TKH
As I mentioned in my Grand Canyon submission for On The Road, I have hiked across Southern Utah twice now, once following a route of my own devising from the CO/UT border to Zion National Park. The second time along the Hayduke route starting at Arches NP near Moab (UT) to and through part of the Grand Canyon. On both hikes I passed through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) located between Bryce National Park and Capitol Reef NP, about a four hour drive from Sin City or eight hours from Denver. While the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) is a popular tourist destination, during my long hikes I reach areas that not many people get to see because they are day hikers and not backpackers.
This submission will include pictures from areas relatively easy to access in order to wet your appetite so to speak. In a separate submission I will be showing you places you would have to work for to get to.
Enjoy!
Thomas
This place is reachable in a (long) day hike after a teeth-rattling drive along Hole-in-the-Rock road followed by an elaborate descent into Fence canyon at the bottom of which you step into the Escalante river, slosh upstream crossing back and forth as the vegetation on there banks allows or demands. You enter Neon canyon and 45 min later you reach the en at Golden Cathedral. For the cannoneers among you, you can also get there from on top by making your way through two slot canyons (canyoneering gear required, some skills would help) and lower yourself on a rope through the holes that you see there. Not my cup of tea.
This is the view from the ground to the ceiling of the cathedral. The intricate carving of the sandstone is a result of water coming down from slick rock plains and slot canyons above that drain into there cathedral.
On The Road – TKH – Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Southern UtahPost + Comments (36)