Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Buckskin Gulch in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Buckskin Gulch in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Much of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has been controversial for many reasons from the moment of creation by proclamation by President Bill Clinton during the 1996 presidential campaign.

Basically a series of large plateaus and cliffs, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is the largest national monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rather than the National Park Service.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is bordered by Bryce Canyon National Park, Boulder Mountain in Dixie National Forest, Capitol Reef National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.

I've had the privilege of hiking in several areas of the monument and am always amazed at the lush oases of flora that thrives along the rivers of the canyons and gorges in this seemingly unforgiving desert environment.

Photo Gallery 
Jacob Hamblin Arch in Coyote Gulch
Coyote Natural Bridge in Coyote Gulch
Waterfall in Coyote Gulch
Sunrise near the Paria Contact Station
The Paria River near Buckskin Gulch
Petroglyphs marking the middle entrance of Buckskin Gulch
The high water line of recent flooding in Buckskin Gulch
The sketchy path out of/into the middle entrance of Buckskin Gulch
Looking over the top of Buckskin Gulch near the middle entrance
Some cactus blooms were pink
Other cactus blooms were yellow
Beautiful orange wildflower blooms along the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail
Lower Calf Creek Falls and the lush oasis in the desert
Lower Calf Creek Falls is a short hike off Scenic Byway of Utah State Route 12