Plan Your Visit to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
This Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument travel guide helps you decide what is actually worth your vacation time in one of the most remote corners of southern Utah. This is a place where the road can turn to dirt, cell service disappears, and a short drive can lead to a slot canyon, double arch, waterfall, hoodoos, or a stretch of desert where you may not see another person for miles.
You will find what not to miss, how much time you need, where to stay, and the practical details you need before you arrive. I’ve also included the experiences that make this area memorable, from squeezing through Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch and hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls to seeing Grosvenor Arch and driving some of Utah’s most interesting backroads.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument at a Glance
Location: South-central Utah
How much time: At least 1 full day; 2–3 days gives you time to explore different areas
Best time to visit: Spring and fall
Don’t miss: Scenic Highway 12, Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grosvenor Arch, and the Escalante-area slot canyons
Best scenic drive: Scenic Highway 12
Best waterfall hike: Lower Calf Creek Falls
Best slot canyon adventure: Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch
Best quick stop: Grosvenor Arch
Best unusual landscape: Toadstool Hoodoos
Where to stay: Escalante, Boulder, Cannonville, or Kanab, depending on what you plan to explore
Good to know: Many backroads become difficult or impassable after rain
Before you go: Check current BLM road conditions and weather, especially before driving unpaved roads or entering a slot canyon
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do Around Grand Staircase-Escalante
1. Drive Scenic Highway 12
2. Hike the 6-mile round trip to Lower Calf Creek Falls
3. See Grosvenor Arch
4. Squeeze through Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch
5. Explore Devil’s Garden along Hole-in-the-Rock Road
6. Hike among the Toadstool Hoodoos
7. Drive Cottonwood Canyon Road when conditions allow
8. Explore the Burr Trail Scenic Backway
9. Hike to Escalante Natural Bridge
10. Explore the canyons and backroads around Escalante
Where is Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante is located in south-central Utah. The area is bordered by Bryce Canyon to the northwest, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the east, and Capitol Reef National Park to the northeast.
Facts About Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Due to its remoteness, Grand Staircase-Escalante was the last area of the continental US to be mapped.
- Grand Staircase-Escalante became a national monument in 1996.
- Grand Staircase-Escalante’s boundaries were modified in July 2026, and BLM currently lists the monument at 181,541 acres.
- Grand Staircase consists of a progression of geological steps descending to Arizona’s Grand Canyon.
- There are fossils over 70 million years old in Grand Staircase-Escalante, including fish, turtles, shark teeth, plant life, and dinosaurs.
Best Time of Year to Visit the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
May, June, and September have the least amount of precipitation and are the best times to visit the slot canyons. September and October have mild weather. It is often over 100° in the summer and below freezing in the winter. November-March receives the highest amount of precipitation in the form of both rain and snow making many roads impassable.
Accommodation in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
There is no fee to boondock (dry camp) at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Check the visitor center for a map of available sites. There are also two first-come, first-serve campgrounds: Deer Creek Campground and Calf Creek Campground. You will find MANY campsites and small towns with accommodations throughout the area.
Highlights of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Drive incredible scenic drives, high clearance vehicle required (see below)
- Photograph Grosvenor Arch
- Go canyoneering at Golden Cathedral
- Scramble through slot canyons (see below)
- Hike backcountry trails (see below)
- Rappel into the Cosmic Ashtray
- Swim under Lower Calf Creek Falls
Scenic Drives in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- All American Road Scenic Hwy 12 runs 123 miles through the monument with scenic viewpoints scattered throughout the drive.
- Follow the pioneer’s route on the 62-mile Hole-in-the-Rock Scenic Drive to Devils Garden, Peek-a-Boo, and Spooky slot canyons.
- Drive Hell’s Backbone through a desert forest to Hell’s Backbone Bridge.
- Take the Burr Trail Scenic Backway to Singing Canyon, Long Canyon overlook, and Waterpocket Fold switchbacks.
- Follow scenic Cottonwood Canyon Road to Kodachrome Basin State Park, Grosvenor Arch, and the Cottonwood Narrows.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s Slot Canyons
- Combine Zebra Slot with Tunnel Slot for a 6.6-mile RT hike, expect water up to your waist in the slot.
- Combine Dry Fork Narrows, Peekaboo Slot (scrambling required) with Spooky Slot (10 inches wide!) for a 3.5-mile hike
- Visit Cottonwood Narrows (3-mile trail) and Hackberry Canyon (4-mile trail) off Cottonwood Canyon Road.
- Head to Red Breaks Slot Canyon for a canyoneering adventure, 7.3 miles RT.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Hikes
- Walk the 1-mile loop through Devil’s Garden’s sandstone hoodoos, arches, and domes.
- 100 Hands Pictograph Panel Hike, 1.1 miles
- Hike 2.2 miles to Cedar Wash Arch
- Explore the toadstool formations on the 1.5-mile Toadstool Hoodoos Trailhead.
- Check out Escalante Natural Bridge, 5.5 miles roundtrip with 12 river crossings.
- Explore Lower Half Calf Creek Falls, 6 miles RT
- Hike 8.3 miles to the Cosmic Ashtray
- Challenge yourself with river crossings on the Golden Cathedral Trail, 9.1 miles RT.
- See Steven’s Arch and narrow canyons on the Coyote Gulch and Hurricane Wash’s 10-mile hike.
- Check out Jacob Hamblin Arch, 15 miles RT
- Hike 18 miles through the backcountry to Reflection Canyon
One Day Around Grand Staircase-Escalante
Morning: Scenic Highway 12
Start early in Escalante and drive Scenic Highway 12 toward Boulder. Stop at the overlooks rather than rushing past them.
Morning Hike: Lower Calf Creek Falls
Hike the 6-mile round-trip Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail to the 126-foot waterfall. The sandy trail can feel longer than six miles, especially on a hot day, so bring plenty of water.
Lunch: Boulder
Continue to Boulder for lunch. If you’ve been wanting to eat at Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, this is a good place to work it into your day.
Afternoon: Burr Trail
Drive the paved section of Burr Trail Scenic Backway from Boulder into Long Canyon. Stop at Singing Canyon and continue as far as your available time and current road conditions allow.
Late Afternoon: Return to Escalante
Drive back toward Escalante along Scenic Highway 12, stopping at viewpoints you skipped earlier.
If hiking is your priority: Skip Burr Trail and spend the afternoon exploring Devil’s Garden or one of the Escalante-area slot canyons instead. Don’t enter a slot canyon if storms threaten anywhere in the surrounding drainage.
Check the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument BLM for current events.
Tips for Visiting Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Be prepared. Most roads are dirt, clay, or gravel and may be in poor condition.
- Trails are unmarked and there are few signs.
- Mountain bikes are not allowed on slick rock.
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is in the backcountry, download offline maps or bring a GPS.
- There are not many services. Start with a full tank of gas and bring a lot of water and snacks.
- Backcountry trails may not be well marked, Cairns (piles of stacked rocks) are often used to mark the route.
- Start hikes early. There is very little shade on trails, sunscreen is mandatory.
- Bring double the amount of water you think you will need.
- Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes, babies are the most dangerous.
- Many roads are backcountry and require high-clearance vehicles, be sure you have a spare tire.
- Roads may be washboarded, consider letting some air out of the tires.
- Sudden heavy rains can make this road impassable, and a tow can cost over 1k out here – turn back. For the latest road conditions call the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center at 435-826-5499.
- Dogs are allowed but not recommended in Dry Fork, Peekaboo, or Spooky Slot Canyons.
- Learn bear safety.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
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