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Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument!
Stay in Mt. Carmel Jct., the heart of the parks, and visit
the treasures of the Southwest.
Mileage: Mt. Carmel Jct.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument vacation
with our Utah and Arizona maps.
In these pages you will find insiders information on the best
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument hikes. This detailed
guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history,
fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information
on the Grand Staircase hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in Utah's national monuments. |
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Directions: East Zion to Staircase
From
Salt Lake City, travel south on I15 to U-20. Exit on U-20. Turn south on U-89
and follow U-89 to Glendale.
From Las Vegas: Travel I15 to exit 16. Follow U-9 to the south
entrance of Zion and through to the east entrance. Take U-9 for 12 miles to
Mt. Carmel Jct, where U-89 and U-9 meet. Drive north on U-89 to Glendale.
From Glendale, turn right on 300 N. (Bench Road) Follow the
graded dirt road, Skutumpah, into the Grand Staircase. Remember the Grand Staircase
is a wild and remote place. The dirt roads may be impassible when wet and there
is usually no water, services or cell phone access. Skutumpah is a backway and
should only be traveled in dry conditions. Call for road and weather information
before travel: 435.644.4680
Bo Beck making his way through the skinny slot of Round Valley Draw. This is a wonderful slot canyon located just off Cottonwood Road in the Grand Staircase.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Parking at Official Trailhead
37 27.381 N
111 54.046 W
Parking at Pine Trees
37 27.186 N
111 54.674 W
Exit from Slot Canyon
37 26.700 N
111 55.569 W
Exit: Descent Route into North Fork of Round Valley Draw
37 27.196 N
111 54.978 W
Hoodoos
37 27.178 N
111 54.812 W
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more information please visit the Zion National Park Forum which is about Zion and the nearby parks and monuments like the Grand Staircase.
Suggested Gear : A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike the trails in the Grand Staircase. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced slot canyon hikers and canyoneers like the La Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
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Round Valley Draw
Round Valley Draw is a slot canyon that does not require major equipment, logistics and it not not have a physically demanding approach. Narrow passageways, fluted dryfalls, multi-colored swirling, and striated weather worn sandstone formations are the faire for this moderately strenuous canyoneering experience. A couple quarts of water, some snacks, a map, some sticky-soled shoes and maybe a short chunk of rope, and of course a camera will pretty much sum up the needs for this short loop hike.
Round Valley Draw at a Glance
Photo Album: Round Valley Draw Pictures
Trail Maps: Round Valley Draw Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: 2.75 miles round trip
Average Hiking Time: 4 hours
Equipment: Plenty of water, sturdy hiking shoes, hat
ACA Canyon Rating: AI
Difficulty: There are some easier dlownclimbs and usually a rope will not be needed, but always bring a rope when doing slot canyons since conditions change rapidly.
Elevation: General 400' descent and ascent
Permits: Not required. Check the weather report before hiking this trail. Do not hike if it looks like rain
Trailhead: Cottonwood Canyon Road
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Trail Access: Winter road conditions will deter most hikers in the winter months. Cottonwood Canyon road is slippery in the winter and impassible if there is snow or melting snow on the road. It is best to visit the GSENM during the summer and fall.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Best Season: Whenever Cottonwood road is accessible.
Check weather conditions prior to the hike. Hiking in slot canyons presents a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not hike this trail if it is raining. Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood.
Driving Instructions: Drive north on Highway 89, from Mt. Carmel Junction, to Route 12 and turn right toward Bryce Canyon National Park. Continue past Bryce, through Red Canyon, passing the small community of Tropic. Once in Cannonville turn right onto Cottonwood Road. The road will be paved for the first 6.4 miles, passing over the Paria River at about the 3 mile mark and then arriving at Kodachrome State Park. Cottonwood Road will now be dirt for the next 6.6 miles until it arrives at Round Valley Draw and GSENM Road #422 or as it is also called: Rushbed Road. This is where it will be necessary to turn right. Travel this high clearance vehicle road for 1.6 miles as it follows the wash bottom and then climbs south out of the wash bottom toward the trailhead and register perched just 50 yards out of the bottom of Round Valley Draw. If you have a 4WD it is possible to forgo parking at the official trailhead and continue west down the wash for another .75 miles to a large pine tree where the road ends. This option puts hikers directly above the start of the slot canyon.
Round Valley Draw - The slot canyon begins immediately with a 6' chimney downclimb followed by another 15' downclimb. For the next 1.25 miles Round Valley Draw opens and closes from a mere 18' wide to over 100' wide. There are several short down-climbs where lesser experienced hikers may desire a handline. The bottom of the canyon contains a large amount of clay content in various places, so recent rains may make travel wet (maybe wading) and very slippery. Be sure to take your time and take photos, as this is a truly beautiful Southern Utah slot canyon.
Exit - After a dark section of the hike, the canyon will open up somewhat and there will be a fir tree on the left and some pinion trees on the right, at the mouth of a canyon, entering from hikers right. This is the exit for the day hike.
Note: The authors thought this would be an easy canyon to turn around and climb back out, but we did not try it because we wanted to check out the exit. It does look like the fun way to exit however!
The travel up the side canyon is steep and loose but well marked and worn. After .25 miles of climbing, a plateau is reached. At the top is a road that can be followed for a very short distance before steering east across the plateau keeping closer to the rim of Round Valley Draw. Contour around a small side canyon and soon you will be confronted with a large canyon - the North Fork of Round Valley Draw. Pick the easiest travel into the bottom of this large canyon and then travel toward the 20' high hoodoos on the opposite side. Skirt around the south side of the hoodoos and continue east and work toward the bottom of Round Valley Draw. If your vehicle was parked at the pine tree rather than the trailhead and register, then it will come into view very soon. Find the weakness that allows crossing down and over to your vehicle. Total round-trip distance for this hike from the pine tree parking is 2.75 miles and 4.25 miles if parking at the trailhead and register. Total descent through the canyon is about 250', but the ascent out is about 400' and then a descent of 150' back down to the vehicle.
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