Grand Staircase Utah

Information provided by U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management, Geroge Lindley, and Bruce Crook

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a dramatic, multi-hued landscape that is rich in natural and human history. Extending across 1.9 million acres of Utah public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Monument represents a unique combination of archaeological, historical, paleontological, geological, and biological resources. These strikingly beautiful and scientifically important lands are divided into three distinct regions:  the Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Canyons of the Escalante.

The Grand Staircase--A Museum of Earth History
The cream- and rose-colored cliffs of Navajo sandstone pictured here are the third in a series of great geological steps that ascend northward across the southwest corner of the Monument. This Grand Staircase-the Chocolate, Vermilion, White, Gray, and Pink Cliffs--spans five different life zones from Sonoran desert to coniferous forests. It is a masterpiece of geological and biological diversity. Geologist Clarence Dutton described what he termed a grand stairway of sequential cliffs and terraces in his Report of the Geology of the High Plateaus of Utah (1880).

The Canyons of the Escalante--Wonders in Water and Stone
The Escalante River cascades off the southern flank of the Aquarius Plateau, winding through a 1,000-mile maze of interconnected canyons. This magical labyrinth is one of the scenic wonders of the West. Even though Spanish explorer and priest Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante never wet a boot or even saw the river, his is the namesake given by the Powell survey crew that discovered and named the Escalante River in 1872.

The Kaiparowits Plateau--An American Outback
A vast wedge-shaped block of mesas and deeply incised canyons towers above the surrounding canyonlands. The isolated, rugged plateau is refuge for wildlife, rare plants, and a few adventure-ready individuals equipped to handle profound solitude and uncompromising wild country. "The Kaiparowits was the name for a point near the north end of the plateau so we decided to call the whole mountain by that name," wrote A. H. Thompson. It is a Paiute name meaning "Big Mountain’s Little Brother." Many sites from prehistoric cultures have been recorded on the Plateau. Many more are preserved for future study.

Roads and Maps

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is located in southern Utah, approximately 290 highway miles south of Salt Lake City or 250 miles east of Las Vegas. Two paved roads provide access to the Monument: Highway 89 on the south and Highway 12 on the north. The Monument is REMOTE, and nearly all of its north to south roads are PRIMITIVE. Acquire good information before venturing into the Monument's interior, including a good road map that is readable and understandable. Think of time and level of difficulty, not just miles. Choose roads and trails that match your vehicle, driving skills and experience. ALWAYS bring plenty of water, and make sure that your vehicle is in good working condition and adequately supplied for emergencies.
 

ROADS

Highway 12: Utah Scenic Highway 12 is a paved two-lane road which travels between US Highway 89 approximately eight miles south of Panguitch, and Utah Highway 24 in Torrey, near Capitol Reef National Park. Highway 12 serves as the gateway to Bryce Canyon National Park, and provides access to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument along approximately 68 miles, between Tropic and Boulder, Utah. This is one of the west's most scenic drives with panoramas of vast slickrock "oceans" and scenic canyons cut by the Escalante River. Numerous roadside overlooks and wayside exhibits may be found along the route. This road provides access to several small towns rich in pioneer heritage, as well as Escalante Canyon country vistas, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Calf Creek Recreation Area, the Escalante River, and Anasazi Indian Village State Park.

Burr Trail: Burr Trail turns south from Boulder, Utah and is hard-surfaced for 31 miles between Boulder and Capitol Reef National Park. The rest is dirt and gravel surface with some rocky and sandy stretches. High-clearance vehicles recommended if you explore off the Burr trail. Along the route are slickrock canyons and expansive vistas. The road provides access to Deer Creek, The Gulch, Long Canyon, Wolverine Petrified Wood Area, and the Circle Cliffs Region.

Photo Gallery

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