Grand Staircase E.N.M
is comprised of 1.9 million acres of rugged wilderness. Spanning the distance from Kanab in the southwest to Escalante at its northeast end, the vast monument contains nearly double the combined acreage of Utah's five national parks. This diverse and largely untamed region was one of the last areas in America to be explored due to barriers presented by the Paria and Escalante River Canyons. The Powell expeditions in the 1860s brought attention to this remote region, and in 1941 the National Park Service finally began studying the Escalante River area. Grand Staircase Escalante was declared a national monument in 1996 under executive order of President Bill Clinton. It is the first and only national monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

History
Grand Staircase Escalante's geologic history begins sixty million years ago, when most of the area was covered by ancient lakes. The staircase effect we see today was caused by the shifting of the Colorado Plateau, which exposed different colored layers of hardened lake sediment. Visible layers include the Chocolate Cliffs to the south in the Grand Canyon region, the Vermillion Cliffs, the White Cliffs, and the geologically youngest Pink Cliffs to the north near Bryce Canyon.

The Lands and Climate
The lands and climate of Grand Staircase Escalante are as vast and diverse as the plant and wildlife it supports. From rare sightings of the endangered California Condor over the Vermillion Cliffs, to lizards in the desert sagebrush, and Fremont Cottonwoods thriving along the Escalante riverbanks, Grand Staircase Escalante is a visual wonderland.

Backcountry
Backcountry hiking, canyoneering, mountain biking, ATV riding, wildlife watching, and photography are just the beginning of the outdoor recreational possibilities within Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Popular areas for exploration in and around Grand Staircase include Calf Creek Falls, Canyons of the Escalante, Anasazi Indian State Park, Escalante State Park, the Burr Trail, Johnson Canyon, Bull Valley Gorge, Grosvenor Arch, and Kodachrome Basin State Park. Do keep in mind that most of the lands are isolated, and most hiking trails are not well marked. Be sure to check in with the BLM's Visitor Center located in Kanab before heading into the backcountry.