Grand Staircase Escalante Elopement Guide
Are you looking for a truly unforgettable place to elope — somewhere off the beaten path, with plenty of exciting adventure and jaw-dropping landscapes but with no crowds?
Allow me to introduce you to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Most commonly referred to as Grand Staircase-Escalante or simply Grand Staircase, this remote, spectacular southern Utah destination is the very definition of a hidden gem. Often overlooked due to its proximity to wildly popular Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, and Moab, Grand Staircase has nearly 2 million acres of untamed beauty to explore, filled with red slickrock, hundreds of twisting slot canyons, mind-boggling ancient rock formations, and even waterfalls.
This diverse landscape is a haven for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts, with endless opportunities for hiking, backpacking, photography, and my personal favorite, eloping. Perhaps best of all, it’s practically untouched.
What is Grand Staircase Escalante?
Grand Staircase-Escalante is a captivatingly rugged expanse of wilderness in southern Utah. The ancient protected area is between 50 and 275 million years old and spans over 1.9 million acres (larger than the state of Delaware!). It showcases all sorts of geological wonders: towering cliffs, narrow slot canyons, colorful, unique rock formations, and so much more.
Why is it called Grand Staircase Escalante?
The name "Grand Staircase" refers to the series of colorful, massive geological “steps” that stretch from near Bryce Canyon National Park toward the Grand Canyon. Each “stair” is a distinct color, ranging from bright pink to chocolate brown. When you get your first panoramic view of Grand Staircase, it’s an immediate aha! moment.
The iconic “steps” of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Visiting Grand Staircase Escalante
Grand Staircase is a remote area that requires some effort and advance planning to reach (or elope!). Here are some of the most important things you should know.
Where is Grand Staircase Escalante?
The vast area is in central southern Utah. It sits between Page, Arizona to the south, Bryce Canyon to the north.
How to get to Grand Staircase Escalante
Because Grand Staircase is so vast and there are no official entrances, it’s difficult to give proper directions. However, the vast majority of visitors come from west on Highway 12, from Bryce Canyon or Tropic; north from Capitol Reef, or south from Kanab or Page. Scenic Highway 12 is the most popular route, running 122 miles from the Bryce Canyon area through Grand Staircase-Escalante.
To give you an idea of how remote it is, here’s the distance from a few major cities.
Las Vegas: 210 miles, just under 4 hours
Phoenix: just over 300 miles, just shy of 5 hours
Salt Lake City: 250 miles, 4.25 hours
Can you drive through Grand Staircase Escalante?
Yes, there are many roads traversing Grand Staircase. While some are suitable only for off-road vehicles, several are paved highways that any car can travel.
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Map
Grand Staircase Escalante Visitor Center
Because Grand Staircase Escalante is so vast, there are technically five visitor centers. The main two are the Kanab Visitor Center and the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante. The other three, which are considerably smaller, are in Big Water, Cannonville (closed in the winter), and at the Paria Contact Station.
Grand Staircase Escalante Weather
Grand Staircase is a desert environment that covers a tremendous land area and has significant elevation variance, with the high point reaching nearly 8,600 feet. Needless to say, the weather can be harsh, but it can also vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the region.
Summertime temperatures soar to over 100 degrees nearly every day, and there’s very little humidity or tree cover. Even at higher elevations, summers are hot and sunny. Winters are very cold and notoriously windy, an unpleasant combination. It frequently snows above 6,000 feet, sometimes causing roads and other areas to be shut down. Grand Staircase also experiences some snow at lower elevations, although it doesn’t typically stick for long.
While there’s not much of a true rainy season in the desert, March and April do bring frequent but short rain showers. There’s also a summertime monsoon season, when unpredictable storms often bring lightning, heavy rain, and dangerous flash flooding.
Best time to visit Grand Staircase Escalante
Spring - Spring is a popular time to elope in Grand Staircase Escalante, but it’s unpredictable weather-wise. Occasional storms bring rain and even snow in the high country, while cold fronts create wind and drop temperatures into the 40s and 50s. The river and slot canyons are particularly dangerous during the spring; however, it’s an excellent time to visit if you want to see waterfalls or wildflowers.
Summer - Summer is the least pleasant time to visit Grand Staircase. It’s unbearably hot and there’s minimal shade anywhere to offer relief while out exploring. Rain is also infrequent, so waterfalls dry to a trickle (or completely!). When it does rain in the summer, it’s typically a monsoon storm that brings humidity and dangerous lightning and flash flooding.
Fall - By far the best season overall in Grand Staircase, fall ushers in calm, sunny, and pleasantly warm weather. It rarely rains during this time of year, and daytime temps vary from the 70s to low 90s in September to 40s and 50s come November. Keep in mind that it does cool down considerably overnight, getting as low as the 20s, and this is not the best time to see waterfalls.
Winter - Winter presents some challenges in the desert, but can be a beautiful, magical season for couples willing to be flexible. There’s something unforgettable about seeing red rocks dusted with snow! However, higher-elevation areas may be inaccessible following heavy snow, and several local businesses close down in the wintertime.
What to do in Grand Staircase Escalante
A Grand Staircase Escalante elopement is all about outdoor adventure! It’s a great idea to start by going on one of the region’s scenic drives, like Highway 12, to get the lay of the land. Trust me, you’re going to want to get out of your vehicle and explore as soon as possible, but you’ll quickly realize that individual sites are typically a couple hours away from each other in Grand Staircase.
Taking even a short drive and stopping into one of the visitor centers for a map can be really helpful in creating your itinerary once you arrive. After familiarizing yourself with the area, it’s time to get out and hit the trails!
Grand Staircase Escalante Hikes
Coyote Gulch
Zebra Slot Canyon
Cosmic Ashtray
Golden Cathedral
As you can see from these pictures, hikes in Grand Staircase Escalante are incredibly diverse. Starting at just a half-mile with almost no elevation gain and ranging to a 16-plus-mile hike through one of the world’s longest slot canyons, the trails here truly have something for every hiker. I listed these in order from shortest to longest, but keep in mind that this is just a small sample of all the hikes!
Devils Garden - 0.5-mile loop | no designated trails
Toadstool Hoodoos - 1.8 miles out-and-back | average 40 minutes to complete
Escalante Natural Bridge - 4.4 miles out-and-back | average 1 hour, 35 minutes to complete (involves river crossings)
Zebra Slot Canyon - 5.2 miles out-and-back | average 2 hours to complete, 8-mile gravel road before reaching trailhead
Spooky & Peek-a-boo Slot Canyons - 6-mile loop | scrambling required and pools of water possible
Phipps Arch - 6.4 miles out-and-back | involves river crossings
Lower Calf Creek Falls - 6.7 miles out-and-back | average 2 hours, 50 minutes to complete
Cosmic Ashtray - 8.3 miles out-and-back | average 5-6 hours to complete, unmarked trail and difficult road to access
Golden Cathedral - 9.1 miles out-and-back | average 4 hours, 15 minutes to complete, involves river crossings
Coyote Gulch - 10.6-mile loop | average 5 hours to complete, ropes required
Buckskin Gulch - Up to 16 miles | longest, deepest slot canyon in the US | 4x4 suggested
Alternative route – Wire Pass, a short tributary of Buckskin Gulch - 3.7 miles out-and-back
Backpacking in Grand Staircase Escalante
Nearly 2 million acres of wild, untamed, and largely unexplored wilderness makes for some epic backpacking. Hike along the Escalante River, through slot canyons, and under (or over!) natural stone arches. Whatever your preferred adventure style, if you’re a couple who’s into backpacking, it’s difficult to top Grand Staircase.
Most people take anywhere from 2-5 days to backpack in the area, covering 20-50 miles. The best part is that it’s totally FREE! However, you will need a backcountry permit to spend the night in Grand Staircase. Pick one up at the BLM office in Kanab or Escalante, or fill one out yourself at the trailhead. Personally, I recommend going to a visitor center so you can also get a map and chat with a ranger about your intended route and current conditions.
Are dogs allowed at Grand Staircase Escalante?
YES! In fact, it’s one of the most dog-friendly outdoor destinations anywhere, and certainly in Utah. Dogs are permitted on nearly all trails, in campgrounds, and even in most off-road and wilderness areas. If you have your heart set on including your dog in your elopement, Grand Staircase may be the perfect location.
Where to stay when visiting Grand Staircase Escalante
Remember, Grand Staircase is remote. There aren’t any big cities nearby, but there are tons of charming small and even smaller towns with hotels, motels, and Airbnbs. The town of Escalante itself, just north of the monument, is a great homebase, with a decent selection of options, plus grocery stores, restaurants, and other services.
Grand Staircase Escalante Camping
In such an adventurous, rugged location, camping is another fantastic option. It’s pretty romantic to sleep under the stars after getting married in and exploring such a gorgeous place!
Established Campgrounds
There are two main established, developed campgrounds inside Grand Staircase. These are both in the Escalante Canyons section closest to Escalante, and home to popular sites including Calf Creek Falls and Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
Calf Creek Campground: 13 creekside campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis
Deer Creek Campground: 7 tent-only, year-round campsites with toilets
Kodachrome Basin State Park also has three reservable campgrounds, two of which are open year-round.
Dispersed Camping
The vast majority of Grand Staircase Escalante is federal BLM land, which is available for free dispersed camping. Because this is a harsh and yet delicate desert environment, the BLM does request that campers practice Leave No Trace. This means establishing campsites on already-disturbed areas/previous campsites, setting up well away from water sources, and packing out all trash.
Where to Elope in Grand Staircase Escalante
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Upper Calf Creek Falls
Phipps Arch
Jacob Hamlin Arch
Devils Garden
Hell’s Backbone Scenic Byway
Grosvenor Arch
Toadstool Hoodoos
Wolverine Loop Road
Escalante Natural Bridge
There’s truly no shortage of incredible, epic places to elope in Grand Staircase! It really comes down to your personal preferences. Are you more of a slot canyon type of couple, or would you prefer to spend your day off-roading to ultra-remote areas? Or maybe a bit of both?!
Many couples actually have NO idea how they want to spend their day, and that’s perfectly okay. That’s exactly what I’m here for! In the section below, I give a detailed overview of my Grand Staircase Escalante elopement packages, which give you the option of eloping in one place or including two or even three!
Grand Staircase Escalante Elopement Packages
All elopement packages include my travel anywhere in the United States (no hidden or extra fees!), customized location scouting and research, permit assistance, personalized vendor recommendations, unique-to-you + your location activity suggestions, and a customized elopement timeline for your one-of-a-kind day. Every elopement gallery also includes high-resolution digital images with printing rights and a private online gallery to view, print, download, and share your gallery with your family + friends to relive the day with you!
4 Hour ~ $3000
Perfect for the couples who are wanting to take a more simplistic approach to their elopement day. Typically this package is ideal for capturing getting ready, a short hike to ceremony location, and couples portraits.
8 Hour ~ $5000
Perfect for couples who want a day of adventure like a long hike, off-roading, or traveling to multiple locations. This package is best for telling the complete story of your elopement day. Typically couples who elope just the two of them select this package to document their day for the friends + family who are not in attendance to have that opportunity to experience the day. Also ideal for couples bringing friends + family and would like to have their reception captured as well. Your reception could look like pizza at your airbnb around a fire with your parents + siblings or a private chef serving you a 3 course meal on a table decorated in florals.
12 Hour ~ $7000
Perfect for couples looking for complete coverage of their elopement story. This package offers the ultimate storytelling experience. From waking up and having coffee with your partner to roasting marshmallows on a fire after dawn. Couples who are eloping just the two of them will select this package to document their day for the friends + family who are not in attendance to have that opportunity to experience the day. Also ideal for couples bringing friends + family and would like to have their full day with their guests documented.
Multi-Day ~ $9000
Perfect for couples wanting a multi-day experience with a lot of adventure. This package is best if you’re wanting to elope in one epic location and also experience another epic location the following day. An example of this would be hiking, then eloping at Calf Creek Falls and the following day, exploring some of the beautiful slot canyons located within the park or take on one of many unpaved roads in a 4x4!
Ready to Start Planning Your Grand Staircase Elopement?
Believe me, I know this is a TON of information to take in! Whether you’ve already decided to elope in Grand Staircase Escalante or you’re still narrowing down location ideas, I’d love to chat with you. The Southwest is my home, and the only thing I love more than exploring the unique desert landscapes is helping couples plan their dream elopements here! Hit “contact me” below, and let’s talk!
