Staircase Escalante National Park
But wherever you travel in this magnificent landscape, whether a drive down remote desert roads or a hike up lonely canyons, you will be rewarded at the end of your trip with vivid memories and a yearning to return. Some suggested that he might have climbed up crumbling cliffs to explore ancient ruins and fell to his death, the body covered by blowing sand. Visitors will find a vast and pristine backcountry that affords excellent opportunities for solitude and unconfined wilderness recreation, along with great scenic driving opportunities and endless camping options, both developed and primitive.
9 Great Hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

Follow the wagon-prints of the pioneers who crossed the Colorado and made a new settlement on the other side. History The Escalante River was named in by A. He was travelling through the area again Staircase Escalante National Park when a group of Mormon pioneers were planning a settlement in the area. Thompson suggested they name Staircase Escalante National Park new town Escalante. The name comes from the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition of Two Spanish priests, frs. Dominguez and Escalante, traversed much of the southwest in a grueling expedition in an attempt to reach California from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The party did not reach the Escalante drainage, but Thompson, who knew the history Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt the area, thought it would be a good way in which to honor one of the first known explorers of the Southwest.
Ranching was one of the primary occupations of the new village and the cowboys soon began to push their way into the many canyons of the Escalante seeking good grass and lost cattle. They were among the Staircase Escalante National Park non-Indians to see the arches, bridges, alcoves, and other wonders which draw visitors today.
World War II intervened however and the proposal was all but forgotten in the crush of legislation related to fighting the war. Everett Ruess “…[T]here is always an undercurrent of restlessness and wild longing, ‘the wind is in my hair, there’s a fire Staircase Escalante National Park my heels,’ and I shall always be a rover, I know. After spending time in Escalante getting to know local residents, he struck out with his burros in the direction of the Escalante canyons.
He was never seen again and the mystery that resulted endures as one of the greatest known in the region. At first, his parents, accustomed to not hearing from Everett for long periods, waited for word from him. Some four months later, however, they began sending letters to various people in the region seeking assistance in finding their son. Over the next year, four different searches were conducted, one of which enlisted the assistance of an expert Navajo tracker.
During one of the searches, they found his burros, nearly starved but alive, in Davis Gulch. Also found was an inscription: “Nemo Several theories exist to explain Everett’s disappearance. Some speculate that he continued his wanderings with a backpack and departed the region altogether.
Some suggested that he might have climbed up crumbling cliffs to explore ancient ruins and fell to his death, the body covered by blowing sand. Others suggest that he may been murdered by cattle rustlers. It was speculated that Everett might have been mistaken as such an agent.
The Navajo tracker, however, claimed that Everett had entered Davis Gulch, but had not come out; he stated there were no other tracks except Everett’s. Last updated: March 20,
Explore the Regions

Utah Canyon Outdoors is a good place to pick one up. The wavy canyon walls soar hundreds of feet above the narrow wash to create a dramatic hiking experience. Mist from the falls and shade keep the haven cool even on the hottest of days. The three smaller regions all fall within the former monument designation’s boundaries.