VACATION DETAILS

Grand Junction, Colorado takes you beyond the ski resorts of the Rocky Mountains into the mystery and majesty of the Grand Valley. Perfect for a Colorado family vacation or an adventure with friends, we offer a wide variety of lodging and activities for every budget. An inspirational walk or ride through the Colorado National Monument is a must. Quiet moments abound in the city's restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and museums. Colorado's Wine Country is here and hiking doesn't get any better than this. Bicycle enthusiasts will find plenty of trails to get the wheels turning.

The huge, 1-million-acre/404,686-hectare (reduced from 1.7 million acres/687,965 hectares in 2017) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a remote area of colorful plateaus, canyons and cliffs. It lies southwest of Capitol Reef National Park, extending south almost to Lake Powell and west to the border of Bryce Canyon National Park. It is 220 mi/355 km south of Salt Lake City.

This beautiful, isolated landscape is great for hiking, mountain biking, camping, hunting, fishing and four-wheel-drive outings. Our most memorable experience was hiking through incredibly narrow slot canyons (Peek A Boo and Spooky gulches). And don't miss Calf Creek Falls. On the monument's south side, off Highway 89, is the Paria Canyon area, a mysterious array of narrow sandstone canyons distinguished by undulating curves and subtle, swirling colors.

Don't underestimate the extreme nature of Grand Staircase-Escalante: Slot canyons and dry washes can be death traps when it rains (even if the showers are falling miles/kilometers away), and most of the park is a long way from civilization. Take adequate supplies, including plenty of water, food and a full tank of gas, when you head into the remote backcountry. You might consider hiring an outfitter to guide your adventure.

There are six regional visitors centers that service this area: Escalante Interagency Visitor's Center, located at the west end of the town of Escalante (755 W. Main St., Escalante; phone 435-826-5499); Kanab Visitors Center, near Cottonwood Canyon (745 E. Highway 89, Kanab; phone 435-644-4680); Canyonville Visitor Center, which is located North of Cottonwood and Johnson Canyons (10 Center St., Canyonville; phone 435-826-5640); Big Water Visitor Center, which has a small museum showcasing dinosaur bones excavated in the area (100 Upper Revolution Way, Big Water; phone 435-675-3200); Anasazi State Park, which also has a museum and a pueblo replica (460 N. Highway 12, Boulder); and Paria Contact Station, located right before Paria Canyon (on Highway 89).

Information is also available at the Bureau of Land Management field office in the town of Escalante and at the bureau's website. https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument.

The Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth's crust known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River (now Lake Powell). Capitol Reef National Park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the unique historical and cultural history found in the area.

Located on the banks of the Colorado River, nestled in a fertile green valley between soaring red sandstone cliffs, the town of Moab is truly an emerald in the desert. Moab’s close proximity to several national and state parks has made it a popular destination, and a wonderful location to begin any adventure in southeastern Utah. The majestic LaSal Mountains tower over the southern end of town attaining heights of nearly 13,000 feet. Just five miles north of town is Arches National Park, which contains the world’s largest concentration of natural stone arches. Thirty miles west of Moab is Canyonlands National Park, containing over 500 square miles of incredibly rugged and spectacular canyon country.