several great dog-friendly national parks and other fun destinations. Check it out and plan your trip!
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Escalante River Canyon Trail
Located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the Escalante River Canyon river trail winds and knots its way east and south.
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How to Stay Safe and Stoked as a Solo Woman Traveler
Tips to help keep solo women travelers safe on road trips and outdoor adventures in Utah and beyond. From a gear checklist to suggestions about where to camp and how to handle stressful situations, writer and photographer Elisabeth Brentano shares her experiences.
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It’s About Time We All Unplugged
After months of being at home, we’ve all been disconnected from each other but connected permanently to our screens. It’s time to pull the plug—literally. In Utah, you can find far-flung places to reset, wellness resorts that promote digital detox, and destinations where you can swap screen time for much-needed adventure time.
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Kiva Koffeehouse
Kiva Koffeehouse is a welcome stop for fresh food and espresso tucked on a hillside down a dirt driveway near milepost 73 on the scenic byway.
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Llama Trekking Through Canyon Country
Reconnect with yourself, history and Utah's landscape on a guided llama trek through canyon country.
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Make Your Next Trip A Volunteer Vacation
At the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, you can enjoy a getaway to stunning southern Utah while also making a difference in the lives of rescued animals.
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Ofland Escalante
Airstreams, cabins and RV sites on the grounds of an old drive-in movie theater near Bryce Canyon and Escalante.
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Paradise and Slickrock
Utah's national parks seen through a lifelong relationship with Capitol Reef
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Soil Sleuth: Protecting Utah's Living Landscapes
Visit Utah writer Kristen Pope met Dr. Jayne Belnap, one of the world’s top experts on biological soil crusts, to learn about the importance of biocrusts to Utah's desert landscapes, and how to protect them.
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Southwestern Utah's Legendary Panoramas
Wondering where to take pictures in Utah? Our guide to the most breathtaking Utah panoramas is only a click away. Plan a photographic getaway today!
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The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12
This is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving bliss. Welcome to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, a designated All-American Road.
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The Creature Comforts of Kanab
Visit Kanab, a welcoming town with classic Western roots and modern-day amenities sitting smack in the middle of Southern Utah’s greatest outdoors.
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Tropic, Utah: Bryce Canyon Coffee Company and The Stone Hearth Grille
Get an introduction to the best-known restaurants in Tropic, Utah — The Stone Hearth Grille and Bryce Canyon Coffee Company. Prepare your appetite!
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Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops
You’re doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. How many of these hidden gems have you been to? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time you’re road-tripping through Utah.
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Walking The Line Between Risk and Responsibility
Why a Hawaii-based highliner and influencer hasn't returned to Utah — yet.
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Why You Should Ditch I-15 on Your Way to Zion
If you’re not in a rush to get to Zion National Park from Northern Utah, consider taking a long, meandering route that features historic sites, adventure breaks and out-of-this-world scenery. Hop off I-15 and take Highway 89 and four nearby scenic byways to see and do as much as you possibly can on your way to Zion.
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Winter Road Trip: Where to Stay, Hike and Eat When Traveling from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon
Need winter break ideas? Take a road trip from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon and enjoy the best of Utah landscapes during its quiet season.
