{"id":7072,"date":"2024-06-23T16:19:56","date_gmt":"2024-06-23T16:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/st-george-roadcut-reveals-colorful-geology-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T03:38:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T03:38:07","slug":"grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-7072\" data-postid=\"7072\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-7072 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_yzy6659 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-2 tb_aa9n680 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ggp2011    wow\" data-tf-animation=\"zoomIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) covers a large area encompassing many different scenic areas and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah<\/strong>. GSENM&#8217;s large size and and wide diversity often makes it misunderstood, simply because there&#8217;s so much to know and absorb. The video that accompanies this article (see below) will hopefully clear up some of the confusion by explaining its many of facts and features, as well as showing how various places inside GSENM look.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_j63i033 last\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_d42q001 image-top rounded drop-shadow  tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeInRightBig\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=95meMSxr4Pk\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"267\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7077\" title=\"GSENM\" alt=\"GSENM\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM.jpg 350w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_wcs9900 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_jbhm030 first\">\n                    <!-- module callout -->\n<div  class=\"module ui module-callout tb_fwhy095 button-bottom-center red  rounded embossed shadow wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeInLeft\" data-tf-animation_delay=\"1\" data-lazy=\"1\" id=\"video\">\n    \n    <div class=\"callout-inner\">\n    <div class=\"callout-content tf_left\">\n        <h3 class=\"callout-heading\"><\/h3>\n        <div class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n            <strong>Click image<\/strong> to watch Virtual Video Tour and see viewer comments.\nThen come back to get the rest of the story.        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <!-- \/callout-content -->\n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/callout-content -->\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module callout -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_88b2222 image-center bordered  tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"lightSpeedIn\" data-tf-animation_delay=\"1.5\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GtwChxaPjnA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1222\" height=\"688\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7133\" title=\"GSENM_YouTube\" alt=\"GSENM_YouTube\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube.jpg 1222w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube-1024x577.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1222px) 100vw, 1222px\" \/>        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_u166202 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_3n0g024 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_7za3330   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2>In This Article<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Introduction\">Introduction &amp; Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#GettingAround\">Getting Around<\/a> (the roads)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Geology\">Geology<\/a> (What is the Grand Staircase?)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Places\">Places to Visit<\/a> &#8211; other videos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"Introduction\">Introduction &amp; Overview<\/h2>\n<p>The video explains more detail on the background, history, and development of GSENM. This section summarizes the introduction.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>How did it get its Name?<\/h3>\n<p>The word &#8220;Grand Staircase&#8221; comes from large geologic formations, which appear as large steps on the Earth\u2019s surface. They come up from the Grand Canyon, which is the beginning of the staircase, and end at Bryce Canyon, which is the top.<\/p>\n<p>The word &#8220;Escalante&#8221; initially came from the name of the first European explorer to this area, Silvestre Velez de Escalante. He was part of the Dom\u00ednguez\u2013Escalante Expedition that took place in 1776. Their route however did not come through the present-day monument. It went around it. The town of Escalante initially got its name from Silvestre, that was later inherited by the monument.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_1nuz829 image-center   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\/tour-planning\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ad-800x500-TripPlan2.gif\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-6755\" title=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan2\" alt=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan2\">        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_2nk8399   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>National Monument Status<\/h3>\n<p>The idea of creating some sort of national monument or preserve covering portions of this area initially began in 1934. It became reality in 1996 with the boundaries that are in place as of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>There was some contention when the monument was formed in 1996. President Clinton promised that he would sit down with Utah officials to discuss details and hear feedback about the proposed monument before he signed anything.<\/p>\n<p>Later, on the same day he said this, he signed the monument into law. He also held the signing ceremony on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, which is in Arizona, not in Utah or inside the current-day monument, fearing local protests.<\/p>\n<p>Up to this point, the state of Utah was already unhappy with its large proportion of Federally-control lands that it has little say over. The monument would be the biggest ever created in the USA at that time. Many officials questioned if using the Antiquities Act of 1906, normally used for protecting small portions of historic lands, even applied to bringing such a large portion of land under Federal control.<\/p>\n<p>The below map of the USA shows Federally-owned land in red. Notice states Nevada &amp; Utah:<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_ptzw468 image-center   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/u-s-_federal_land\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1405\" height=\"1080\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7093\" title=\"GSENM_Federal_Land\" alt=\"Federal Public Land Surface &amp; Subsurface\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land.jpg 1405w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land-300x231.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land-1024x787.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land-768x590.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1405px) 100vw, 1405px\" \/>        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_hdht880   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>On the flip side of the controversy, there are certainly a lot of gems to protect inside this large region. It does seem like it would be difficult to create many small monuments to protect those many gems. Creating a large monument seemed logical.<\/p>\n<p>Also, in the early 1990s, significant paleontological discoveries were being made in the Kaiparowits Plateau section of GSENM of the remains of animals that lived during the Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 million years ago). Large coal seams were discovered on the plateau in the 1960s and were earmarked to be mined, which would result in land potentially containing a large amount of irreplaceable fossils to be upheaved. Creating a national monument would provide more control over how the land was used.<\/p>\n<p>After the monument&#8217;s creation in 1996, the people of Utah continued lobbying government to decrease the size of the monument on account of all the land no longer being in State control. When Donald Trump was selected president in 2017, Utah government officials were previously encouraging him to take action. In turn, President Trump reduced the size of the monument by roughly half after he was elected. This was done by splitting the monument into three separate monuments: 1) Grand Staircase, 2) Kaiparowits, and 3) Escalante Canyons. Four years later however, in 2021, when Joseph Biden was elected, he restored the monument to its 1996 borders.<\/p>\n<div class=\"g g-11\"><div class=\"g-single a-17\"><a title=\"BackRoadsWest.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\/tour-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-2382 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ad-800x500-TripPlan2.gif\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<h3>Monument Sections<\/h3>\n<p>As mentioned above, in 2017, the monument was broken up into three sections. This is because early on and before the monument was created in 1996, three very distinct sections of GSENM were noticed. They are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Grand Staircase:<\/strong> these are long steps of geologic formations that come up from the Grand Canyon, each representing periods of time in Earth&#8217;s history. The Grand Staircase extends from US 89 in the south with the Chocolate and Vermilion Cliffs, and ends at Bryce Canyon National Park in the north with the Pink Cliffs, with the White and Gray Cliffs in the middle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kaiparowits Plateau:<\/strong> a very large distinct plateau that has been pushed up through geologic forces and have exposed very large number of in-tact fossils of animals that lived during the Cretaceous Period.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Escalante Canyons:<\/strong> a very scenic, colorful and rugged landscape mainly consisting of sandstone and deeply eroded canyons.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Monument Management &amp; Visitor Centers<\/h3>\n<p>Before 1996, a majority of national monuments were managed by the National Park Service, with some managed by the National Forest Service. GSENM is one of the first national monuments to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). After 1996, as more national monuments were formed in Utah, Nevada and Arizona, they too would be managed by the BLM.<\/p>\n<p>Initially, an existing BLM visitor center in Kanab, Utah was used as the GSENM&#8217;s primary visitor center. Later through the years, four more visitor centers would be built. Those visitor centers are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kanab\/GSENM Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Kanab+Visitor+Center\/@37.0397219,-112.5323438,15.23z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8734f1a42861b2f1:0x6e7a31cba858989d!8m2!3d37.0424291!4d-112.5121828!16zL20vMDhkdjg2?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">745 US-89, Kanab, UT 84741<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Kanab BLM Paria River District Office at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Bureau+of+Land+Management+Paria+River+District+Office\/@37.0388363,-112.5282309,16.59z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8734d71fca4ea97f:0xfd57241b8d193028!8m2!3d37.0369886!4d-112.5242016!16s%2Fg%2F11rsbz7l8s?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">669 South highway 89A, Kanab, UT 84741<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Big Water Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Big+Water+Visitor+Center\/@37.0764398,-111.6691693,16.36z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x873444c17eca2d2b:0x5a5647bf41daa410!8m2!3d37.0768639!4d-111.6641278!16s%2Fg%2F1264h06rk?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20 S Revolution Wy, Big Water, UT 84741<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Escalante Interagency Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Escalante+Interagency+Visitor+Center\/@37.7723183,-111.6183674,17.05z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x873591d05732e78b:0xc04bb64262d45c85!8m2!3d37.7727256!4d-111.6155342!16s%2Fg%2F1tf31w83?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">755 W Main St, Escalante, UT 84726<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Cannonville Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Cannonville+Visitor+Center\/@37.5681403,-112.0587797,15.45z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x87356e67694a50e3:0xb1e4791d21be6334!8m2!3d37.5673336!4d-112.0544058!16s%2Fg%2F126228gsv?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 W Center St, Cannonville, UT 84718<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The visitor center at Bryce Canyon National Park also has a lot of information on the Grand Staircase. It actually has the best real-live relief map in the visitor center showing the full aspect of the Grand Staircase, as shown in the video.<\/p>\n<p>More&#8230;<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_in46608   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Support Us<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Help us fill up our tank with gas for our next trip by donating $5 and we&#8217;ll bring you back more quality virtual tours of our trips!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Your credit card payment is safe and easy using PayPal. Click the [Donate] button to get started:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><!-- Begin PayPal Donations by https:\/\/www.tipsandtricks-hq.com\/paypal-donations-widgets-plugin -->\n\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\">\n    <div class=\"paypal-donations\">\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"cmd\" value=\"_donations\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"bn\" value=\"TipsandTricks_SP\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"business\" value=\"ilene@backroadswest.com\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"return\" value=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_name\" value=\"Help fund our travel cost to create more trips\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_number\" value=\"BackRoadsWest Blog Donation\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"amount\" value=\"5.00\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"rm\" value=\"0\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"currency_code\" value=\"USD\" \/>\n        <input type=\"image\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_donateCC_LG.gif\" name=\"submit\" alt=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online.\" \/>\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<!-- End PayPal Donations -->\n<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_h9h4764   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Pictures<\/h3><p>Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><div  class=\"module themify_builder_slider_wrap tf_clearfix module-slider tb_5fmp340  slider-default  \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"themify_builder_slider tf_carousel tf_swiper-container tf_rel tf_overflow\" data-lazy=\"1\"        data-visible=\"1\"\n        data-tab-visible=\"1\"\n        data-mob-visible=\"1\"\n        data-scroll=\"1\"\n                            data-auto=\"4000\"\n            data-controller=\"0\"\n            data-pause_hover=\"1\"\n                data-speed=\"1\"\n        data-wrapvar=\"1\"\n        data-slider_nav=\"1\"\n        data-pager=\"1\"\n        data-effect=\"scroll\" \n        data-height=\"variable\"\n        data-css_url=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/pinboard\/themify\/themify-builder\/css\/modules\/sliders\/carousel,http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/pinboard\/themify\/themify-builder\/css\/modules\/sliders\/slider\"\n                    >\n        <div class=\"tf_swiper-wrapper tf_lazy tf_rel tf_w tf_h tf_textc\">\n                         <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#9395ae 25%,#5e75ab 25% 50%,#4d91f4 50% 75%,#415cb3 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#428ee6 25%,#9a7447 25% 50%,#d07905 50% 75%,#7fbfff 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#413e15 25%,#040100 25% 50%,#cf9c41 50% 75%,#2d3132 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#6e6b76 25%,#9ea5b5 25% 50%,#54697a 50% 75%,#765d59 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-7078\" title=\"GSENMpic1\" alt=\"Grosvenor Arch off Cottonwood Canyon Road\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7078\" title=\"GSENMpic1\" alt=\"Grosvenor Arch off Cottonwood Canyon Road\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>Grosvenor Arch off Cottonwood Canyon Road<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#8dc9e3 25%,#92d0e7 25% 50%,#94d0e8 50% 75%,#91cde5 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#48587c 25%,#b6b6b6 25% 50%,#6a6b7d 50% 75%,#ffe8d7 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#6b778d 25%,#4b5a77 25% 50%,#667795 50% 75%,#395e79 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#1d202f 25%,#655c5d 25% 50%,#625859 50% 75%,#676360 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-7079\" title=\"GSENMpic2\" alt=\"The &quot;Grand Staircase&quot; as seen from Le Fevre Overlook\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7079\" title=\"GSENMpic2\" alt=\"The &quot;Grand Staircase&quot; as seen from Le Fevre Overlook\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>The &#8220;Grand Staircase&#8221; as seen from Le Fevre Overlook<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#cdb9b0 25%,#b3a18d 25% 50%,#8d7970 50% 75%,#9c8075 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#100f0b 25%,#5b5e4b 25% 50%,#433930 50% 75%,#121711 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#5f5150 25%,#83775f 25% 50%,#5a4f3d 50% 75%,#554840 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#785736 25%,#705f4d 25% 50%,#b79c87 50% 75%,#8b5d39 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-7080\" title=\"GSENMpic3\" alt=\"Lower Calf Creek Falls\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7080\" title=\"GSENMpic3\" alt=\"Lower Calf Creek Falls\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>Lower Calf Creek Falls<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#7d6855 25%,#545859 25% 50%,#aeb7c0 50% 75%,#a27f61 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#8b847c 25%,#74797d 25% 50%,#e3dddd 50% 75%,#efd4b7 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#69696b 25%,#5a5a58 25% 50%,#514030 50% 75%,#b9a283 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#8c8c8e 25%,#978d8b 25% 50%,#979097 50% 75%,#80633b 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-7081\" title=\"GSENMpic4\" alt=\"Willis Creek Slot Canyon\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7081\" title=\"GSENMpic4\" alt=\"Willis Creek Slot Canyon\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>Willis Creek Slot Canyon<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#2e5193 25%,#815f32 25% 50%,#355aa0 50% 75%,#284f90 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#a49e8e 25%,#a69a80 25% 50%,#4067ac 50% 75%,#3b63ab 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#aea38d 25%,#50463c 25% 50%,#7b6955 50% 75%,#a29c90 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#514134 25%,#7c663f 25% 50%,#ae9e8f 50% 75%,#725b49 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-7082\" title=\"GSENMpic5\" alt=\"The toadstools of the White Rocks area\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7082\" title=\"GSENMpic5\" alt=\"The toadstools of the White Rocks area\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>The toadstools of the White Rocks area<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#4b212d 25%,#38293c 25% 50%,#9bcdfe 50% 75%,#a5d4fe 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#723f3c 25%,#cd9392 25% 50%,#bc635b 50% 75%,#2f2d43 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#441211 25%,#3b4d33 25% 50%,#795d69 50% 75%,#713f40 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#6e4b45 25%,#bf9f8a 25% 50%,#676568 50% 75%,#9a796a 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-7083\" title=\"GSENMpic6\" alt=\"The colors of Paria townsite\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7083\" title=\"GSENMpic6\" alt=\"The colors of Paria townsite\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>The colors of Paria townsite<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>            <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_vcfo339 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_7te5333 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_4zc2030   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p style=\"text-align: center;\">Help fund our next trip and your next adventure by purchasing a subscription to Gaia GPS. We will receive a small commission from your purchase.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/classic.avantlink.com\/click.php?tool_type=ml&amp;merchant_link_id=8988a2bc-2458-428a-a722-9a326e4941c5&amp;website_id=cb6aacf1-7563-4b97-8b5d-48e9519fe173\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener sponsored\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/classic.avantlink.com\/gbi\/bd4517b4-b0f2-4660-8208-2ade3a1fdb4c\/8988a2bc-2458-428a-a722-9a326e4941c5\/a24ae5c1-c37a-45ea-b3f8-5480cc46d529\/cb6aacf1-7563-4b97-8b5d-48e9519fe173\/image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_o3oj509 last\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_t116954   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Skyscraper160x600 --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7400034802659664\" data-ad-slot=\"8100341909\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_dpds554 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_8nw4734 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_8gp7008   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <div class=\"g g-11\"><div class=\"g-single a-28\"><a class=\"gofollow\" data-track=\"MjgsMTEsNjA=\" title=\"Snap Shots West\" href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/ssw\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-2382 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Ad-800x500-1b.gif\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_ptou905 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 1px;border-color: #000;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_zb7o050   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 id=\"GettingAround\">Getting Around<\/h2>\n<p>The monument can be explored using a series of roads. There are only two paved roads that can be traveled by any type of vehicle. There are numerous dirt roads, some of them requiring your vehicle to be equipped with high-clearance and four-wheel drive. Remember that the monument is very remote, so make sure your vehicle is in good running order and is fueled up.<\/p>\n<h3>The Paved Roads<\/h3>\n<p>For such a large monument, only two paved highways traverse the monument in an east-west direction. In fact, one of the highways, US 89, doesn&#8217;t pass through the monument but acts somewhat as its southern border. The other highway, Utah State Route 12, is a National Scenic Byway and traverses the northern end of the monument. SR 12&#8217;s full name is <em>A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3>Dirt Roads<\/h3>\n<p>The monument is bisected by several dirt roads trending in a north-south direction. These roads are administered by the BLM who gave them an easy to remember numbering sequence. It starts with 100 in the very east and 600 on the very west.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Road 100<\/strong> is known as the Burr Trail. It access these areas and points of interest:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Long Canyon<\/li>\n<li>The Gulch<\/li>\n<li>Circle Cliffs<\/li>\n<li>Wolverine Loop<\/li>\n<li>Wolverine Petrified Wood Natural Environmental Area<\/li>\n<li>Capitol Reef National Park<\/li>\n<li>Burr Trail switchbacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Road 200,<\/strong> Hole-in-the-Rock Road accesses these areas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Big Horn slot canyon<\/li>\n<li>Zebra &amp; Tunnel slotcanyons<\/li>\n<li>Devils Garden<\/li>\n<li>Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site<\/li>\n<li>Egypt trailhead &amp; slot canyons<\/li>\n<li>Dry Forks, Peekaboo, &amp; Spooky slot canyons<\/li>\n<li>Coyote Gulch<\/li>\n<li>Dancehall Rock<\/li>\n<li>Hole-in-the-Rock (Lake Powell)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"g g-11\"><div class=\"g-single a-30\"><a class=\"gofollow\" data-track=\"MzAsMTEsNjA=\" title=\"BackRoadsWest.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\/tour-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-2382 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ad-800x500-TripPlan1.gif\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Road 300,<\/strong> Smokey Mountain Road accesses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alvey Canyon<\/li>\n<li>Kaiporwits Plateau<\/li>\n<li>Smokey Hollow Road<\/li>\n<li>Kelly Grade<\/li>\n<li>Nipple Bench<\/li>\n<li>Lake Powell &#8211; Alstrom Point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Road 400,\u00a0<\/strong>Cottonwood Canyon Road accesses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kodachrome Basin State Park<\/li>\n<li>Road Valley Draw slot canyon<\/li>\n<li>Grosvenor Arch<\/li>\n<li>Cottonwood Narrows<\/li>\n<li>Lower Hackberry Canyon<\/li>\n<li>Yellow Rock<\/li>\n<li>Paria Box<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Road 500,<\/strong> Skutumpah &amp; Johnson Canyon Roads both access:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Willis Creek slot canyon<\/li>\n<li>Bull Valley Gorge<\/li>\n<li>Lick Wash<\/li>\n<li>Johnson Canyon<\/li>\n<li>Gunsmoke movie set<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Map<\/h3>\n<p>Below is the road map supplied by the BLM showing the 2024 borders. Click the map to open a larger version for downloading.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_iaj4556 image-center   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/gsenm-map\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2198\" height=\"1682\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7114\" title=\"GSENM-Map\" alt=\"BLM map of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map.jpg 2198w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-300x230.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-1024x784.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-768x588.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-1536x1175.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-2048x1567.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2198px) 100vw, 2198px\" \/>        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_iqyx315   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 id=\"Geology\">Geology &#8211; Resources<\/h2>\n<p>Use the video to get a good understanding about the geology of all three sections of the monument. The animations and pictures are no match for written text!<\/p>\n<p>The video makes use of various cross sections and maps. Those and more are available for viewing and to download below and make for great resources when learning about all the geology that there is to see in GSENM.<\/p>\n<h3>Grand Staircase Cross-section<\/h3>\n<p>When explaining the Grand Staircase, the video uses the following cross-section that points out each of the geologic formations making up each step in the staircase:<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_g9vh84 image-center   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/gsenm-cross-section1\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1874\" height=\"795\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7118\" title=\"GSENM-cross-section1\" alt=\"Cross-section of the Grand Staircase\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1.jpg 1874w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-300x127.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-1024x434.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-768x326.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-1536x652.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1874px) 100vw, 1874px\" \/>        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_f9fp217   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>The above cross-section is part of short paper entitled\u00a0<em>What is the Grand Staircase?<\/em> Use <a href=\"\/blog\/gpx-files\/GrandStaircaseWhatIs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a> to download a PDF copy.<\/p>\n<p>Below is another artist&#8217;s cross-section rendering of the Grand Staircase. This particular cross-section has been for sale in various visitor centers throughout Southern Utah. It is available to the public domain on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grand_Staircase%E2%80%93Escalante_National_Monument\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In this cross-section, each of the red dots point out each of the steps discussed in the video.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_z7rh777 image-center   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/gsenm-cross-section2\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1700\" height=\"483\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-7119\" title=\"GSENM-cross-section2\" alt=\"Another cross-section of the Grand Staircase\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2.jpg 1700w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-300x85.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-1024x291.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-768x218.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-1536x436.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/>        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_dti0501   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Geology of the Kaiparowits Plateau<\/h3>\n<p>How do you pronounce Kaiparowits? Kaa-parr-o-wits. Easy, right?<\/p>\n<p>The Kaiparowits Plateau is a special place in more ways than one. Recent discoveries (starting in the 1990s) of animal fossils from the Cretaceous Period has overshadowed the story behind the Kaiparowits. However, this plateau is like a miniature version of the Colorado Plateau (which the Kaiparowits sits on top of). This entire plateau was evenly and consistently pushed up over a 1,000 feet (300 m), then erosion exposed many of the plateau&#8217;s geologic formations.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/geology.utah.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Geologic Society<\/a> publishes many maps and papers covering a myriad of geologic-related topics. One of the papers they published covers the geology of the Kaiparowits in great detail, including a very detailed geologic map. Use <a href=\"\/blog\/gpx-files\/GeologyKaiparowitsArea.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a> to download a copy. BEWARE! The PDF is 41 MB large and might take some time to download.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_var9180 image-center   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\/tour-planning\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n                   <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Ad-800x500-TripPlan3.gif\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-6757\" title=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan3\" alt=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan3\">        <\/a>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_4p76005   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2 id=\"Places\">Places to See<\/h2>\n<p>There are a\u00a0 lot of places to see in GSENM! It&#8217;s impossible to cover them all in this one article, so we&#8217;ve included a few resources that may help you plan your next trip.<\/p>\n<h3>Geology Field Trips<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/geology.utah.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Geologic Society<\/a>, along with several other agencies, published an outstanding road guide back in 2000. Although it focuses on geology, it also covers many places to see along the roads it covers.<\/p>\n<p>The guide covers many of the roads in GSENM, including US 89 and SR 12. Each chapter explains where to find places along each road using using the trip odometer on your car (providing you reset it to zero at the beginning of the trip).<\/p>\n<p>Use <a href=\"\/blog\/gpx-files\/GEOLOGIC_ROAD_GUIDES_TO_GRAND_STAIRCASE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a> to download a PDF copy of the road guide.<\/p>\n<h3>Other BackRoadsWest.com Articles on GSENM<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/burr-trail-utah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Burr Trail<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/kaiparowits-plateau-road-trip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kaiparowits Plateau Road Trip<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/willis-creek-slot-canyon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Willis Creek Slot Canyon<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/fall-colors-utah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fall Colors in Southern Utah<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/bryce-canyon-in-the-snow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bryce Canyon in the Snow<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Comments<\/h2>\n<p>Read and leave comments about this post on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GtwChxaPjnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_s63y360 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_khpj990 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_o92i669   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Support Us<\/h3><p>Help us fill up our tank with gas for our next trip by donating $5 and we&#8217;ll bring you back more quality virtual tours of our trips!<\/p><p>Your credit card payment is safe and easy using PayPal. Click the [Donate] button to get started:<\/p><!-- Begin PayPal Donations by https:\/\/www.tipsandtricks-hq.com\/paypal-donations-widgets-plugin -->\n\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\">\n    <div class=\"paypal-donations\">\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"cmd\" value=\"_donations\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"bn\" value=\"TipsandTricks_SP\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"business\" value=\"ilene@backroadswest.com\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"return\" value=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_name\" value=\"Help fund our travel cost to create more trips\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_number\" value=\"BackRoadsWest Blog Donation\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"amount\" value=\"5.00\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"rm\" value=\"0\" \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"currency_code\" value=\"USD\" \/>\n        <input type=\"image\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_donateCC_LG.gif\" name=\"submit\" alt=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online.\" \/>\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<!-- End PayPal Donations -->\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_3rlf263 last\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_xnaw330   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Subscribe<\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_bvqm664 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_7w4t655 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_x9yc096   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>See all our comprehensive virtual tour guides at<\/em>:<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"BackRoadsWest\" href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-2382 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo-300x40.jpg\" alt=\"BRWlogo\" width=\"300\" height=\"40\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo-300x40.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo.jpg 438w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_hpte969   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Short-wide --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7400034802659664\" data-ad-slot=\"1662640655\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module callout -->\n<div  class=\"module ui module-callout tb_yp54566 button-bottom red  rounded gradient shadow wow\" data-tf-animation=\"rubberBand\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"callout-inner\">\n    <div class=\"callout-content tf_left\">\n        <h3 class=\"callout-heading\">More Trips<\/h3>\n        <div class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n            Would you like to go on more trips in Utah?        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <!-- \/callout-content -->\n                    <div class=\"callout-button tf_right tf_textr\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/utah\/\" class=\"ui builder_button rounded gradient shadow yellow\">\n                <span class=\"tb_callout_text\">See More Trips in Utah<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    <!-- \/callout-content -->\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module callout -->\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) covers a large area encompassing many different scenic areas and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah. GSENM&#8217;s large size and and wide diversity often makes it misunderstood, simply because there&#8217;s so much to know and absorb. The video that accompanies this article (see below) will hopefully [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7077,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,12,13,15,17,19,18,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-geology","category-places","category-road-trip-hike","category-roadeasy","category-season-fall","category-season-spring","category-season-summer","category-utah","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.9 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cliff Bandringa\"\/>\n\t<meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"grand staircase,escalante,grand staircase-escalante national monument\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 4.9.9\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BackRoadsWest Trips Blog | A new kind of travel guide for the 21st Century\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-23T16:19:56+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-02T03:38:07+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#article\",\"name\":\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog\",\"headline\":\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cliff\\\/#author\"},\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/06\\\/GSENM.jpg\",\"width\":350,\"height\":267},\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-23T16:19:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-02T03:38:07+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#webpage\"},\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#webpage\"},\"articleSection\":\"Geology, Places, Road Trip &amp; Hike, Road Trips Easy, Season: Fall, Season: Spring, Season: Summer, Utah\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/places\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Places\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/places\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Places\",\"item\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/places\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/places\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Places\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"BackRoadsWest Trips Blog\",\"description\":\"A new kind of travel guide for the 21st Century\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cliff\\\/#author\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cliff\\\/\",\"name\":\"Cliff Bandringa\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3070f9b6dc5e9947e9e6797308c9ae74?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"Cliff Bandringa\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/\",\"name\":\"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog\",\"description\":\"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#breadcrumblist\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cliff\\\/#author\"},\"creator\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cliff\\\/#author\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/06\\\/GSENM.jpg\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#mainImage\",\"width\":350,\"height\":267},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\\\/#mainImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-23T16:19:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-02T03:38:07+00:00\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"BackRoadsWest Trips Blog\",\"description\":\"A new kind of travel guide for the 21st Century\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.backroadswest.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"}}]}\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO -->\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","description":"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.","canonical_url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"grand staircase,escalante,grand staircase-escalante national monument","webmasterTools":{"miscellaneous":""},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#article","name":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","headline":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument","author":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/author\/cliff\/#author"},"publisher":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM.jpg","width":350,"height":267},"datePublished":"2024-06-23T16:19:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-02T03:38:07+00:00","inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#webpage"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#webpage"},"articleSection":"Geology, Places, Road Trip &amp; Hike, Road Trips Easy, Season: Fall, Season: Spring, Season: Summer, Utah"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog#listItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/places\/#listItem","name":"Places"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/places\/#listItem","position":2,"name":"Places","item":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/places\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#listItem","name":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument"},"previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog#listItem","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#listItem","position":3,"name":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument","previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/places\/#listItem","name":"Places"}}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","description":"A new kind of travel guide for the 21st Century","url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/author\/cliff\/#author","url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/author\/cliff\/","name":"Cliff Bandringa","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#authorImage","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3070f9b6dc5e9947e9e6797308c9ae74?s=96&d=mm&r=g","width":96,"height":96,"caption":"Cliff Bandringa"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#webpage","url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/","name":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","description":"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#breadcrumblist"},"author":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/author\/cliff\/#author"},"creator":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/author\/cliff\/#author"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM.jpg","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#mainImage","width":350,"height":267},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/#mainImage"},"datePublished":"2024-06-23T16:19:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-02T03:38:07+00:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/#website","url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/","name":"BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","description":"A new kind of travel guide for the 21st Century","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"BackRoadsWest Trips Blog | A new kind of travel guide for the 21st Century","og:type":"article","og:title":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","og:description":"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.","og:url":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/","article:published_time":"2024-06-23T16:19:56+00:00","article:modified_time":"2025-10-02T03:38:07+00:00","twitter:card":"summary","twitter:title":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog","twitter:description":"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah."},"aioseo_meta_data":{"post_id":"7072","title":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument | #site_title","description":"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers a large area of scenic and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah.","keywords":[{"label":"grand staircase","value":"grand staircase"},{"label":"escalante","value":"escalante"},{"label":"grand staircase-Escalante national monument ","value":"grand staircase-Escalante national monument "}],"keyphrases":{"focus":{"keyphrase":"","score":0,"analysis":{"keyphraseInTitle":{"score":0,"maxScore":9,"error":1}}},"additional":[]},"primary_term":null,"canonical_url":null,"og_title":null,"og_description":null,"og_object_type":"default","og_image_type":"default","og_image_url":null,"og_image_width":null,"og_image_height":null,"og_image_custom_url":null,"og_image_custom_fields":null,"og_video":"","og_custom_url":null,"og_article_section":null,"og_article_tags":[],"twitter_use_og":false,"twitter_card":"default","twitter_image_type":"default","twitter_image_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_fields":null,"twitter_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"schema":{"blockGraphs":[],"customGraphs":[],"default":{"data":{"Article":[],"Course":[],"Dataset":[],"FAQPage":[],"Movie":[],"Person":[],"Product":[],"ProductReview":[],"Car":[],"Recipe":[],"Service":[],"SoftwareApplication":[],"WebPage":[]},"graphName":"Article","isEnabled":true},"graphs":[]},"schema_type":"default","schema_type_options":null,"pillar_content":false,"robots_default":true,"robots_noindex":false,"robots_noarchive":false,"robots_nosnippet":false,"robots_nofollow":false,"robots_noimageindex":false,"robots_noodp":false,"robots_notranslate":false,"robots_max_snippet":"-1","robots_max_videopreview":"-1","robots_max_imagepreview":"large","priority":null,"frequency":"default","location":null,"local_seo":null,"breadcrumb_settings":null,"limit_modified_date":false,"ai":null,"created":"2024-06-23 16:19:59","updated":"2026-05-13 18:41:56","seo_analyzer_scan_date":null},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/places\/\" title=\"Places\">Places<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\tGrand Staircase-Escalante National Monument\n\t\t<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog"},{"label":"Places","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/places\/"},{"label":"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument\/"}],"builder_content":"<p><strong>The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) covers a large area encompassing many different scenic areas and unique places of interest all nestled in south-central Utah<\/strong>. GSENM's large size and and wide diversity often makes it misunderstood, simply because there's so much to know and absorb. The video that accompanies this article (see below) will hopefully clear up some of the confusion by explaining its many of facts and features, as well as showing how various places inside GSENM look.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=95meMSxr4Pk\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM.jpg\" title=\"GSENM\" alt=\"GSENM\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM.jpg 350w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/> <\/a>\n<h3><\/h3> <strong>Click image<\/strong> to watch Virtual Video Tour and see viewer comments. Then come back to get the rest of the story.\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GtwChxaPjnA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube.jpg\" title=\"GSENM_YouTube\" alt=\"GSENM_YouTube\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube.jpg 1222w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube-1024x577.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM_YouTube-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1222px) 100vw, 1222px\" \/> <\/a>\n<h2>In This Article<\/h2> <ul> <li><a href=\"#Introduction\">Introduction &amp; Overview<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"#GettingAround\">Getting Around<\/a> (the roads)<\/li> <li><a href=\"#Geology\">Geology<\/a> (What is the Grand Staircase?)<\/li> <li><a href=\"#Places\">Places to Visit<\/a> - other videos<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 id=\"Introduction\">Introduction &amp; Overview<\/h2> <p>The video explains more detail on the background, history, and development of GSENM. This section summarizes the introduction.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> <h3>How did it get its Name?<\/h3> <p>The word \"Grand Staircase\" comes from large geologic formations, which appear as large steps on the Earth\u2019s surface. They come up from the Grand Canyon, which is the beginning of the staircase, and end at Bryce Canyon, which is the top.<\/p> <p>The word \"Escalante\" initially came from the name of the first European explorer to this area, Silvestre Velez de Escalante. He was part of the Dom\u00ednguez\u2013Escalante Expedition that took place in 1776. Their route however did not come through the present-day monument. It went around it. The town of Escalante initially got its name from Silvestre, that was later inherited by the monument.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\/tour-planning\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Ad-800x500-TripPlan2.gif\" title=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan2\" alt=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan2\"> <\/a>\n<h3>National Monument Status<\/h3> <p>The idea of creating some sort of national monument or preserve covering portions of this area initially began in 1934. It became reality in 1996 with the boundaries that are in place as of 2024.<\/p> <p>There was some contention when the monument was formed in 1996. President Clinton promised that he would sit down with Utah officials to discuss details and hear feedback about the proposed monument before he signed anything.<\/p> <p>Later, on the same day he said this, he signed the monument into law. He also held the signing ceremony on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, which is in Arizona, not in Utah or inside the current-day monument, fearing local protests.<\/p> <p>Up to this point, the state of Utah was already unhappy with its large proportion of Federally-control lands that it has little say over. The monument would be the biggest ever created in the USA at that time. Many officials questioned if using the Antiquities Act of 1906, normally used for protecting small portions of historic lands, even applied to bringing such a large portion of land under Federal control.<\/p> <p>The below map of the USA shows Federally-owned land in red. Notice states Nevada &amp; Utah:<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/u-s-_federal_land\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land.jpg\" title=\"GSENM_Federal_Land\" alt=\"Federal Public Land Surface &amp; Subsurface\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land.jpg 1405w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land-300x231.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land-1024x787.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/U.S._Federal_Land-768x590.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1405px) 100vw, 1405px\" \/> <\/a>\n<p>On the flip side of the controversy, there are certainly a lot of gems to protect inside this large region. It does seem like it would be difficult to create many small monuments to protect those many gems. Creating a large monument seemed logical.<\/p> <p>Also, in the early 1990s, significant paleontological discoveries were being made in the Kaiparowits Plateau section of GSENM of the remains of animals that lived during the Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 million years ago). Large coal seams were discovered on the plateau in the 1960s and were earmarked to be mined, which would result in land potentially containing a large amount of irreplaceable fossils to be upheaved. Creating a national monument would provide more control over how the land was used.<\/p> <p>After the monument's creation in 1996, the people of Utah continued lobbying government to decrease the size of the monument on account of all the land no longer being in State control. When Donald Trump was selected president in 2017, Utah government officials were previously encouraging him to take action. In turn, President Trump reduced the size of the monument by roughly half after he was elected. This was done by splitting the monument into three separate monuments: 1) Grand Staircase, 2) Kaiparowits, and 3) Escalante Canyons. Four years later however, in 2021, when Joseph Biden was elected, he restored the monument to its 1996 borders.<\/p> <p>[adrotate group=\"11\"]<\/p> <h3>Monument Sections<\/h3> <p>As mentioned above, in 2017, the monument was broken up into three sections. This is because early on and before the monument was created in 1996, three very distinct sections of GSENM were noticed. They are:<\/p> <ol> <li><strong>Grand Staircase:<\/strong> these are long steps of geologic formations that come up from the Grand Canyon, each representing periods of time in Earth's history. The Grand Staircase extends from US 89 in the south with the Chocolate and Vermilion Cliffs, and ends at Bryce Canyon National Park in the north with the Pink Cliffs, with the White and Gray Cliffs in the middle.<\/li> <li><strong>Kaiparowits Plateau:<\/strong> a very large distinct plateau that has been pushed up through geologic forces and have exposed very large number of in-tact fossils of animals that lived during the Cretaceous Period.<\/li> <li><strong>Escalante Canyons:<\/strong> a very scenic, colorful and rugged landscape mainly consisting of sandstone and deeply eroded canyons.<\/li> <\/ol> <h3>Monument Management &amp; Visitor Centers<\/h3> <p>Before 1996, a majority of national monuments were managed by the National Park Service, with some managed by the National Forest Service. GSENM is one of the first national monuments to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). After 1996, as more national monuments were formed in Utah, Nevada and Arizona, they too would be managed by the BLM.<\/p> <p>Initially, an existing BLM visitor center in Kanab, Utah was used as the GSENM's primary visitor center. Later through the years, four more visitor centers would be built. Those visitor centers are:<\/p> <ul> <li>Kanab\/GSENM Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Kanab+Visitor+Center\/@37.0397219,-112.5323438,15.23z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8734f1a42861b2f1:0x6e7a31cba858989d!8m2!3d37.0424291!4d-112.5121828!16zL20vMDhkdjg2?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">745 US-89, Kanab, UT 84741<\/a><\/li> <li>Kanab BLM Paria River District Office at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Bureau+of+Land+Management+Paria+River+District+Office\/@37.0388363,-112.5282309,16.59z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8734d71fca4ea97f:0xfd57241b8d193028!8m2!3d37.0369886!4d-112.5242016!16s%2Fg%2F11rsbz7l8s?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">669 South highway 89A, Kanab, UT 84741<\/a><\/li> <li>Big Water Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Big+Water+Visitor+Center\/@37.0764398,-111.6691693,16.36z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x873444c17eca2d2b:0x5a5647bf41daa410!8m2!3d37.0768639!4d-111.6641278!16s%2Fg%2F1264h06rk?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20 S Revolution Wy, Big Water, UT 84741<\/a><\/li> <li>Escalante Interagency Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Escalante+Interagency+Visitor+Center\/@37.7723183,-111.6183674,17.05z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x873591d05732e78b:0xc04bb64262d45c85!8m2!3d37.7727256!4d-111.6155342!16s%2Fg%2F1tf31w83?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">755 W Main St, Escalante, UT 84726<\/a><\/li> <li>Cannonville Visitor Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Cannonville+Visitor+Center\/@37.5681403,-112.0587797,15.45z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x87356e67694a50e3:0xb1e4791d21be6334!8m2!3d37.5673336!4d-112.0544058!16s%2Fg%2F126228gsv?authuser=0&amp;entry=ttu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 W Center St, Cannonville, UT 84718<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <p>The visitor center at Bryce Canyon National Park also has a lot of information on the Grand Staircase. It actually has the best real-live relief map in the visitor center showing the full aspect of the Grand Staircase, as shown in the video.<\/p> <p>More...<\/p>\n<h3>Support Us<\/h3> <p style=\"text-align: left;\">Help us fill up our tank with gas for our next trip by donating $5 and we'll bring you back more quality virtual tours of our trips!<\/p> <p style=\"text-align: left;\">Your credit card payment is safe and easy using PayPal. Click the [Donate] button to get started:<\/p> <p style=\"text-align: center;\">[paypal-donation]<\/p>\n<h3>Pictures<\/h3><p>Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p>\n<img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#9395ae 25%,#5e75ab 25% 50%,#4d91f4 50% 75%,#415cb3 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#428ee6 25%,#9a7447 25% 50%,#d07905 50% 75%,#7fbfff 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#413e15 25%,#040100 25% 50%,#cf9c41 50% 75%,#2d3132 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#6e6b76 25%,#9ea5b5 25% 50%,#54697a 50% 75%,#765d59 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic1\" alt=\"Grosvenor Arch off Cottonwood Canyon Road\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic1\" alt=\"Grosvenor Arch off Cottonwood Canyon Road\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> Grosvenor Arch off Cottonwood Canyon Road <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#8dc9e3 25%,#92d0e7 25% 50%,#94d0e8 50% 75%,#91cde5 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#48587c 25%,#b6b6b6 25% 50%,#6a6b7d 50% 75%,#ffe8d7 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#6b778d 25%,#4b5a77 25% 50%,#667795 50% 75%,#395e79 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#1d202f 25%,#655c5d 25% 50%,#625859 50% 75%,#676360 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic2\" alt=\"The &quot;Grand Staircase&quot; as seen from Le Fevre Overlook\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic2\" alt=\"The &quot;Grand Staircase&quot; as seen from Le Fevre Overlook\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic2-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> The \"Grand Staircase\" as seen from Le Fevre Overlook <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#cdb9b0 25%,#b3a18d 25% 50%,#8d7970 50% 75%,#9c8075 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#100f0b 25%,#5b5e4b 25% 50%,#433930 50% 75%,#121711 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#5f5150 25%,#83775f 25% 50%,#5a4f3d 50% 75%,#554840 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#785736 25%,#705f4d 25% 50%,#b79c87 50% 75%,#8b5d39 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic3\" alt=\"Lower Calf Creek Falls\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic3\" alt=\"Lower Calf Creek Falls\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic3-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> Lower Calf Creek Falls <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#7d6855 25%,#545859 25% 50%,#aeb7c0 50% 75%,#a27f61 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#8b847c 25%,#74797d 25% 50%,#e3dddd 50% 75%,#efd4b7 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#69696b 25%,#5a5a58 25% 50%,#514030 50% 75%,#b9a283 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#8c8c8e 25%,#978d8b 25% 50%,#979097 50% 75%,#80633b 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic4\" alt=\"Willis Creek Slot Canyon\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic4\" alt=\"Willis Creek Slot Canyon\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic4-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> Willis Creek Slot Canyon <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#2e5193 25%,#815f32 25% 50%,#355aa0 50% 75%,#284f90 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#a49e8e 25%,#a69a80 25% 50%,#4067ac 50% 75%,#3b63ab 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#aea38d 25%,#50463c 25% 50%,#7b6955 50% 75%,#a29c90 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#514134 25%,#7c663f 25% 50%,#ae9e8f 50% 75%,#725b49 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic5\" alt=\"The toadstools of the White Rocks area\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic5\" alt=\"The toadstools of the White Rocks area\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic5-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> The toadstools of the White Rocks area <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#4b212d 25%,#38293c 25% 50%,#9bcdfe 50% 75%,#a5d4fe 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#723f3c 25%,#cd9392 25% 50%,#bc635b 50% 75%,#2f2d43 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#441211 25%,#3b4d33 25% 50%,#795d69 50% 75%,#713f40 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#6e4b45 25%,#bf9f8a 25% 50%,#676568 50% 75%,#9a796a 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic6\" alt=\"The colors of Paria townsite\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"GSENMpic6\" alt=\"The colors of Paria townsite\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENMpic6-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> The colors of Paria townsite\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Help fund our next trip and your next adventure by purchasing a subscription to Gaia GPS. We will receive a small commission from your purchase.<\/p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/classic.avantlink.com\/click.php?tool_type=ml&amp;merchant_link_id=8988a2bc-2458-428a-a722-9a326e4941c5&amp;website_id=cb6aacf1-7563-4b97-8b5d-48e9519fe173\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener sponsored\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/classic.avantlink.com\/gbi\/bd4517b4-b0f2-4660-8208-2ade3a1fdb4c\/8988a2bc-2458-428a-a722-9a326e4941c5\/a24ae5c1-c37a-45ea-b3f8-5480cc46d529\/cb6aacf1-7563-4b97-8b5d-48e9519fe173\/image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><br \/> <br \/> <ins style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7400034802659664\" data-ad-slot=\"8100341909\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/> <\/p>\n<p>[adrotate group=\"11\"]<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"GettingAround\">Getting Around<\/h2> <p>The monument can be explored using a series of roads. There are only two paved roads that can be traveled by any type of vehicle. There are numerous dirt roads, some of them requiring your vehicle to be equipped with high-clearance and four-wheel drive. Remember that the monument is very remote, so make sure your vehicle is in good running order and is fueled up.<\/p> <h3>The Paved Roads<\/h3> <p>For such a large monument, only two paved highways traverse the monument in an east-west direction. In fact, one of the highways, US 89, doesn't pass through the monument but acts somewhat as its southern border. The other highway, Utah State Route 12, is a National Scenic Byway and traverses the northern end of the monument. SR 12's full name is <em>A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway<\/em>.<\/p> <h3>Dirt Roads<\/h3> <p>The monument is bisected by several dirt roads trending in a north-south direction. These roads are administered by the BLM who gave them an easy to remember numbering sequence. It starts with 100 in the very east and 600 on the very west.<\/p> <p><strong>Road 100<\/strong> is known as the Burr Trail. It access these areas and points of interest:<\/p> <ul> <li>Long Canyon<\/li> <li>The Gulch<\/li> <li>Circle Cliffs<\/li> <li>Wolverine Loop<\/li> <li>Wolverine Petrified Wood Natural Environmental Area<\/li> <li>Capitol Reef National Park<\/li> <li>Burr Trail switchbacks<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>Road 200,<\/strong> Hole-in-the-Rock Road accesses these areas:<\/p> <ul> <li>Big Horn slot canyon<\/li> <li>Zebra &amp; Tunnel slotcanyons<\/li> <li>Devils Garden<\/li> <li>Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site<\/li> <li>Egypt trailhead &amp; slot canyons<\/li> <li>Dry Forks, Peekaboo, &amp; Spooky slot canyons<\/li> <li>Coyote Gulch<\/li> <li>Dancehall Rock<\/li> <li>Hole-in-the-Rock (Lake Powell)<\/li> <\/ul> <p>[adrotate group=\"11\"]<\/p> <p><strong>Road 300,<\/strong> Smokey Mountain Road accesses:<\/p> <ul> <li>Alvey Canyon<\/li> <li>Kaiporwits Plateau<\/li> <li>Smokey Hollow Road<\/li> <li>Kelly Grade<\/li> <li>Nipple Bench<\/li> <li>Lake Powell - Alstrom Point<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>Road 400,\u00a0<\/strong>Cottonwood Canyon Road accesses:<\/p> <ul> <li>Kodachrome Basin State Park<\/li> <li>Road Valley Draw slot canyon<\/li> <li>Grosvenor Arch<\/li> <li>Cottonwood Narrows<\/li> <li>Lower Hackberry Canyon<\/li> <li>Yellow Rock<\/li> <li>Paria Box<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>Road 500,<\/strong> Skutumpah &amp; Johnson Canyon Roads both access:<\/p> <ul> <li>Willis Creek slot canyon<\/li> <li>Bull Valley Gorge<\/li> <li>Lick Wash<\/li> <li>Johnson Canyon<\/li> <li>Gunsmoke movie set<\/li> <\/ul> <h3>Map<\/h3> <p>Below is the road map supplied by the BLM showing the 2024 borders. Click the map to open a larger version for downloading.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/gsenm-map\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map.jpg\" title=\"GSENM-Map\" alt=\"BLM map of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map.jpg 2198w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-300x230.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-1024x784.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-768x588.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-1536x1175.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-Map-2048x1567.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2198px) 100vw, 2198px\" \/> <\/a>\n<h2 id=\"Geology\">Geology - Resources<\/h2> <p>Use the video to get a good understanding about the geology of all three sections of the monument. The animations and pictures are no match for written text!<\/p> <p>The video makes use of various cross sections and maps. Those and more are available for viewing and to download below and make for great resources when learning about all the geology that there is to see in GSENM.<\/p> <h3>Grand Staircase Cross-section<\/h3> <p>When explaining the Grand Staircase, the video uses the following cross-section that points out each of the geologic formations making up each step in the staircase:<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/gsenm-cross-section1\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1.jpg\" title=\"GSENM-cross-section1\" alt=\"Cross-section of the Grand Staircase\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1.jpg 1874w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-300x127.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-1024x434.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-768x326.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section1-1536x652.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1874px) 100vw, 1874px\" \/> <\/a>\n<p>The above cross-section is part of short paper entitled\u00a0<em>What is the Grand Staircase?<\/em> Use <a href=\"\/blog\/gpx-files\/GrandStaircaseWhatIs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a> to download a PDF copy.<\/p> <p>Below is another artist's cross-section rendering of the Grand Staircase. This particular cross-section has been for sale in various visitor centers throughout Southern Utah. It is available to the public domain on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grand_Staircase%E2%80%93Escalante_National_Monument\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/p> <p>In this cross-section, each of the red dots point out each of the steps discussed in the video.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/gsenm-cross-section2\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2.jpg\" title=\"GSENM-cross-section2\" alt=\"Another cross-section of the Grand Staircase\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2.jpg 1700w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-300x85.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-1024x291.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-768x218.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GSENM-cross-section2-1536x436.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/> <\/a>\n<h3>Geology of the Kaiparowits Plateau<\/h3> <p>How do you pronounce Kaiparowits? Kaa-parr-o-wits. Easy, right?<\/p> <p>The Kaiparowits Plateau is a special place in more ways than one. Recent discoveries (starting in the 1990s) of animal fossils from the Cretaceous Period has overshadowed the story behind the Kaiparowits. However, this plateau is like a miniature version of the Colorado Plateau (which the Kaiparowits sits on top of). This entire plateau was evenly and consistently pushed up over a 1,000 feet (300 m), then erosion exposed many of the plateau's geologic formations.<\/p> <p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/geology.utah.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Geologic Society<\/a> publishes many maps and papers covering a myriad of geologic-related topics. One of the papers they published covers the geology of the Kaiparowits in great detail, including a very detailed geologic map. Use <a href=\"\/blog\/gpx-files\/GeologyKaiparowitsArea.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a> to download a copy. BEWARE! The PDF is 41 MB large and might take some time to download.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\/tour-planning\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Ad-800x500-TripPlan3.gif\" title=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan3\" alt=\"Ad-800x500-TripPlan3\"> <\/a>\n<h2 id=\"Places\">Places to See<\/h2> <p>There are a\u00a0 lot of places to see in GSENM! It's impossible to cover them all in this one article, so we've included a few resources that may help you plan your next trip.<\/p> <h3>Geology Field Trips<\/h3> <p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/geology.utah.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Geologic Society<\/a>, along with several other agencies, published an outstanding road guide back in 2000. Although it focuses on geology, it also covers many places to see along the roads it covers.<\/p> <p>The guide covers many of the roads in GSENM, including US 89 and SR 12. Each chapter explains where to find places along each road using using the trip odometer on your car (providing you reset it to zero at the beginning of the trip).<\/p> <p>Use <a href=\"\/blog\/gpx-files\/GEOLOGIC_ROAD_GUIDES_TO_GRAND_STAIRCASE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a> to download a PDF copy of the road guide.<\/p> <h3>Other BackRoadsWest.com Articles on GSENM<\/h3> <ul> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/burr-trail-utah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Burr Trail<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/kaiparowits-plateau-road-trip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kaiparowits Plateau Road Trip<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/willis-creek-slot-canyon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Willis Creek Slot Canyon<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/fall-colors-utah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fall Colors in Southern Utah<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/bryce-canyon-in-the-snow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bryce Canyon in the Snow<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <h2>Comments<\/h2> <p>Read and leave comments about this post on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GtwChxaPjnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Support Us<\/h3><p>Help us fill up our tank with gas for our next trip by donating $5 and we'll bring you back more quality virtual tours of our trips!<\/p><p>Your credit card payment is safe and easy using PayPal. Click the [Donate] button to get started:<\/p><p>[paypal-donation]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Subscribe<\/h3> <p>[mc4wp_form]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>See all our comprehensive virtual tour guides at<\/em>:<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"BackRoadsWest\" href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo-300x40.jpg\" alt=\"BRWlogo\" width=\"300\" height=\"40\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo-300x40.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo.jpg 438w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><br \/> <br \/> <ins style=\"display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7400034802659664\" data-ad-slot=\"1662640655\"><\/ins><br \/> <\/p>\n<h3>More Trips<\/h3> Would you like to go on more trips in Utah? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/utah\/\"> See More Trips in Utah <\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7072"}],"version-history":[{"count":62,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7949,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7072\/revisions\/7949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}