Photos and story by Kim Krause
Thirty-five side-by-sides, three days of riding, and a route from Big Water to Escalante and back: the 2026 Grand Staircase SXS Experience took riders through southern Utah’s sandstone canyons, high-elevation forests, and overlooks above Lake Powell. The May 22–25 gathering drew participants from Georgia, Illinois, California, Texas, and other states for a weekend hosted by UTV Off-Road Adventures.
The route connected Grosvenor Arch, Cottonwood Canyon, Boulder, Devil’s Garden, Smoky Mountain Road, Kelly Grade, and either Alstrom Point or Crosby Canyon for the final approach to Lake Powell. Each day brought a different view of this country.
From Big Water to Escalante
Riders checked in at the Rodeway Inn & Suites in Big Water on Friday, then met the rest of the group before the first trail day. On Day 1, 35 machines split into two groups for a roughly 90-mile ride through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Temperatures were around 75 degrees as the route crossed sand washes, open desert, hill climbs, and sections of pine forest near 7,000 feet.
An abandoned cabin tucked against the canyon walls was one reminder of the region’s isolation. Grosvenor Arch, a double sandstone arch, provided a lunch stop and time for photos before the groups continued toward Cottonwood Canyon. Colorful rock layers and green trees marked a change from the wide desert views earlier in the day.
Three mechanical breakdowns called for trailside repairs and recovery help. The groups reached Escalante that evening, had dinner at Showhouse, and checked into the Prospector Inn.
Day 2: Boulder and the high country
The second ride climbed above 9,000 feet, where temperatures dropped to about 68 degrees. Tall pines, mountain views, and green valleys made this stretch feel far removed from the desert terrain around Big Water. The group headed toward Boulder, stopped for lunch at Burr Trail Grill, and returned by way of scenic Highway 12.
Back in Escalante, riders gathered in the hotel parking lot to compare machines and trail stories before dinner, raffles, poker, and awards. The farthest-traveled rider came from Covington, Georgia; the youngest was 9 and the oldest was 71. A rider who accidentally put water in his fuel tank received the group’s “Dumbass Award.”
Day 3: Devil’s Garden, Kelly Grade, and Lake Powell
After breakfast and fuel, the riders left Escalante for the return to Big Water. Their first stop was Devil’s Garden, where hoodoos, arches, and twisted sandstone formations offered a chance to get out and explore. Left Hand Collett Trail then led to a slot canyon with tall walls, overhangs, and water crossings for a lunch stop.
The group also saw a cave with what appeared to be Indigenous ruins. Farther along Smoky Mountain Road, riders stopped at the “smoke holes,” where heat and smoke emerge from underground coal seams. Kelly Grade followed, with narrow switchbacks descending toward Glen Canyon and long views over the desert.
For the final leg, the riders chose between Alstrom Point and Crosby Canyon Road. The Alstrom Point group climbed to a sweeping overlook of Lake Powell. The Crosby Canyon group passed sandstone walls and rock formations on the way to the lakeshore. After a roughly 98-mile final ride, both groups returned to Big Water, ending the three-day adventure.
Watch the Grand Staircase SXS Experience
More rides with UTV Off-Road Adventures
UTV Off-Road Adventures organizes guided side-by-side trips and multi-day events across the Southwest. See the event organizer’s website for current ride details and dates. For more UTV Guide coverage, explore the Red Rock UTV Fest, the Northern Arizona Peace Trail ride, the Southern Arizona Peace Trail run, and the three-day Nevada adventure.
