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overview of the canyons |
Looking
out over the Escalante River drainage from the air is truly a
sight to behold. Vast stretches of exposed and jumbled sandstone
intermittingly cut by deep sinuous canyons draw the more
adventurous to explore an area steeped in harsh beauty.
Exploring the canyons is no walk in the park, but the rewards
are typically overwhelming. |
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Flowing over 80 miles from the town of Escalante
southeast to Lake Powell, the Escalante drainage is the premiere
canyon playground. The Escalante River, contained within
impenetrable canyon walls, was the last river in the U.S. to be
discovered. Even today, so much of the drainage basin has yet to
be explored. Countless side canyons and drainages join the
Escalante River on its march to the Colorado River contained in
Lake Powell. This is a wild place, there are no maintained
trails, only routes in and out of the canyons exist. This is one
of the last places in the U.S. where you are truly on your own. |
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seasons and weather |
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The
canyons are a place of extreme weather conditions. Most of the
time it is sunny and dry, but within minutes conditions can
drastically change. As with any outdoor activity, awareness of
your surroundings (including the sky) is paramount to enjoyment
and safety. A flash flood can be deadly to the unaware, but it
can also be one of the most powerful natural sights to behold.
The rainy season, known locally as the monsoon, occurs from
mid-July to mid-September.
Check the weather here.
Spring:
The weather in spring can be highly variable. Expect highs in the
50s or 60s in March and April with lows at or above freezing.
May and June are generally hot and dry with highs ranging from
the 70s to 100 and lows in the 40s and 50s.
Summer:
Most days are hot and dry and nights are pleasant.. Late summer,
mid-July through mid-September, is the rainy season. Expect
afternoon thunderstorms and flash flood threats.
Fall:
The weather in the fall is usually great. Cooler days (60s to
80s) and nights (40s and 50s) combine with sunny cloudless
skies. The first winter storms usually arrive in November.
Winter:
The canyons can be quite nice in the winter during the days,
however nights are cold. Expect highs in the 30s and 40s with
lows below 20. Winter storms can last several days bringing rain
and snow to the canyons. |
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geology |
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Geology
is what makes this place so spectacular. The drainages cut
through the soft Navajo and Wingate sandstones to form the steep
sided canyons. Along with the canyons, the benches between the
canyons make for challenging route-finding in the intensely
eroded rock. The Wingate and Navajo sandstones are Jurassic
period sedimentary layers of fossilized sand dunes. The dune
patterns are evident in the exposed cross bedding layers. |
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plants |
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Over a
quarter of all plant species that occur in the State of Utah can
be found within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Differences in elevations and life zones permit an abundant
diversity of plant life. While the benches between the canyons
are home to desert scrub and cacti, the canyon bottoms display a
rich riparian habitat of willow, cattails, and cottonwoods. In
May, the desert show of wildflowers overwhelms the senses. |
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wildlife |
Along
with the diversity in plant life comes an equally rich diversity
of animal life. The distinctive call of the canyon wren echoes
off of the sandstone walls while hawks, eagles, and condors soar
the open skies above. The rustle of mule deer in the canyon
thickets is always a surprise. Night is the domain for most
large mammals including coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions.
Keep alert at dusk in the warmer months to spy bats swooping in
for an insect treat.
|
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Check It Out! |
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access & regulations |
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The
Canyons of the Escalante are accessed by two main roads. Hole In
The Rock Road provides access from the west and the Burr Trail
provides access from the east. Off of each of these roads are
numerous side roads which provide access to trail heads. To find
out more about each of these roads check out the roads section
for maps and updated road conditions.
Overnight stays in the backcountry
require a free permit which is available at each of the trail
heads and at the Escalante Interagency Center.
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government agencies |
The
Escalante River Drainage traverses three different federal
government agencies. Most of the canyons are located within Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area which is governed by the
National Park Service. Access roads and most trail heads are
located within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument which
is administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The
headwaters of the Escalante River drainage are located within
the Dixie National Forest and are administered by the U.S.
Forest Service.
Although all of this may sound quite
confusing, the agencies cooperate in their management of
recreational activities in the area and apart from some minor
differences, you generally can't tell when you've crossed from
one jurisdiction to another. The free permit system works in all
areas. For instance, a BLM overnight permit is valid in park
service areas and visa versa. For more information contact the
Escalante Interagency Center at (435) 826-5499. |
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archaeology and paleontology |
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Ancient
cultures and prehistoric life forms have all left their mark on
the area. The canyons were home to Anasazi and Fremont cultures
a thousand years ago. Archaeological and rock art sites can be
found around just about every bend. Discovery of these sites is
one of the joys of canyon exploration, but be respectful, do not
touch or disturb artifacts or art work.
The Straight Cliffs which run parallel to the
Escalante River to the west are considered to be the best
evidence of the late Cretaceous Period on the face of the earth.
Fossilized dinosaur remains are abundant and the finds
scientists are making are astounding. Articulated skeletal
remains complete with the skin impressions and fossilized soft
tissue are becoming more common. Again, look but don't touch. |
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