Utah – Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is absolutely enormous. It is the size of Delaware and sits in Southern Utah next to Bryce Canyon National Park. I will refer to it in this post as Escalante National Monument. The Bureau of Land Management maintains the monument, making it free to enter and camp (overnight permit required). Escalante is not like the nearby national parks in that it is more natural and untamed. It feels like the the wild west in all its heat and stunning views. We dipped into the National Monument to hike to Zebra Slot Canyon, which was filled with water when we arrived. Though the hike didn’t pan out as planned, we saw incredible rock formations in near solitude. It was good to remember what a natural, uncurated outdoor experience is like.
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How Would You Describe Escalante?
Covering such a large swatch of land, it is hard to summarize Escalante. Though it is large, it is largely inaccessible by car. There are no paved roads going through the monument and signage is scarce. It is a rugged and wild landscape that requires effort and navigation to get from place to place. Yes, it is beautiful, but is an untamed beauty that is easy to miss if you are not looking for it.
After being in national parks for consecutive days (Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon), it is easy to forget that the outdoors doesn’t always have clear signage, designated walking paths, and rangers walking the trails every now and then. But there self-dependence and beauty found when you trek somewhere new. With so much land you can feel like you’re the only one to ever see a certain rock formation. In this way, I was glad we tried something new that got us out in nature and away from the crowds.
The boundaries of the Grand Escalante National Monument are changing under the Trump administration. Be sure to check the Bureau of Land Management website for the most up-to-date information. It makes me sad to see protected land acreage reduced because we have already done so much damage to the earth with fewer places for wildlife to thrive. All the more important to visit Escalante and prove that the land is worth keeping protected.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars, would definitely go again, but at a cooler time of year for longer hikes
- Intensity: Hiking shoes, hiking clothes,
- Location: Southern Utah
- Cost: Free
- Restrooms: None!
- Timing: 2 – 3 hours
- Distance: 4 Miles Round Trip.
Highlights:
- See an untamed, yet beautiful and protected area of land in Southern Utah
- Very few crowds
Lowlights:
- Zebra slot likely filled with water
- Very hot with little shade
Zebra Slot Canyon Hike
90% of the time, Zebra Slot Canyon has standing water – I wish we would have taken this more seriously when visiting Escalante! Someone on the trail warned us early on, which was extremely helpful to tame our expectations. July and August are monsoon season with afternoon rainstorms, which likely means constant water in Zebra Slot Canyon. Head there during a dry winter, May, or June (Maybe…?!) for a better chance to explore the slot canyon without water.
The hike itself is great with view of red canyon walls. It is 4 miles round trip and was hot, hot, hot with little shade, so bring double the water to drink. We followed the steps listed on Girl on a Hike website, where she has photos included, which really helped when we got to a large wash and were unsure of where to go. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- You will pass a “No Collection” sign, a “Wilderness Study Area” sign, a cattle gate
- You will be heading pretty much straight in a certain direction. When the trail comes to a huge wash, continue in roughly the same direction you are going – not a hard left or right
- There will be footprints in all directions, which are not necessarily correct.
Someone we met up with on the trail attempted to wade through the water and it was chest high before he got to the further side of the slot canyon. This is when we decided not to attempt entering the water. Yes, it was a bit disappointing, but chose to keep going after receiving a warning early on in the trail. I was was still amazed at the Utah landscape and wild country during the hike and was glad to experience Escalante. We warned everyone else we met on the way back about the water in the slot canyon.
Other Places to Visit in Escalante
Unfortunately, it is not easy to get to any of the great destinations in Escalante National Monument. You can consider a hiking loop to Spooky and Peakaboo Slot Canyons, which is another 4.5 mile hike. It also sounds like there is a potential for flooding in these slots as well. Check out Girl on a Hike’s detailed description of this loop. You might also want to check out Devil’s Garden, Toadstools, or Lower Calf Creek Falls. Just be sure to look at a map before heading out because these are all quite a distance from each other.
A popular backpacking trail is through Coyote Gulch – a 28.4 mile route that leads you through a canyon in a deep area of Escalante. Check out this thorough guide. I would love to go back and do this route, if I had the proper gear!
Shop the Look
Getting There
We drove to Zebra Slot Canyon using googlemaps. There is little signage, but from Highway 12, you will follow Hole in the Rock Road for 8 miles. You will see a cattle guard and a large parkinglot on your right. The trailhead will be on the opposite side of the road.
Overall Thoughts: Zebra Slot Canyon
Unfortunately, I cannot say too much about the Zebra Slot Canyon because we made a decision not to wade through the water…. But I did have a great and very hot time on the trail. I am really glad I made the effort to go to Escalante National Monument for the experience and feel it out for future adventures. If you have limited time, I see why most people skip Escalante. However, when paired with the following places, it makes for a great day, weekend, or trip.
- Kodachrome Basin State Park
- Bryce Canyon Hikes and Camping
What are your thoughts on wild or preserve type places where it is not necessarily as maintained as a National Park? Have you visited many? Let me know in the comments about your experience and where I should check out!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
