Guide to Grand Staircase National Monument

Dave and I took a road trip through the American Southwest desert in October 2017, visiting six national parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The Grand Staircase consists of nearly two million acres of pristine rock canyons, mountains and high desert plateaus. If you love backcountry hiking or off-roading, this national monument has some of the best trails around. We actually followed Hwy 12, which provided a great overview of the park. It travels through the beautiful layers of landscape that give Grand Staircase its name. We put together a guide of our favorite things to see, and where we ate/slept nearby.




LOWER CALF CREEK FALLS | A 6-mile roundtrip trail that follows Calf Creek through a canyon to a 126-foot waterfall. The trailhead starts in a beautiful campground full of oak trees. The trail is relatively flat, but travels through deep sand almost the entire way, making it a bit more challenging. However reaching the mini oasis at the end makes the trek worth it. The waterfall cascades down bright mineral-stained sandstone. Cool mist from the water, and shade from the towering cliffs are a welcomed refuge from the sunny canyon floor. 

HWY 12 | The main route through the national monument is one of Utah’s most diverse and stunning scenic roads. Colorful plateaus, dense forest, aspen groves and a mountain summit at 9,200ft are just a few of the landscapes you will see along the way. Pro tip: In and around the town of Boulder, look out for cattle and deer grazing by the road.

BOULDER, UT | A small ranching community nestled in the mountains. David and I didn’t really have any expectations going into Boulder. It was such a small, remote town; we only thought of it as a brief stop along the way. But that quickly changed when we learned of its great restaurants, outdoor adventures and scenic views. 






There are no restaurants inside the national monument, so bring your own food or plan to eat in the nearby towns of Boulder, Escalante, Tropic or Bryce.

HELL’S BACKBONE GRILL & FARM | It was surprising to find a James Beard semi-finalist restaurant in the remote town of Boulder. The restaurant is warm & inviting, and the food is outstanding. We actually went back for seconds.

KIVA KOFFEEHOUSE | Unfortunately this was closed when we passed by, but we would’ve loved to enjoy the view from this small café over coffee. Located in-between Boulder and Escalante.

There are campgrounds sprinkled throughout the national monument. There are also lodging options in the towns of Boulder, Escalante, Tropic and Bryce. We stayed in Boulder and Bryce Canyon National Park.

BOULDER MOUNTAIN LODGE, BOULDER UTAH 
The Boulder Mountain Lodge was a beautiful rustic escape. Our room was so cozy, with a large balcony overlooking a lake. Next door was a James Beard semi-finalist restaurant, Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm. And after a full day of hiking, it was nice to treat our weary legs to a dip in the lodge’s hot tub under the stars.

BRYCE CANYON LODGE, BRYCE UTAH 
A quintessential national park lodge. The rooms offer just what you need to be comfortable, the lobby was small but cozy, and it’s a short walk to the park’s iconic Bryce Amphitheater.