Yippee! We learned more about the Grand Staircase.
The Route
We just traveled up and down US-12 a little.
About the Day
The temperature reached 91°. It was sunny with a light breeze all day. The evenings have been pleasant. It’s supposed to get down to 63° tonight.
Getting Started
We had a casual start. The
first order of business was to decide on tomorrow’s destination and get a
campground reservation … it is Labor Day weekend.
One campground was full; the second one wasn’t. We’re set for tomorrow.
On the Way
The first stop was at Escalante
Petrified Forest State Park.
Petrified Wood Cove …
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| Those aren't just old boulders. |
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| Natural forces fractured this stone tree into several sections over millions of years. |
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| How it has "disappeared" over time. |
Surrounding cliffs …
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| This juniper provided relief from the sun. |
Then we stopped by the Escalante
Interagency Visitor Center for hints on local excursions. It was a stone’s throw from our campground. We got a hint for lunch.
Escalante Mercantile …
Only three of the town’s twelve restaurants were open today. We had lunch at an organic grocery store. The atmosphere was peaceful and our
sandwiches were very good.
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| The inside was as tidy as the outside. |
Hole in the Rock Heritage
Center …
The center honors the Mormon pioneers who made the trek through
the Hole in the Rock. The Heritage Center is located a few
miles north of Escalante on US-12.
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| It's about a huge commitment to get wagons from point A to point B. |
Hole in the Rock and Hell’s
Backbone Roads …
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| Grand Staircase offers extraordinary landscape and adventure at every turn. |
Six “scenic backways” travel to exceptional destinations off Scenic Byway 12. Most come with travel challenges. We drove short distances on Hole in the Rock Road and Hell’s Backbone Road and changed our
minds. They were too long and too rough.
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| Heading toward Hell's Backbone |
Did you know?
There is no Grand Staircase
per se. The National Monument’s name is
a reference to the series of cliffs rising from south to north from the foot of
the Kaibib Plateau (adjacent to the Grand Canyon) to the rim of Bryce Canyon.
Geologist Clarence Dutton first imagined the region as a huge stairway in the 1870's.
Geologist Clarence Dutton first imagined the region as a huge stairway in the 1870's.
The five steps of the staircase (from bottom to top) are:
Chocolate Cliffs, Vermilion Cliffs, White Cliffs, Grey Cliffs and Pink Cliffs.
The Campground
This old campground is being renovated by new owners. Their additions appear to be well considered and of high quality.
Tomorrow
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| A new camp office and store |
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| A doggie run and access to other sites. |
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| Site #18 |
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| View from our site |
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| Tent camping sites are among the junipers. |
Tomorrow
We continue on Scenic Byway
12 along “The Hogsback” to Torrey, UT.
It should be an exciting drive.
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