The best camping near Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument

Made up of much of the wild landscape between Bryce Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a backcountry lover’s paradise, the kind of place where you can disappear for weeks and not see another soul. The monument gets its name from the park’s series of sedimentary rock layers that sort of looks like a giant stairway. Popular hikes include Calf Creek Falls, the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons, and Devils Garden, and although few established campgrounds exist in the park, campers will find tons of primitive camping options. 

• Best for hikers: Calf Creek Campground
• Best for tent campers: Deer Creek Campground

1. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has only two established campgrounds, both of which are open on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. The towns of Kanab, Escalante, and Cannonville lie just outside the borders of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument with several private campgrounds that can be reserved in advance. 
3. Nearby Kodachrome Basin State Park and Escalante Petrified Forest State Park have several sites that can be reserved up to four months in advance. Both parks are just outside the boundaries of the national monument. 

The best time to hike and camp in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is late March through early June and in September and October. Summer days can be too hot for hiking, and late summer monsoons can wash out roads and flood slot canyons. Regardless of the time of year, check the weather forecast before entering any slot canyons and do not enter if rain is in the forecast. Flash floods can happen any time of the year.

1. There is no entry fee to visit Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, although a day-use fee is charged to park in the Calf Creek Recreation Area. 
2. Stop by the monument visitor centers in Kanab, Escalante, Big Water, or Cannonville for maps, current road conditions, and camping information.
3. Many trailheads are only accessible via dirt roads. Come prepared with a full tank of gas, a few days’ worth of food and water, and other necessities. 
4. Hikes are often very exposed to the elements, so pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat.