Unlike many of Utah’s state and national parks, Grand Staircase-Escalante doesn’t have an official entrance, so most visitors choose an area to cover before setting out. There are a few visitor centers, including the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in the town of Escalante, where you can see interpretive displays, pick up maps, or ask for general advice. Additional visitor centers are in Kanab, Big Water, and Cannonville.
Most of the trailheads in the monument are only accessible by dirt roads, so make sure your car has 4WD and can handle rough terrain if you plan to venture off the main roads. Hiking tours typically include transportation.
Make sure you check the difficulty of your hikes before setting out, and always carry lots of water.
Slot canyons can be confusing and dangerous to hike in, and are best visited with a professional guide who knows the area well.
The Big Water and Kanab Visitor Centers are wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly.
The Escalante Canyons Outstanding Natural Area section of the monument is located right on Scenic Byway 12. By car, it’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park or just under 4 hours from Moab. The Grand Staircase region is easier to access from Kanab, about a 1-hour drive from Zion National Park or 3 hours from Las Vegas.
The best time to visit the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is in the fall, when the weather is warm and dry, or in the springtime, when temperatures are pleasant and not usually too rainy. Summers are often too hot and sunny for safe daytime hiking, while winters get cold and sometimes see snow at higher elevations.
Utah’s national parks are collectively known as the “Mighty Five.” Arches and Canyonlands are both known for their rock formations and scenic views, while Capitol Reef offers an unusual feature for a national park: orchards where you can pick your own fruit. In the western part of the state, Bryce Canyon is known for its massive rock pinnacles, or hoodoos, while Zion features scenic hiking trails and a mix of rock formations and woodlands.