Page/Grand Staircase Escalante/Byrce
 

Happy Fourth everbody!

Need some help with a segemnt of our trip in August.

We would like to add Grand Staircase/Escalante N.M. to our drive from Page Arizona to Bryce. Leaving a.m. from Page and basically have most of the day to get to Bryce. Staying two nights in Bryce. Directions show we would take 89 to Cottonwood Road to Kodachrome to 12 to 63 for Bryce. This looks to cut right through the Staircase area but are there any scenic drives off these roads to see some great views?? Thanks.

I haven't done Cottonwood Road BUT I know that it is not a paved road. I hear it's scenic, but like I said, I haven't done it yet.

August can bring thunderstorms to the area so be careful. I don't think I'd attempt this road if it has been raining, is raining or looks like rain. I've also heard that there is no cell phone coverage on this road.

http://www.americansouthwest.net/uta...nyon_road.html

Utahtea

Thanks Utahtea,

You are always so helpful. So if the weather is not ideal we should just go up 89 and forget about Escalante? Would you suggest doing Kodachrome sometime during the Bryve visit. After Bryce headed to Zion.

What source do you use for directions? Thanks.

Hwy 89 is pretty scenic too. You will also travel thought a red rock canyon on Hwy 12 as you approach Bryce.

The one and only time we did Kodachrome State park it was overcast and my memories aren't that great of the place, but I've heard others rave about it so I do want to go back.

What are your trip plans?

Utahtea

Reservations made with help from you and others over a year ago in some cases, so no changes there but anything you might suggest otherwise would be great. Trying to make this a special memory for all of us.

Fly Newark, NJ to PHX; Drive PHX to Sedona visiting Montezuma's Castle on the way. Two nights Sedona at Sky Ranch Lodge. Slide Rock, Oak Creek Canyon, Broken Arrow Tour. Assuming fires are under control and everything back open and running by late August.

Sedona to GC south rim 2 nights- Rim Cabins. Hiking and taking it all in!

GC to Page-Two nights Lake Powell Resort; Colorado Float trip and the tour of the Antelope Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. I know you always recommend the Float trip. Can the same trip be done by renting a boat? I worry with three teenage attention spans (16, 14, 12).

Page to Bryce 2 nights at Bryce Lodge. Possible Grand Staircase Escalante or Kodachrome in route.

Bryce to Zion staying 3 nights at Desert Pearl. Riverwalk, Narrows, tubing, pool and other hiking.

Zion to Las Vegas 2 nights at Flamingo; Blue Man Group show; Possible Hoover Dam trip. May do Hoover on day we drive in from Zion.

I'm using Microsoft Streets and Trips but not crazy about it for the Parks. Probably just not using it right.

Thanks for any trip advice.

tripdad

ttt

WOW, great job on the itinerary!!!!

I wouldn't worry about the attention span on the float trip. First you are bused down thought the tunnel they dug to build the dam...very interesting! My 17 year old nephew said it was the highlight of his two week trip in the area. They make a pit stop and you get to take a short hike to the petroglphys, then they have to bus from Lee's Ferry back to Page. It really is a fast day and you are only gone a total of 5 1/2 to 6 hours.

As for renting a boat for the Colorado river below the dam where they do the float trip, I know fishing boats can enter at Lee's Ferry but you'd have a hard time getting up river from there to the scenic areas. Plus I remember asking about the boats and our guide says the get stuck all the time because the river is low. If you could find a boat to rent for here, I really don't think it wouldn't be worth.

You can rent boats for Lake Powell, but unless the lake levels are up it's a hard choppy ride to the main part of the lake.

Utahtea



Utahtea

Hi Plandad,

I have driven the Cottonwood Road although it was many years ago. It is a graded dirt road, but it is severely washboarded when dry and completely impassable when wet. It passes through miles and miles of bizzare clay soil, eroded hills. Makes you think you are on another planet, but gets boring quickly.

There are signs warning NOT to attempt the road if rain is predicted or if it has recently rained, meaning even with the last day or so! The clay soil turns into pure grease and not even 4 x4 can make it.

The big reward is the Grosvenor Arch. Truly one of the most spectacular arches I have ever seen, and I live in Utah!

Under the best conditions, the road is very slow going and will take a LONG time. Listen to the weather report and decide.

Happy trails!

Thanks Utahtea and Dayle. This board is always so helpful. Is there a paved road to Grosvenor Arch?

We took this drive last August. It isn't for the faint of heart in that it doesn't see alot of traffic and IF you were to have car trouble, it could be awhile before someone came along to send back a tow truck for you. Also, it seemed that if you were not in a high-riding vehicle, the ruts and washes in some places might scrape the bottom of the car. There is a ranger station on Hwy 89, I think, that gave us the go-ahead, weather-wise, to head down it. In comparison to everything else you will be seeing, it almost seemed anti-climatic. It was a nice shortcut in that you wouldn't be back tracking. In all, it probably took about 2 hours. It was easy to imagine that we had jumped into an old Western and we kept expecting to see Indians coming over the ridge. There were latrines at the "picnic" area at the Grosvenor Arch. Would I take it again? Probably just depend on the mood I was in when I got to it!

PS - My husband just reminded me that the town with the ranger station is right outside Kanab on Hwy 89 before you get to Cottonwood Road. Then Cottonwood Road dumps you out in Tropic. There was a nice Visitor's Center in Tropic with displays of Utah's early pioneer days that was rather interesting. Seem to remember that they had a fair amount of regional wildflowers, etc.

Thanks ausc59,

Were you headed towards Page or away from Page when you hit the Ranger station on 89. It seems Cottonwood Road comes up well before Kanab coming from Page. But it sure would be nice to get an all clear from the ranger. Thanks, Tripdad.

We took this road coming from the North Rim - so I imagine we were headed towards Page. Don't have a map in front of me right now to confirm.
Whether you choose to take this side road or not, you and your family will have an awesome trip! Enjoy!

I did drive on Cottonwood Rd and it was no problem. Guess I like the backroads because that is where the trip excitement actually start and the memories begin. I always rent a 4 wheel drive in Utah.

utahlover,

Where do you rent the 4 wheel drive?

Utahtea

The road from US89 to turnoff to Grosvenor Arch is dirt. From the turnoff to the parking lot to the arch itself and to Kodachrome Basin State Park is paved as is the majority of Cottonwood Canyon Rd from the turnoff back to town of Cannonville.

As you head north on Cottonwood Canyon Rd from US 89 you will be passing through the Cockscomb. There is a pulloff near the bottom of the road (before you start up steep hill) park here walk across road and enter Cottonwood Wash Narrows. Not marked as such but can see where others have walked down into dry streambed. Can walk up or down streambed as far as you like.

Back on Hwy 89 go W past turnoff to Cottonwood Canyon Rd and take marked turn to Old Paria movie set. Will pass through some wonderful striated rocks along the the 5 miles to "Movie set" which is a recent reconstruction of former movie set and not much to look at. Area is especially beautiful near sundown.

Stop at the Paria Ranger Station and ask for directions to Buckskin Gulch. A wonderful slot canyon which has been written up in National Geographic and other publications as one of best slot hikes.

If decide to stay on paved roads and 89 might want to go to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. They have a section of petroglyphs if you like rock art.

I didn't know Coral Pink Sand Dunes had petroglyphs...now I want to go.

Thanks everybody. Great info. More determined to do Cottonwood road. Manageable in a minivan and weather permitting? Want to do the entire road going from Page to Bryce but if not, might do as a trip out of Byrce to Kodachrome (paved road) and Grovsenor's arch. Tripdad.

I would think a minivan would be fine - we were in a Highlander and clearance wasn't a problem....just some washboarding and a wet spot or two in a low area.

Yeah, tell us more about the petroglyphs at Coral Pink Sand Dunes. We're heading to the area in very early April next year.

Photodog - do you have any idea what the Wire Pass trailhead would be like then? I really, really want to do this hike.