Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Duration: 9 Hours

Difficulty (1-10): 3

Departure Times: Year-round: 8am  

Recommended Abilities: This Southern Utah tour is recommended for all ages and abilities. Some uneven terrain is experienced on hiking portions which can also be omitted if necessary.

Permit Required: No special permit is required for this tour.

*Tour Prices include all sales taxes & base guide gratuities.

Description

Whether you are wanting to experience the Grand Staircase or looking for a backcountry adventure, this unique Southern Utah Tour will round out your vacation on the “road less traveled.”

This backcountry tour typically begins with a drive up beautiful Johnson Canyon through towering white sandstone cliffs, formed from the massive sand dunes of the Jurassic Period. The drive up Johnson Canyon takes us past the Gunsmoke movie set, used for decades by the famous TV show. Then we head over Skutumpah Road to Bull Valley Gorge, take a captivating hike through Willis Creek Slot Canyon, and enjoy lunch (provided by Dreamland for a nominal charge, or brought by you).  Depending on the time spent hiking in Willis Creek, additional stops may include the hoodoos of Kodachrome Basin State Park and Grosvenor Arch.

From there we head down Cottonwood Road, one of the most photogenic trails in Southern Utah. Here we catch the fantastic tilted rocks of Candyland in the perfect afternoon light. We view the majestic sights of Castle Rock and Yellow Rock from atop the breathtaking Brigham Plains Overlook and see where wagons once crossed the majestic Cockscomb. A short stop at fossilized oyster beds of an ancient estuary will transport you in time 100 million years. The finale of the tour is typically a stop at the Paria Townsite where “The Outlaw Josey Wales” and many other movies were filmed. The multicolor bands of the Chinle formation offer an unparalleled photo opportunity leading up to sunset. 

The Grand Staircase Dream Tour covers a lot of ground in a single day and allows you to sample some of the best terrain that the heart of Grand Staircase Escalante has to offer.  Your guide will customize the day to best match the tour to your group’s interests.  

FAQ´s

1. How much walking will we do on this trip?

The Photographer’s Dream Tour makes many short stops at scenic viewpoints within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. There are a few short hikes mixed in. We walk about 1.5 miles in Willis Creek slot canyon. There are a few short but steep inclines with loose footing on the trail and various rock and rubble to step over. Willis Creek usually flows 1-2 inches of water. Fancy footwork can keep your feet mostly dry, or bring river sandals or a change of socks and shoes in case you get wet. There is also a short, flat and easy walk in Kodachrome Basin State Park and a very easy walk on a paved trail to see Grosvernor Arch. Finally, we often visit a viewpoint of the Rimrock hoodoos, which entails a 1-mile round-trip level walk across the desert.

2. How much driving will we be doing?

This is largely a driving tour through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We will cover a lot of ground to see many incredible viewpoints that traverse nearly 250 million years of geologic history. The tour heads a bit over 50 miles up Johnson Canyon and Skutumpah Roads, then down the 47-mile Cottonwood Canyon Road, all surrounded by incredible scenery. Most of those miles are unpaved. Many stops are made along the way for photographing viewpoints and taking short hikes.

3. Is this tour offered year-round?

We offer the tour year-round, but the Cottonwood Canyon Road is impassable when it’s wet. Therefore, we are not always able to run the tour in the winter when snow or snowmelt make the road slippery and rutted. We also occasionally have to change or cancel this tour after heavy rain, which is most likely in the monsoon season of July and August, but can happen any time of the year. We don’t like to cancel unless we’re concerned about the safety of the road. The bentonite clay of the Cottonwood Road is a formidable foe when wet.

4. Are there bathrooms on this tour?

There is a flushing toilet and nice facilities at Kodachrome Basin State Park where we typically stop for lunch and there is a clean pit toilet at Grosvernor Arch. We will be away from bathrooms for much of the day, however. At any time, you may duck behind a tree or bush for privacy. Bury all solid waste. Guides carry toilet paper, hand wipes and plastic bags in each truck. Do not leave any trash on the ground. Paper must be bagged up and can be discreetly discarded into the trash bag at the truck.

5. Are drones allowed on this tour?

This tour visits several locations. Drones are allowed at many of the locations. Some of them are better for flying a drone than others. When operating a drone on tours, please be mindful of other guests on the tour and other hikers who may be in the area. Others seek remote locations for the solitude. Please do not fly drones close to other people and limit the amount of time the drone is in the air. Always follow instructions from your guide.