Where To Camp In Grand Staircase Escalante?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Calf Creek Campground is a desert oasis located within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The Recreation Area includes a 13-site campground, a day-use picnic area and a trailhead

. The campground provides small sites nestled along Calf Creek on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where can you camp in a Grand Staircase?

  • Kodachrome Basin State Park.
  • Ranchito Feliz.
  • Canyons of Escalante RV Park.
  • Paria View Camp Site.
  • Escalante Escapes Tiny Homes.
  • Bryce Canyon Wander Camp.

Is Grand Staircase Escalante worth seeing?

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument sits along Scenic Highway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef. It offers some of the best hikes in the state outside of Utah’s infamous Big 5 National Parks.

It is definitely worth spending a day in Grand Staircase Escalante

.

How many days do I need at Grand Staircase Escalante?

A full

2 – 3 days

is a good start to get to know the area. You can always extend the trip to make time for exploring side canyons along any backpacking trip in Escalante. One of the treasures of Grand Staircase Escalante Monument is hiking the Escalante River, a tributary of the Colorado River.

Can you have fires in Grand Staircase Escalante?

Note that

fires are not permitted in any drainages of the Escalante River and all of its tributaries

. This is the same for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Glen Canyon Recreation Area.

Can you drive through Grand Staircase Escalante?

Nearly all the trailheads in the monument are usually accessible to 2WD cars in dry weather, though a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended when traveling off the pavement in southern Utah. You should also carry plenty of extra water for everyone and some emergency supplies.

How do you get to the Grand Staircase Escalante?

Grand Staircase is the westernmost section of the monument and is most easily accessed

from Tropic, Cannonville or Henrieville near Kodachrome Basin State Park on Highway 12–also known as Scenic Byway 12– and Kanab or Big Water on U.S. Route 89

.

Do you need a permit for Escalante?

Obtain permits at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in the town of Escalante or at one of the entry trailheads.

Day use does not require a backcountry permit, but please sign the trail register. Overnight hikes along the Paria River require a permit from the Bureau of Land Management

.

What is Grand Staircase-Escalante known for?

These

sandstone labyrinths with unusual rock shapes and slot canyons offer some of the best hiking and backpacking in the world

. The monument is also named for the series of topographic benches and cliffs that, as its name implies, step progressively up in elevation from south to north.

What is special about Grand Staircase-Escalante?

From its spectacular Grand Staircase of cliffs and terraces, across the rugged Kaiparowits Plateau to the wonders of the Escalante River Canyons, the Monument is

a diverse geologic treasure speckled with monoliths, slot canyons, natural bridges, and arches

.

Where is the best view of Grand Staircase-Escalante?

Another of Grand Staircase’s iconic views can be found in

the far southern section of the national monument at Buckskin Gulch

. The 15-mile slot canyon features narrow pathways of rock sculpted by eons of water erosion.

Are dogs allowed in Grand Staircase Escalante?

Pets –

Dogs are allowed in most of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

. However, dogs must be leashed on the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail and within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

What makes up the grand staircase?

The Grand Staircase is an immense sequence of

sedimentary rock layers

that stretch south for 100 miles (161 km) from Bryce Canyon National Park through Zion National Park and into the Grand Canyon.

Where is the golden cathedral?

The Golden Cathedral is located in

the lower section of Neon Canyon

, which a side canyon off the Escalante River, and is an amazing rock formation that will leave you in awe!

Can I have a camp fire in Utah?

Campfires are allowed in all developed recreation sites, campgrounds, picnic areas, and home sites that are maintained and administered by the agency, or home sites where running water is present are allowed. Stoves or grills that are fueled solely by liquid petroleum fuels are also allowed.

Is it a no burn day in Utah?

The Utah Division of Air Quality issues mandatory no burn actions when fine particulate pollution builds up to unhealthy levels during winter inversions. While these no-burn days are typically called during the winter inversion season of

November 1st to March 1st

, they may be called anytime throughout the year.

Are there fire bans in Utah?

8, 2021. As of Sept. 8,

fire restrictions have been lifted for all Utah public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management

.

Do you need 4×4 for Grand Staircase Escalante?

Nearly all the trailheads in the monument are usually accessible to 2WD cars in dry weather, though

a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended when traveling off the pavement in southern Utah

. Keep in mind that flash floods can deposit rocks and debris onto roads, so actual driving conditions can change quickly.

How much does it cost to go to Grand Staircase Escalante?

There is

no entrance fee

to visit Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (435/644-1200). Free permits are required for all overnight backcountry camping or backpacking.

Is Escalante open?

The The Escalante Canyons National Monument is

open 24 hours a day year-round

.

How far is Bryce from Grand Staircase Escalante?

The distance between Bryce Canyon City and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is

32 miles

. The road distance is 43.5 miles.

Is Bryce Canyon part of Grand Staircase Escalante?

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is separated into three distinct districts that cover 1.7 million acres in Utah, connecting it to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.

Where is Bears Ears National Monument?

The Monument, located in

southeast Utah in San Juan County

, is made up of 1.36 million acres of public lands administered jointly with the BLM and U.S. Forest Service.

Can you hunt in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument?

Hunting & Fishing


Hunting and fishing are traditional uses of the Monument’s lands and they will remain so under the management of the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

. Please inquire locally for seasons, licenses, and other regulations.

What park is Escalante in?


Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

.

Where is Zebra slot canyon?

Named for it’s striking orange-striped walls, Zebra Slot Canyon is located in

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

, a vast, remote area of Southern Utah.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.