Exploring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Lake Powell
- Written by
- On Thursday, April 27, 2023
Park: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
State: Utah (bordering Arizona)
Year Established: 1996
Acres: 1.87 Million
Annual Visitors: 878,000
Entrance Fee: $0
At Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument you can experience 200 million years of natural history. Interestingly, this piece of Utah backcountry wasn’t established to be preserved until 1996 but it boasts endless natural treasures including colorful sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, plateaus, slickrock, prehistoric sites, and even old Western movie sets. A stop off in Grand Staircase-Escalante can easily be incorporated into the Grand Circle Road Trip as well.
Lake Powell is technically located within Canyonlands National Park, running along the southern edge of the Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument bordering Arizona. Technically a reservoir, Lake Powell branches out like veins offering visitors stunning canyon views and endless beaches. Dubbed “America’s lost national park” because of the flooded canyons that resemble the other federal lands nearby, Lake Powell is a must visit oasis in the desert of Utah.
Things to do in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
One of the most popular things to do in Grand Staircase-Escalante is take a scenic drive to appreciate all of the natural beauty! Scenic drives include Highway 12, Burr Trail into Capitol Reef, Norton Road, and Hell's Backbone Scenic Byway.
If you only have time for just one, we vote Highway 12. It’s one of the most scenic highways in America, beginning with Bryce Canyon National Park and ending with Capitol Reef National Park with dozens of scenic points in between.
Hiking in Grand Staircase-Escalante
If hiking is more your speed, we recommend experiencing the signature slot canyons of the area with an easy hike through Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch. It’s $6 per person for permits but the experience is definitely worth it! The trail is just over 5.5 miles but you can go as far as you like before turning around. Very picturesque but can get chilly - so wear lots of layers.
If you visit during spring, we recommend a hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls. Located off Scenic Byway 12, it’s a 6 mile out-and-back trail that takes you through a verdant desert with sandstone walls and sandy pathways. What makes it all worth it is the 126-foot waterfall at the end which you can swim in!
Hiking in Lake Powell
If you’re in the area, then you simply have to make the time to visit Lake Powell as well and hike the Coyote Gulch and Hurricane Wash Loop Trail. Rated as moderate according to Alltrails.com, this 10.6 mile loop takes about 5 hours to complete but it’s one of the highest rated trails. Iconic views along the trail include Swiss Cheese Falls, Coyote Arch, and the Jacob Hamblin Arch.
Owachomo Bridge is another amazing hike and one of the easiest ways to visit one of the “big 3 bridges” up close and personal. This short and easy hike is just 0.5 miles out and back, alternating between rock stairs and cuts in the slickrock. You descend through desert scrub and there are tons of great places to snap pictures of the bridge and views!
Camping near Grand Staircase-Escalante
If you’re interested in a glamping experience, we recommend a stay with Under Canvas at their Lake Powell - Grand Staircase location. Sitting on Canyon Rim Plateau with views in all directions, they even have their own on-site slot canyon to explore.
For the best traditional tent camping in Grand Staircase-Escalante, we suggest Basin Campground, Bryce View Campground or Deer Creek Campground. Basin has standard sites as well as 13 full hook-up sites as well. Bryce View has no hookups but does offer vault toilets. And Deer Creek is a small and cozy campground nestled in the Deer Creek Canyon along the scenic Burr Trail Road with just 7 campsites. All three sites are beautiful and offer various red rock views.
When to visit Lake Powell and Grand Staircase-Escalante
With subtropical weather including hot summers and mild winters, March through November is the best time to visit Grand Staircase-Escalante and Lake Powell. However, the summer specifically can get extremely hot so we recommend planning around July and August which are the hottest months and monsoon season.
Anytime during summer is the best time to visit Lake Powell however when the days are long and sunny and the waters are warm. Whether you’re water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking or swimming, it will be a great time! Plus the sunsets are simply unparalleled.
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