Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

This was such a fun easy hike. So beautiful! It's a magical place. Take water, good shoes that can get wet. It's 3 mi down and 3 miles back. But you can go as far you want.

Visited on 9.22.2025 and experienced the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument on Utah Highway 12 from Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park. The changes in the landscapes are amazing and offer spectacular views!! Highly recommend to anyone visiting Utah.

Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is absolutely breathtaking. The sheer cliffs, dramatic drop-offs, and wide-open views are unforgettable. I even saw free-range cows roaming, which made the experience feel so unique and wild. Sunsets here are incredible, and while it’s definitely more off the beaten path, it’s 100% worth the trip.

On our west coast road trip through Utah, most of the national parks didn’t have dog-friendly trails, so once we got off the beaten path and away from the paved parking lots, we found ourselves exploring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It quickly became the highlight of our time in the state. If we go back, we’ll probably skip the national parks altogether and spend more time on national monument and BLM land instead. There are way fewer people, almost no feral kids to dodge, and zero parking headaches - pure peace and quiet. One important heads-up: with all the slot canyon hikes, checking the weather is crucial. Flash floods can happen in seconds, and unlike the parks, there aren’t rangers or staff to warn you when it’s unsafe. So plan ahead, stay safe, and get ready for some seriously incredible, uncrowded desert adventure.

Loved Escalante! If you are going to Southern Utah, this needs to be on your bucket list! We did lower calf creek falls early and we only saw maybe 5-10 people as we were headed back to the car! Saw really cool wildlife like ducks, song birds, trout, and even an otter! We also did peekaboo and spooky slot canyons! Definitely save the offline map on your phone (it’s easy to get lost) and have a ton of water! The high was only 70*F the day we went and I felt like I was dying! I do not recommend people do peekaboo and spooky if they are bring pets or small children and if you are not physically fit! It was difficult for sure!

This nation monument is a beautiful place. “Monument “ is the key word here. Since it is not a national park you will not find busses for transportation, restrooms at each trail head and the roads are not paved. It is because of these things it is raw beauty. Important.. “if you don’t bring it in, you won’t have it.” There are many trails to hike. This place offers foot trails, horseback and ATVs The pics below are from Willis Creek short trail. It was 3.9 miles round trip with 361 feet of elevation. It is a slot canyon so be aware of the weather because the water can ride in the river bed. This was an easy hike and shaded when in the slot canyon.

Burr trail is a must ...the drive was awesome. The red Rock, the trail cut by the cattlemen, the creek at the bottom, the trees by the creek ...the sheer canyon walls of red Rock.....all spectacular

If you're ever driving from Bryce Canyon north toward Salt Lake City, UT-12 is an incredibly scenic detour that runs through the northern part of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The area is perfect for both driving and hiking.