Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Rock Art

Duration: 4 - 5 Hours

Difficulty (1-10): 7

Departure Times: Year-round: 8am, 2pm. 

Recommended Abilities: This is a moderately strenuous 5 mile (round-trip) hike with 1,200ft of ascent.

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

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

Description

The Mansard Trail is a local favorite hike.  Fantastic views, unusual rock art and solitude far from the crowds combine into a memorable half-day adventure that is a quintessential Kanab experience.

Come with us on an exhilarating hike that will take you up the side of the Vermilion Cliffs just east of Kanab, following in the foot steps of native Americans and early white explorers in the area, including Major John Wesley Powell. Gentle switchbacks with increasingly fantastic views lead you on a 1,000ft ascent, interrupted only by one short (8ft) section of steep scrambling.  Once at at the top of the Vermilion Cliffs, your guide will lead you across a sage brush plateau to an alcove full of unusual rock art.  

Be prepared to put some effort into reaching this extraordinary location, while learning facets of the Kanab area’s history and geology from our expert naturalist guides. 

About the Mansard Trail Hike

Is the Mansard Trail in the Vermilion Cliffs? 

Well, that’s a complicated question. The Mansard Trail is NOT in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, nor is it in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, but it DOES climb up the side of the Vermilion Cliffs and it IS part of the Grand Staircase Escalante land form! Clear as mud? Let us lead you on this adventure and our guides will help you make sense of all of it.  

How fit do you have to be to hike the Mansard Trail?

If you want to hike up all the way to the amazing rock art panel at the end of the Mansard Trail, you are looking at just over 5 miles roundtrip – and 1,200ft of ascent (plus the same vertical distance back down).  The ascent is mostly gradual, but if you aren’t used to multi-hour hikes with lots of vertical change this trail will make you work for it. 

Is it possible to hike the Mansard Trail without a guide?

Yes! You don’t need to hire us to hike the Mansard. That said, many guests enjoy the peace of mind and education aspect of hiking with a guide.  All of our guides are naturalist interpretive guides with deep passion and broad knowledge of the local history, geology, flora, fauna, and more. 

FAQ´s

1. Is the Great Chamber Adventure an easy hike?

The Great Chamber is not a long hike, but it does require a steep uphill climb in deep sand to gain the entrance to the Chamber. There is also a small fence to step over coming out of the parking area.  You should be steady on your feet and feel confident in your ability to tackle a hard hiking effort for ~10-15 minutes. 

2. Where exactly is the Great Chamber?

The Great Chamber is in the great Kanab area, on deep sand roads a few miles off the closest paved roads. 

3. Is the Great Chamber good for photography? May I bring my tripod?

Yes! The Great Chamber is fantastic for photography. Landscape photographers will delight in early morning sun burst opportunities as the sand dune in the Great Chamber is bathed in a soft glow. Hobbyist photographers love the Chamber at all times of the day, including in the afternoon for wonderful and unique silhouette shots. For astro photographers, the Great Chamber is a cherished Milky Way location — best approached in the spring (May through July) when the Milky Way rises in such a way that it is beautifully framed in the Great Chamber’s opening. 

4. Are drones allowed on this tour?

Yes, drones are allowed on this tour, but the Great Chamber is not necessarily a good place to fly a drone. It is a singular spot and there may be other people in close proximity. 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.