Utah

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

This rugged area of red rocks and arches is often considered one of the most beautiful places on Earth

Natural History, Watery Wonders, Extraordinary Flora, Incredible Ruins, Geological Oddities

Photo by Wikimedia
Photo by Wikimedia
Photo by Wikimedia
Photo by Wikimedia

Contributors: ekoptev

Named after its unique topography and impressive rock formations, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a beautiful area of desert scenery.

The area consists of nearly 2 million acres of unbelievable canyons and naturally expansive vistas. Associated hiking trails have numerous stops and the views into the valley are absolutely incredible. Visitors can walk around and step on the ancient and fossil-rich rockland, which has remained largely exactly as it appears today for more than 70 million years.

In fact, dinosaur fossils dated to over 75 million years ago have been found around the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, particularly since the year 2000 when archaeological exploration has picked up significantly in the area. The oldest dinosaur fossil found so far was unearthed near the Arizona state border and astonished researchers with its 75-million-year age.

Hikers commonly see the shapes and fossils of fish, turtles, sharks teeth and dinosaurs embedded in the rock underfoot and around the trails. But signs of ancient humans about as well, with petroglyphs carved by early humans scattered throughout the many rock formations.

Visitors are advised to remember that every fossil or carving found is precious and irreplaceable, and as such it should be left for others to be able to enjoy too.

Hours

of 145 people at any one time to conduct both day use organized group activities at Dance Hall Rock and Hole-in-the-Rock Historic sites, as well as camping within the GSENM and GCNRA. The EA established criteria to be required of all permitted parties. The permitted group criteria includes: predetermined camp locations, sanitation facilities to be provided by the permit holder, a maximum of 29 vehicles per group, a length of stay of three days and two nights for large groups and 12 days for re-enactment/equestrian groups, and season of use and site restrictions will be applied to specific sites.
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