Grand Staircase Loop

• Early Spring and late Fall are the best times to ride the route.  Upper elevations are extremely cold in the Winter and the lower elevations are very hot in the summer.
• We don’t recommend attempting this route in summer (May thru August). Recent unexpectedly high temperatures, even at the end of April are resulting in higher temps that will make the route even more difficult, and water sources even more critical.  Higher heat + less reliable water = a thin margin for error.
• While we state that the route is 98% rideable, as always, this is entirely dependent on conditions, type of bike and/or tires, rider fitness, experience, etc. There are a few steep and loose climbs.
• Free permits are required for the Monument; They can be obtained at any Visitor Center (Escalante, Cannonville, Kanab, Big Water).  Self register boxes are also available throughout the monument at “developed” trailheads.  They are indicated on our visitor use map available at VCs. These permits serve an important function: they give the park service data about patterns of use and volume of use; they also provide emergency contact information in case family/friends call about missing hikers/cyclists; Leave No Trace guidelines are printed on the back of the permit as well.
• Obtaining a permit in person will help riders be better prepared (road conditions, weather, etc.). The park has few self-register trailheads along the route.
• The route crosses sections of gray bentonite clay. With enough rain, it becomes extremely sticky, making it impossible to ride and very difficult to even walk the bike.  Riding into these sections under the threat of rain is NOT RECOMMENDED.  If this happens, be prepared for a muddy night of camping.
• The loop can be started and finished at any point along its length. If coming in from the North it’s recommended to access the loop from Cannonville and park near Grosvenors Arch, as these dirt roads are the most drivable. If coming in from the South, it’s recommended to start around Big Water, UT where the route is accessible from paved roads.
• It is highly recommended that the route be travelled clockwise.
• This route travels through the high desert and, as such, there is the possibility of extreme weather conditions. The temperatures can dip below freezing on the lower end and reach well over 100°F on a hot day.  Water can be scarce and flash flooding in the washes is possible.
• Parts of this route are rarely traveled and extremely remote. Be prepared!
• Bicycles are vehicles, and must stay on open roads.  There was a recent comment that riders can shorten the route by riding through Last Chance canyon. However, Last Chance bisects Death Ridge Wilderness Study Area and riding that canyon is not allowed. Administrative routes are for access to range improvements only and are not open for public use.
• Cell phone service is unlikely to be available in this region, and shouldn’t be relied on. Satellite phones or SPOT devices are strongly recommended.

• Camping along the route is open to some backcountry camping, however, refer to GSENM camping guidelines and Leave No Trace principles. Camping at corrals and/or range improvements is not recommended as this keeps cattle from coming in to water. Camping a minimum of 300 feet is recommended near range improvements. All campers should camp at previously disturbed locations. Be sure to follow leave no trace guidelines and keep an eye out for Cryptobiotic soil.
• Aside from a few undeveloped drive-in sites along Cottonwood Rd, next to the creek, most of the camping is primitive.
• You may in most previously disturbed camping areas along the route, as long as it’s not an environmentally sensitive zone.
• There are a few very small sections of private land but they are well marked along the Cottonwood Rd section of the route.
• There is also a small motel available on route in the town of Big Water, UT.

• Water is available in a few sections of the route and shouldn’t pose a problem in the cooler months, as long as the proper planning is undertaken.
• Water sources might dry up! The cattle tank south of Grosvenor Arch will likely go dry, along with the surface water at Last Chance.  BLM has no ability to tell riders where, or if, they will find water.  This can be safety concern; do your homework!
• Be sure to carry enough water on the bike to accommodate the occasional dried up desert stream.
• Depending on the water level in Last Chance Creek, there may be little or no water for up to 100 miles between Grosvenor Arch and Lake Powell.  For this section, you should be prepared and carry all that you will need.
• There is a well and a reservoir near Grosvenors Arch; seasonal water flows in Last Chance Canyon; Lake Powell is 3 miles off route and there is tap water available at the National Monument visitors center in Big Water, UT.
• Cottonwood Canyon Creek usually flows year round but it is best to ask about the current water conditions before leaving the visitors center in Cannonville or the town of Big Water.
• A small selection of food and drinks is available 1/2 mile off route, in the town of Big Water, UT, at the Gas Stations and Boat Yard.

Additional Resources

• LNT Guide to Camping in CanyonLands
• NYT (August 24, 2017), “Interior Secretary Proposes Shrinking Four National Monuments”
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (BLM.gov)