Stepping into Grand Staircase-Escalante
After leaving Grand Junction and passing through Moab, we’ve set up shop in Cannonville, UT (located right outside Bryce Canyon NP). Our KOA has scenic views of the Bryce Valley and makes a good home base for exploring many nearby areas. One of the top areas on our list for exploring is Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument given its vast hiking options and the fact that dogs are allowed everywhere in it. The highlight of this area was our hike to the Zebra Slot Canyon which you can read more about in this post, but there were also a few other stops we did that we wanted to share here.
To get to some of the main locations outside of the town of Escalante (including Zebra Slot Canyon, other slot canyons, and Devils Garden that we’ll detail below), you have to travel down Hole In The Rock Road. This is a historic red dirt desert road which is very rough and impassable when wet. The speed limit is 35mph and I’d say we only averaged around 25-30 most of the time (and that was fast compared to some people). We found it kind of fun to drive cranking the radio up and windows down, but be warned that it can be a challenge. There were a few cars attempting to travel slowly on it, but mainly SUVs and trucks. If you want more information on road conditions or any trail information in general, there is a very nice Escalante visitor center where they will help you out (also nice public bathrooms).
One of our stops along the road was at Devils Garden. This area has very unique rock formations that you can walk around and climb. Better yet, there is no hiking involved – parking is nearby and some picnic tables are available as well. The corgis enjoyed getting to explore the different formations and play in the sandy landscape around them.
Another stop that we did not too far from Escalante was for a lunch break at Kiva Koffeehous. The drive to this spot on scenic Highway 12 took us up and down amazing canyons and mesas and was worth the trip just for that. Once at the remote location, it provided probably the best views I’ve ever had while ordering an iced latte! Perched in the middle of a canyon, Kiva offers a limited breakfast and lunch menu along with coffee offerings, juices, and baked goods. Definitely worth the stop for the views, and we enjoyed our food and drinks as well – a nice break between hikes!
We hope this helps you plan your next trip! Check out more of our outdoor adventures here.