Lower Calf Creek Falls
A 6-mile round trip to a 126-foot waterfall and swimming hole.
Grand Staircase–Escalante
A vast, remote land of slot canyons, cliffs and fossils between Bryce and Lake Powell, on Scenic Byway 12.
Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons, Calf Creek Falls and rough backcountry roads draw hikers. The monument has the most complete record of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs, and the Kaiparowits Plateau is still giving up finds.
- Best Time
- April–May and September–October
- Time Needed
- 2–3 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- On Highway 12, about an hour east of Bryce.
What to See
2 of 3 are freePeek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons
Very narrow slots, down Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
Kodachrome Basin
A nearby state park of colorful stone chimneys.
Know Before You Go
- Never enter slot canyons when rain is forecast. Roads can be impassable when wet.
Where to Stay
Stay in Escalante or Boulder, Utah.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Grand Staircase–Escalante as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Worth a DetourUtah Scenic Byway 12
Utah
An 'All-American Road' through red rock country between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, with a narrow ridge called the Hogback.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourBryce Canyon National Park
Utah
An amphitheater of orange rock spires called hoodoos, best from the rim at sunrise. Easy to pair with Zion.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Southwest list.