Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Includes ¨ Why Go? Day Hikes . .. 140 The largest park in the Southwest, Grand Staircase-Escalante Overnight Hikes . 144 National Monument (GSENM) features spectacular scenery Driving . 145 in rough-cut wilderness. From the Grand Canyon floor, geo- Cycling . 149 logical strata climb in staircase fashion 3500ft to Bryce Can- yon and the Escalante River canyons. These rock layers tell Sleeping . 149 260 million years of history in a riot of color. The diversity of landscapes is astounding – pink dunes, white cliffs, red canyons, vast slickrock and undulating slot canyons. The monument was established in 1996 by US President Best Hikes Bill Clinton in a controversial designation. Many ranchers and residents were concerned about losing access. Local ¨ Slot Canyons of Dry Fork/ legislators and mining interests were stymied. Environment Coyote Gulch (p142) activists appeared and conflicts ensued. Years later, federal ¨ Willis Creek (p143) versus local control is still a hot issue, though there is also rec- ¨ Lower Calf Creek Falls ognition that the land needs, and deserves, some protection. (p141) ¨ Escalante River Natural Bridge (p140) Driving Distances (miles) Bryce Canyon National Park ¨ Boulder Mail Trail (p144) (Park Entrance) 80 Escalante 30 50 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Canonville Visitor Center) 65 15 35 Best Drives Kanab 150 75 120 85 ¨ Burr Trail (p145) Grand Canyon North Rim (Park Entrance) 2157145 190 155 0 ¨ Hole-in-the Rock Road (p145) ) ¨ Cottonwood Canyon Road (p147) e b Boulder Bryce Canyon National Park (Park Entrance) Escalant Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Canonville Visitor Center Kana Note: Distances are approximate 137 Entrances PARK POLICIES & REGULATIONS There are no entrance stations; the monument is accessible 24/7. It encompasses three major geologic areas: the west- All vehicles must stay ernmost Grand Staircase, south of Bryce Canyon and west on designated roads, of Cottonwood Canyon Rd; central Kaiparowits Plateau, east which are open to of Cottonwood Canyon Rd and west of Hole-in-the-Rock Rd; mountain bikes, cars, and the eastern Escalante Canyons, southwest of the Burr 4WDs, all-terrain vehi- Trail. In the north, scenic Hwy 12 skirts the boundary of cles (ATVs) and other GSENM, passing through the small towns of Escalante and off-highway vehicles. Boulder. Campfires in devel- In the south, Hwy 89 arcs east from the larger town of oped campgrounds are Kanab. Three unpaved roads cross the park between the restricted to fire rings; highways, roughly north to south: Skutumpah and Johnson elsewhere you’re allowed Canyon Rds, Cottonwood Canyon Rd and Smoky Mountain to use a fire pan. Do not Rd. Hole-in-the-Rock Rd, a dead end, leads southeast from light fires at archaeolog- Hwy 12 toward Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Part- ical sites or in rock shel- ly paved Burr Trail crosses the monument’s northeast corner ters or alcoves. Banned from Boulder into Capitol Reef. in Coyote Gulch, dogs You’ll need a free permit to car-camp or backpack overnight, are allowed elsewhere, available from any visitor center, information kiosk or ma- often leashed. jor trailhead. Only Calf Creek Recreation Area carries a day- use fee. Fast Facts DON’T MISS ¨ Total area: 2969 sq miles GSENM is so big that it is conducive to multiple visits. ¨ Elevation: 4900ft GRAND STAIRCA GRAND Start with a hike near Boulder (Lower Calf Creek or ¨ Average high/low Escalante Natural Bridge) and explore some of the slot temperature (at Escalante) canyons on Hole-in-the-Rock Rd. If you have time, drive in July: 91°F/55°F (33°C/ the Cottonwood Canyon Rd toward Kanab and enjoy the 13°C) solitude of its lesser-known hikes. Reservations S While GSENM camp- E- grounds do not accept res- Es When You Arrive ervations, the state park CALANTE ¨ Day use is generally free. Visitor centers in Escalante, and private campgrounds Cannonville and Kanab offer free park bulletins and maps, do. Campers may wild camp and sell more detailed maps, like the USGS 7.5-quadrangles. on Bureau of Land Manage- ment land, following regu- N ¨ Fill up on water at visitor centers, since there is none at lations and standard Leave MONU ATIONAL trailheads and most campgrounds. No Trace ethics. Some pop- ¨ Check with rangers at a visitor center about road ular hikes require permits conditions, the weather forecast and the type of vehicle based on a lottery system. suitable for the roads you plan to travel. Much of the park is on 4WD roads and clay surfaces become impassable when wet. ¨ There is no comprehensive topo for the park but the Resources M National Geographic Trails Illustrated (www.natgeomaps. ¨ Grand Staircase- ENT com) map No 710, Canyons of the Escalante, covers the Escalante National northeast corner of the park. Monument (www.blm. HIKE K DAY gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_ staircase-escalante.html) S.

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