Most individuals find out about Utah’s “Huge 5” Nationwide Parks— Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce. Nonetheless a lesser-known gem, however rapidly growing in reputation, is the magical panorama generally known as the Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument. This space is located in South-central Utah and is at the moment 1.87 million acres of wildly lovely, traditionally vital land, although it’s as soon as once more in peril of being drastically lowered by the present administration. It’s also surrounded by Nationwide Parks, Designated Wilderness, and Nationwide Recreation Areas.
You would spend a lifetime right here and nonetheless have a lot left to discover and uncover. It isn’t solely a geologist’s dream, however an adventurer’s playground and a photographer’s very best— A spot value visiting again and again, and undoubtedly a spot value defending.
Map of Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE “STAIRCASE?”
Inflicting a lot confusion, the eponymous “Staircase” shouldn’t be an precise bodily staircase. It’s relatively an extremely distinctive geologic formation, a sequence of stepped plateaus recognized by the principle coloration of the rock. The sedimentary layers of rocks which are uncovered by erosion are descending in age all the way in which from Bryce Nationwide Park to Grand Canyon Nationwide Park. For instance, the oldest rocks (the most-bottom seen layer) in Bryce Canyon are the youngest rocks (prime layer) within the Grey Cliffs, and the oldest rocks (backside layer) within the Grey Cliffs are the youngest rocks (prime layer) within the White Cliffs.
For a extra in-depth take a look at the geology of the Staircase, try this weblog article written by Alex Wooden: The Fascinating Story of the Grand Staircase.
Why go to the monument?
Oh gosh, the place to begin! This place is magical. If you wish to expertise nature with out the crowds, that is it. It’s distant and quiet, and equally as epic as the encompassing Nationwide Parks. Whether or not you might be in search of a tenting getaway, an unimaginable hike, or simply to admire the roadside surroundings, this place will blow your thoughts.
THE LANDSCAPE
The panorama is the centerpiece attraction. With awe-inspiring views round each nook, you received’t get bored. The dramatic spires rising into the sky, colourful rocks forming buttes and mesas, and towering sandstone cliffs will certainly mesmerize you. All of those formations had been shaped over hundreds of thousands of years and include so many mysteries and alternatives for each journey and contemplation. There are numerous slot canyons, some slim sufficient that hikers must squeeze by the windswept partitions, and others with big drops that require ropes and canyoneering expertise.
If slim slot canyons aren’t your factor, this panorama additionally has expansive open desert coated in spectacular, hardy desert vegetation. Should you’re fortunate, you might even witness a desert bloom of attractive white primrose and orange globemallow. Assume that the desert is all dry and scorching? If you’re in Escalante, you might be really not removed from one in all many desert oases. You’ll be able to hike for days alongside a phenomenal, flowing, spring fed creek, or dangle a hammock beside the Escalante River for a calming afternoon among the many cottonwoods. 
THE HUMAN HISTORY
The Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument additionally has a wealthy human historical past, stretching again 1000’s of years. This area, even with its distant and rugged terrain, offered meals, shelter, and water to many cultures for not less than the previous 10,000 years. Tribes which have referred to as this area house embrace the Fremont, Hopi, Zuni, Navajo, a number of bands of Paiute, and Ute. To today, you will discover proof of their dwellings, rock artwork, and granaries dotting the panorama.
Let your creativeness run wild whereas imagining how they used to dwell, surviving and thriving in tune with nature and this particular land. Petroglyphs, pictographs, pottery, and stone instruments are throughout for individuals who listen. Please, keep in mind to apply Depart No Hint and by no means take away any artifacts from the place you discovered them. They’re sacred and needs to be left for future guests to admire. Human exercise in these spiritually vital locations can degrade them rapidly and irreversibly. Journey flippantly and solely on sturdy, beforehand impacted surfaces.
OTHER ARCHAEOLOGY
Some paleontologists imagine that the Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument holds the very best focus of dinosaur fossils on the planet! It’s generally known as the “Shangri La” of dinosaurs as a result of discovery of not less than 15 species of dinosaurs that haven’t been discovered wherever else. The Kaiparowits Plateau is a 50-mile ridge that spans 1,650 sq. miles and is roofed in artifacts.
Along with dinosaurs, fossils of historical turtles, shellfish, and tons of completely preserved prehistoric flowers have been discovered— all of which give us a clearer window into the previous than ever earlier than.
Think about what else there may be left for us to find so long as we defend and be taught from this land.
What to do
DAY HIKES
Calf Creek Falls (decrease)
Distance: 6.1 miles | Elevation achieve: 550 toes
This is among the extra in style hikes within the Grand Staircase, and for good motive. It’s a beautiful, lush desert oasis full with waterfalls, reasonably straightforward mountain climbing, unimaginable rock formations, pictographs, and finally a reprieve from the dry desert.
Trailhead: Decrease Calf Creek Falls off of Freeway 12 (parking price required)
Escalante River
Distance: 6 miles | Elevation achieve: 260 toes
This path is great for anybody who desires to spend the day close to water, as this hike takes you out and in of the Escalante River a number of occasions (carry water footwear or sturdy sandals). There may be loads of vegetation on this canyon, providing many alternatives to calm down within the shade. If you’re wanting extra, obtain a map and lookup instructions to Bowington Arch earlier than heading out, as there isn’t an indication for it alongside the hike.
Trailhead: Escalante River Path off of Freeway 12
Spooky & Peek-a-boo
Distance: 6.3 miles | Elevation achieve: 670 toes
These two slot canyons supply a enjoyable and thrilling, barely difficult journey. Peek-a-boo is filled with lovely, giant rock formations and Spooky could be very slim and winding. They’re the very best easy-to-reach slot canyons I’ve ever explored that don’t require ropes and technical gear.
Trailhead: Decrease Dry Fork Narrows off of Gap-in-the-Rock Highway
Esclalante mountain climbing Excursions
Golden Cathedral
Distance: 10-15 miles| Elevation achieve: 1,500 toes
This is among the most iconic in a single day journeys on this space. Its mileage is comparatively brief, however with massive rewards. Descend off of Egypt Bench down Fence Canyon to the Escalante River to make camp, after which discover up Neon Canyon to an awe-inspiring pure bridge formation.
Plan to spend a while right here. When the solar filters by the holes within the formation, golden cathedral spires type, therefore the appropriately given identify.
Trailhead: Fence Canyon Trailhead (high-clearance, 4WD really useful)
Coyote Gulch
Distance: 10-30 miles (relying on route) | Elevation achieve: 1,800 toes
Technically positioned within the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Space, this gem of a hike has gained loads of reputation in recent times. Carry and use wag-bags for human waste disposal, go away all the things you discover, and please don’t trample the life-giving cryptobiotic soil.
This hike winds alongside a perennial stream in a large canyon, with a number of springs, waterfalls, stone arches, huge alcoves, and pure bridges. It’s a journey you’ll always remember.
Trailhead: This hike could be carried out many various methods. The trailheads embracePink Nicely, Hurricane Wash, and Fortymile Ridge (Crack-in-the-Wall). Make it a point-to-point by organising a automotive shuttle or going with a guiding service. My favourite solution to hike this one goes from Pink Nicely to Crack-in-the-Wall (the Wildland Trekking manner!).
Boulder Mail Path
Distance: 15 miles (point-to-point, requiring a automotive shuttle) | Elevation achieve: 2,600 toes
This can be a difficult backpacking route, requiring route-finding expertise and desert mountain climbing expertise. It’s a distant wilderness space filled with historical past and archaeology, mesmerizing views, river mountain climbing, and epic campsites.
For these able to take this one on, you received’t be upset. It’s one which I’m going again to many times all through my lifetime.
Trailhead: Boulder Mail Path off of Hell’s Spine Highway in Boulder, UT to the Escalante River Path within the city of Escalante, UT.
Esclalante Backpacking Excursions
SCENIC DRIVES
It’s practically not possible to spend time right here with out hitting not less than the most effective scenic drives you’ve ever had. Your complete space is full of beautiful magnificence, and taking a drive is one of the simplest ways to admire probably the most panorama potential.
Freeway 12
Drive Freeway 12 from Boulder, UT to Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park (about 1.5 hours every manner). You’ll be able to simply spend a complete day making stops alongside the way in which. My favourite half is undoubtedly the part from Boulder to Escalante, the place you journey alongside a winding backbone of sandstone with superb views in all instructions.
Gap-in-the-Rock Highway
This can be a filth highway that leaves from the city of Escalante and affords entry to probably the most notable hikes listed right here. Even if you happen to don’t need to hike, driving so far as you would like alongside this highway will present a memorable day. It’s nearly 56 miles lengthy however sluggish going. You’ll be able to’t get to the tip with no high-clearance, 4WD car, however a lot of the highway is only a washboard and doesn’t require 4WD.
Make certain to have loads of water and what you’d want to alter a flat tire, take note of the indicators alongside the way in which, and head out!
Know Earlier than you go:
The place to Keep
Escalante
My absolute favourite city to remain in when I’m visiting the Grand Staircase is Escalante, UT. It’s positioned subsequent to a lot of my favourite hikes and sights and has all the things you’d want with out being overly developed. Since it’s such a distant and small city, it’s value planning forward on your keep. If you’re tenting, chances are you’ll need to cease at a bigger grocery retailer alongside your manner. If lodging, I like to recommend reserving your lodging upfront.
My favourite stays in Escalante:
Tenting – Petrified Forest State Park
Lodging – Slot Canyons Inn
Inn-based Escalante Excursions
Golden Cathedral
Kanab
One other nice leaping off level for adventures within the space is Kanab, UT. This city affords nice entry to the outside, an informative Customer Middle, lodging, and scrumptious meals. Relying on what you need to do within the Nationwide Monument, this could possibly be an important base!
If you wish to discover elsewhere, there are additionally plentiful lodging choices within the cities of Bryce Canyon, Boulder, Panguitch, and Tropic.
NOTABLE EATERIES
Escalante Outfitters (Escalante, UT)
THE ULTIMATE STOP. Do you want any gear? Souvenirs from native artists? Books or path guides? Are you a fan of specialty espresso? A freshly handmade, irresistible baked good? How about probably the most scrumptious pizza within the West?
Escalante Outfitters is actually the one-stop store for all the things! They even have laundry and showers out there for buy, an important patio, and free WiFi.
Hell’s Spine Grill & Farm (Boulder, UT)
An unimaginable Farm to Desk expertise! They develop most of their very own greens and herbs on their natural farm, serve locally-raised meat, and make their very own jams, breads, and scorching sauces. Make sure you make a reservation if potential!
Escalante Mercantile (Escalante, UT)
Searching for a grab-and-go breakfast or lunch? That is the place! It even has loads of locally-made items, art work, a restricted however wholesome grocery number of groceries, and a cute patio to take pleasure in a scorching beverage.
Sego Restaurant (Kanab, UT)
This place has an exquisite and distinctive menu, an excellent cozy ambiance, and nice service. This can be a hidden gem in the course of a small city!
WHEN TO GO
The very best occasions to go to Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument are throughout the months of March-Could and September-November. Since a lot of the Nationwide Monument is between 5,000-8,000 toes in elevation, winter could be very chilly and snowy right here. The white snow is so dramatic in opposition to the unimaginable purple rocks, however in case you are trying to absolutely benefit from the open air, plan your go to for the autumn and spring “shoulder seasons.” Summertime temperatures can soar above 100 and create harmful situations for desert mountain climbing.
HOW TO GET THERE
One of many main perks to visiting this space is the remoteness and solitude you possibly can expertise. That may additionally make journey a bit difficult, however don’t let that deter you!
Las Vegas, NV
One of the simplest ways to entry this space is by flying into Las Vegas and renting a automotive. I extremely recommend a automotive that you could take down filth roads (any SUV will get you a lot locations, however a low-clearance sports activities automotive won’t). You would even cease to hit Zion and Bryce Canyon Nationwide Parks alongside the way in which! The drive is about 5 hours to Escalante, UT, however solely 3 hours to Kanab.
Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
With an analogous drive time to that from Las Vegas, this drive additionally takes about 5 hours to get to Escalante or Kanab. This route doesn’t supply the identical dramatic surroundings or non-compulsory Nationwide Park stops because the drive from Las Vegas. However if you wish to go to Salt Lake it’s a great choice!
Web page, AZ
If you’re in search of a more in-depth airport, there may be additionally a small one in Web page, AZ. If going this route, be sure you cease on the Huge Water Customer Middle to take a look at their dinosaur exhibit. If visiting between the months of Could and November, you too can make a visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from right here!
Get Out and Discover!
The Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is one which you must see for your self to know its vastness and endless treasures. This place holds a particular place in my coronary heart, and I sit up for going again each Spring and Fall. There may be a lot to discover, sort locals who welcome outdoors guests, and a panorama that’s undeniably value defending.
This can be a place that’s tough to explain in phrases as a result of it leaves you speechless with its magnificence. Get on the market and immerse your self. You’ll return house with an expanded sense of surprise and inspiration to maintain exploring. The Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is filled with issues but to be found.
