Highlights Of Grand Staircase Escalante Scenic Drives, Utah

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It could have one of the vital complicated names to recollect the order of (and spell, that hyphen will get me each time), however Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument is an unlimited and rugged panorama that beckons journey, and can imprint recollections to final eternally!

The most effective methods to expertise this canyon-clad area is to go on Grand Staircase-Escalante scenic drives, which passes a number of family-friendly mountain climbing trails, hidden waterfalls, magnificent viewpoints, undulating waves of colourful rocks and slot canyons, and infinite rainbow coloured valleys.

people looking out at mountains
Burr Path

A scenic drive by means of Grand Staircase Escalante combines a number of smaller scenic drives, together with the enduring All-American Highway: Scenic Byway 12, which runs by means of the monument, in addition to the extra rugged Burr Path.

Should you’re considering of driving by means of Grand Staircase Escalante and undecided what to see alongside the way in which, listed below are the highlights of our scenic drive, and some hidden surprises, too!

The place is Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument?

truck pullin grv on mountain road
Driving scenic Freeway 12

However first, you could be not sure about the place the Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is, because it covers an space of seven,600 sq. kilometers!

Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is positioned in Southern Utah and bordered by Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park to the northwest, Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation space to the east, and Capitol Reef Nationwide Park to the northeast. 

Many guests drive by means of it rapidly considering it solely encompasses a scenic drive, wanting to get to the large 5 nationwide parks in Utah on both facet of it.

Don’t make the identical hurried mistake as you’ll discover simply as a lot to be in awe of on this area as these different nationwide parks. In reality, It’s double the mixed land of Utah’s 5 nationwide parks!

What’s Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument

Burr road scenic drive Escalante Monument
Lovely views all spherical

Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument is 1.87 million acres of canyons, cliffs and rugged landscapes providing an abundance of adventures like mountain climbing, off-roading, tenting, and scenic drives.

Intrepid vacationers will like to know that a lot of the sweeping Grand Staircase area is sort of distant. Only a few trailheads could be reached on paved roads.

You’ll want to plan for these off-the-beaten path experiences properly. Carry loads of water (at the very least one gallon — 4 liters — per particular person, per day)

Summer season temperatures can vary over 100° F (38°C) and winters can drop properly beneath freezing at night time. Sudden heavy rains could make this street impassable — even for high-clearance, 4WD autos.

We visited in April/Could and the climate was very nice and ideal for the various fantastic hikes within the Grand Staircase-Escalante area.

Scenic Drives in Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument

Begin your engine, and prepare to cruise. There are various completely different scenic drives in Grand Staircase Escalante that may blow your thoughts, and we didn’t even go too far off the overwhelmed path!

Listed here are some straightforward don’t miss drives!

Scenic Byway 12: All American Highway

rocky hills on highway 12
Freeway 12, Utah close to Boulder
  • Distance: 122.8 miles 
  • Begin level / finish level: Panguitch to Torrey 
  • Time to finish: 2.5 – 3 hours nonstop
  • Highlights: Dixie Nationwide Forest, Capitol Reef Nationwide Park, Larb Hole Overlook, Boulder Mountain, Anasazi State Park and Museum, Decrease Calf Creek Falls
  • 4×4 wanted? No

Scenic Freeway 12 is Utah’s solely street acknowledged as An All American Highway, a title solely given to a 3rd of America’s scenic byways.

It’s given to roads that supply distinctive options you could’t discover elsewhere. They turn out to be vacationer locations in themselves. You possibly can solely think about how stunning this scenic drive is when nearly each street in Utah is a scenic one.

Hwy 12 has just about earned the title of essentially the most colourful of the nation’s 31 All-American Roads.

It connects U.S. 89 close to Panguitch on the west with S.R. 24 close to Torrey on the northeast winding 124 miles by means of a few of the most numerous and ruggedly stunning landscapes wherever.

You’ll drive previous purple rock cliffs, by means of slickrock canyons, pine and aspen forests, nationwide and state parks, a nationwide monument and a number of other quaint rural cities – blended in with each shade of the rainbow and magnificence of rock formation you may consider.

woman taking photos of highWAY 12 VIEWS
One other wonderful lookout – an ocean of undulating rock

The street at instances is embedded into the slickrock serving to you are feeling a deeper connection to the lunar like panorama and rainbow coloured rocks of all sizes, shapes and formations.

Most individuals drive by means of Scenic Byway 12 in a day – us included on a earlier Utah street journey.

Nonetheless we suggest you keep longer to discover all it has to supply not simply on the street however off.

We did that on our final journey spending a few week within the Escalante Area and coming in and off the street.

It’s a terrific leaping off level to discover Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, the Dixie Nationwide Forest’s Crimson Canyon and Capitol Reef.

cars and mobile homes on the side of the road
Driving by means of the Dixie Nationwide Forest

We began from Torrey driving up into the Dixie Nationwide Forest with stunning viewpoints showcasing the contrasting world of subalpine fir and aspen, the purple rock of Capitol Reef, the inexperienced of the valley and surrounding mountains.

Boulder Mountain Go is the very best level on Scenic Drive 12 at 9,606ft so be ready for some steep climbs.

The byway crosses an unlimited expanse of slick-rock canyon nation encompassing Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument. It seems like an ocean of swelling colourful rocks. Cease on the many viewpoints – it’s spectacular.

Plan a pit cease for espresso with a view at Kiva Koffee house.

A group of people walking down a dirt road
Kiva Koffeehouse

Proceed on.

Hairpin turns can have you on the sting of the seat as you look down into deep purple Escalante canyons, the most well-liked part of the monument for its lively waterfalls, arches, riparian oases, sculpted slickrock and slim canyons.

cars parked under orange hoodoos in Bryce Canyon national park
On the street previous Bryce Canyon

The drive finishes close to Bryce Canyon driving by means of two stunning purple arches in Crimson Canyon.

Magnificence like this could by no means be understated nor underappreciated. It’s undoubtedly probably the greatest street journeys within the USA.

car and rv at Wanderlust Cowgirl Coffee drive through in Panguitch,
Wanderlust Cowgirl Espresso

Should you want fairly good espresso on the finish of your Freeway 12 scenic drive pull as much as Wanderlust Cowgirl Espresso Panguitch, on the street from Escalante to St. George.

Cease to Hike to Decrease Creek Calf Falls

Alongside Freeway 12, is a superb hike price stopping off for. What a beautiful shock Decrease Creek Calf Falls was!! Are you able to consider this stunning waterfall gushing down over the cliff in a tranquil, tropical feeling place?

It was a giant hike for us to do with the youngsters to get right here. It was six miles return with an elevation achieve of 500 ft. which wasn’t too dangerous.

group of people hiking in Lower Creek Calf Falls

The views alongside the valley and rainbow coloured escarpment partitions your complete method have been stunning. Most of it was a sandy observe which made it somewhat tougher.

Alongside the hike you’ll see some historical pictographs on the wall , stroll alongside sandy seaside tracks, by means of bamboo forests and beside crystal clear creeks.

On the finish you’ll attain a beautiful oasis with the Decrease Calf Creek Falls plumetting 126ft over the rock face in a Y-formation.

Swim proper up beneath it, if it’s not too chilly! It’s the right spot for a picnic and a relaxation earlier than gathering your power to stroll again. It’s probably the greatest issues to do in Utah.

The Decrease Calf Creek Falls trailhead is positioned on the Calf Creek Campground on Freeway 12, 11 miles south of the city of Boulder, and 15 miles east of the city of Escalante.

There’s a 13-site campground right here and a day use picnic space. The campsite seems attractive an I’d love to remain right here beneath the shade of the bushes nestled alongside facet Calf Creek. Its’ a primary come first served foundation so good luck!

Video: Decrease Calf Creek Falls and Freeway 12

Gap-in-the-Rock Scenic Drive

Hole in the Rock road
Gap-in-the-Rock scenic drive
  • Distance: 62 miles 
  • Begin level / finish level: Escalante to Lake Powell 
  • Time to finish: 3-5 hours
  • Highlights: Satan’s Backyard, Peekaboo Gulch Canyon, Spooky Gulch Canyon, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Escalante Interagency Customer Heart
  • 4×4 wanted? No

Hole-in-the-Rock is a 62-mile drive a method, and follows the final route of of the pioneer Gap-in-the-Rock Expedition to seek for a route throughout the Escalante River, what’s now Lake Powell.

Many of the street is in Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument, nevertheless the final 5 miles are throughout the boundaries of Glen Canyon NRA the place you’ll discover the precise gap within the rock by the Colorado River!

Most guests journey the 11 miles to Satan’s Backyard and 26 miles to the turnoff for Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch. We missed the Satan’s Backyard as our hike into Peek-a-boo (see beneath) wiped us out!

Gap-in-the-Rock a preferred drive for the surroundings – it was stunning on the way in which into the slot canyons – and the varied factors of curiosity.

Cease to Hike Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch Slot Canyon

people walking through a narrow canyon

When have been so completely satisfied our associates Mike and Anne from Honeytrek visited us whereas in Grand Escalante and advisable we hike Peek-a-boo and Spooky Canyon collectively.

We had a blast and it was the most effective hike we did on our USA street journey. None of us wished this 3.5 mile lengthy journey climbing over rock faces, by means of small holes and over boulders to finish.

It was stuffed with explosive strikes which pounded my head and physique.

people walking through a narrow canyon

After the powerful climb by means of Peek-a-Boo we entered into Spooky Canyon, known as that for a way deep and darkish and slim it will get – 11 inches broad.

It was backpacks off backs, and bums and boobs tucked in.

We donned our Flat Stanley personas and slid our method by means of the crack climbing down additional into the canyon as we went.

What a option to spend it with our associates! It’s a should not factor to do in Grand Staircase- Escalante Nationwide Monument.

Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyon are positioned within the Dry Fork Canyon space on the Gap-in-the-Rock street. (see beneath for that scenic drive)

Video: Peek-a-Boo Hike and Burr Path Drive

Hell’s Spine Drive

f250 on Hells Backbone Drive
Hell’s Spine Drive
  • Distance: 38 miles 
  • Begin level / finish level: Boulder to Escalante
  • Time to finish: 2 hours
  • Highlights: Slim bridge, Dixie Nationwide Forest
  • 4×4 wanted? No

After our two intensive hikes in a row, a a lot wanted relaxation day was had sitting within the automobile and having fun with the gorgeous surroundings of the Hell’s Spine from our window.

The 38-mile grime street was constructed by Despair-Period Civilian Conservation Corps to function an alternate route between Boulder and Escalante.

The street forks from All American Freeway 12 close to the city of Boulder and climbs west midway up Boulder Mountain to attach with the Posey Lake/Pine Creek Highway. 

It winds by means of the Pine Creek Drainage of the Dixie Nationwide Forest beginning in juniper desert up into the luxurious pine and aspen forest.

The street crosses the historic outdated, wood Hells Spine Bridge simply above the Field/Demise Hole Wilderness Space.

The Field doesn’t see a number of vacationer site visitors, however it’s a mysterious, multicolored sandstone canyon carved by water into the rocks. It jogged my memory of Bryce Canyon.

Earlier than reaching right here, I didn’t suppose the drive was all that spectacular. However was saved right here by these excellent views over the rugged canyons.

woman taking photo of scenic view on Hells Backbone, Utah

There are a number of trailheads right here to entry varied elements of the wilderness.

This was the place we rotated as snow had minimize off the remainder of the street.

We mixed this drive with the Burr Path, which made it a really lengthy day for us. If in case you have time, cut up it into two days, add in some hikes, and luxuriate in it from a slower, deeper perspective.

Burr Path Scenic Byway

ford 250 on Burr Trail, Utah
Burr Trial Utah
  • Distance: 64 miles 
  • Begin level / finish level: Boulder to Capitol Reef Nationwide Park
  • Time to finish: about 2-3 hours
  • Highlights: Henry Mountains, Waterpocket Fold, Lengthy Canyon, The Shock Canyon
  • 4×4 wanted? No

The 64 mile Burr Path Scenic Byway winds by means of a deep purple slickrock canyon and rolling desert forest of orange and inexperienced.

It begins close to Boulder within the Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument and goes into the southern part of Capitol Reef Nationwide Park.

We knew instantly we had arrived again into Capitol Reef NP as the colours was the rainbow and the water pocket fold appeared.

This follows the waterpocket fold and the colours as you look again on the rocks are extraordinary: pink, gray, chocolate, orange, yellow, and white.

It was one among my favourite drives and views within the American Southwest.

aerial of orange dirt road winding through Burr Trail, Utah
Considered one of my favourite views within the USA Southwest

The Burr Path Scenic Backway was initially developed as a cattle path blazed by stockman John Atlantic Burr. It’s paved and graded in sections and gravel and grime in others.

On the backside of the switchbacks it meets with the Notom Highway, which is a gravel street that runs from Freeway 24 alongside the east facet of Capitol Reef Utah.

You possibly can observe it for so far as you want.

woman taking photo of Burr Trail, Utah
The completely different views alongside the way in which and the beginning of Shock Canyon hike

There are completely different mountain climbing trails alongside the street. The Shock Canyon was advisable to us however after our two large hikes the earlier days we determined to only have a resting scenic drive.

You may get into it coming from Freeway 12 on the west after which go north on Notom Bullfrog street or come down from freeway 24 within the north.

Tenting in Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument

You’re in Utah, there are many free tenting locations on Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) land.

Since Grand Staircase is managed by BLM, you’ll have a number of choices! Nonetheless, we extremely suggest boondocking because it permits you to camp with consolation and ease.

Listed here are two boondocking spots we suggest…

Gap within the Rock Escalante Boondocking Spot

rvs parked at Hole in the Rock boondocking site

This was one among our favourite boondocking spots on our RV journey, particularly all that greenery after months tenting on purple grime.

This boondocking spot is true off the start of Hole in the Rock scenic drive with quick access to the close by city of Escalante and its facilities.

It’s an enormous space with loads of grass, open areas and respectable sized bushes for shade. The very best spots are these alongside the cliff edge with stunning views. They have been all taken, however our spot was greater than sufficient.

We additionally had nice web service right here, which was a lot appreciated after going 4 days offline.

Boondocking spot close to Capitol Reef Nationwide Park (Overlook Level Tenting)

rvs in Capitol Reef Boondocking

Simply outdoors the Capitol Reef Nationwide Park and solely 5 minutes from the city of Torrey was our boondocking spot for Capitol Reef Nationwide Park.

On Google Maps, it’s known as Overlook Point Campground. It was off the facet of the street and proper close to the start of Freeway 12.

Once more, the youngsters have been pleased with the close by cliffs to scramble over and go on exploratory hikes.

There was no Verizon telephone or web service right here, however there was Dash.

Automotive Leases

You should have a automobile to take pleasure in these scenic drives in Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument, so be sure to have a automobile sorted earlier than you go!

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