Photos and story by Kim Krause
One of the most remarkable aspects of the adventure is the opportunity to explore portions of the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Encompassing nearly 1.9 million acres of southern Utah, the monument is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, colorful sandstone formations, deep canyons, and remote backcountry roads. The region preserves an incredible diversity of geological features that reveal millions of years of Earth’s history, with towering cliffs, slickrock mesas, and expansive desert vistas around every corner. For off-road enthusiasts, Grand Staircase-Escalante offers some of the most scenic and remote driving opportunities in the American West, connecting iconic destinations such as Grosvenor Arch, Devil’s Garden, Smoky Mountain Road, and the spectacular overlooks above Lake Powell.
2026 Grand Staircase SXS Experience Route Highlights
- Big Water, Utah
- Grosvenor Arch
- Cottonwood Canyon Road
- Escalante
- Boulder Mountain
- Devil’s Garden
- Smoky Mountain Road
- Alstrom Point
- Lake Powell
May 22–25, 2026
Big Water to Escalante to Big Water
What an unforgettable 3-day adventure through some of the most scenic terrain in Southern Utah.
Friday kicked things off in Big Water, Utah, a small desert town near Lake Powell surrounded by dramatic red rock landscapes and endless off-road terrain. Riders checked in at the Rodeway Inn & Suites before gathering for a meet-and-greet social to connect with fellow adventurers from across the country and prepare for an epic weekend on the trails.
Riders traveled from all over including Georgia, Illinois, California, Texas, and beyond.
DAY 1 – GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT
35 SXS machines split into two groups under sunny skies and perfect 75-degree weather for an incredible 90-mile ride through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The day delivered everything:
- Hoodoos
- Sand washes
- Flowy scenic trails
- Big hill climbs with breathtaking views
- Cottonwood Canyon’s stunning rock colors and towering green trees
- Pine forests climbing to 7,000 feet elevation
Along the route, the group passed an old abandoned cabin nestled into the towering canyon walls, a striking reminder of the rugged isolation and history of this landscape.
Grosvenor Arch
One of the highlights of the day was Grosvenor Arch, an impressive double sandstone arch rising dramatically from the desert floor. Surrounded by towering cliffs and colorful canyon walls, it made the perfect lunch stop and photo opportunity for the group.
The ride continued through smooth flowing trails with amazing panoramic views before making the descent into Cottonwood Canyon where colorful layered rock formations and lush green trees created a completely different landscape from the open desert earlier in the day.
We even had a few trail-side repairs and recovery moments with three breakdowns that added to the adventure and teamwork of the trip.
That evening the group rolled into Escalante, Utah — a small western-style town surrounded by some of the most beautiful backcountry terrain in the country and known as a gateway to adventure. Riders enjoyed dinner at Showhouse before checking into the Prospector Inn for the night.
Pine Trees at Higher Elevations in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
DAY 2 – HELLS BACKBONE & BOULDER
Another incredible day exploring higher elevations with cooler 68-degree temperatures and climbs over 9,000 feet. The trails brought:
- Tall pine forests
- Colorful mountain views
- Scenic overlooks for miles
The route toward Boulder, Utah delivered breathtaking scenery with lush green valleys, towering pine trees, and cooler mountain air that felt completely different from the desert terrain below. Lunch at Burr Trail Grill was a hit before cruising back along Utah’s famous Highway 12 — considered one of the most scenic highways in America with massive overlooks, colorful cliffs, and winding mountain roads.
Parking lot partying Escalante
After the ride, everyone gathered for a fun hotel parking lot party where riders relaxed, shared trail stories, checked out each other’s machines, enjoyed some laughs, and got the chance to really get to know one another after two incredible days on the trails. It was the perfect way to unwind before heading to dinner, raffles, poker, and awards with the group. Awards included:
- Farthest Traveler – Covington, Georgia
- Youngest Rider – 9 years old
- Oldest Rider – 71 years old
- “Dumbass Award” winner for accidentally putting water in his fuel tank
Devil’s Garden
DAY 3 – RETURN TO BIG WATER
After breakfast and fuel-up, the group checked out of Escalante and headed back toward Big Water for one final day packed with incredible scenery and unforgettable trail riding. The first stop was Devils Garden — a surreal landscape filled with twisted sandstone formations, towering hoodoos, arches, and unique rock shapes that looked straight out of another planet. It was the perfect place to stretch the legs, explore, and grab some incredible photos.
From there, Left Hand Collett Trail led the group to a beautiful slot canyon featuring towering walls, water crossings, and dramatic overhangs that created an incredible lunch stop and photo opportunity.
Native American ruins
They also encountered a remote cave, holding what appeared to be ancient Native American ruins. Pausing there, it was easy to imagine how this landscape once provided shelter, travel routes, and survival for people long before modern exploration.
The ride continued along to Smoky Mountain Road where the group stopped to see the famous “smoke holes” — vents in the ground where smoke still rises from naturally burning underground coal seams deep beneath the surface. The area felt wild, remote, and unlike anywhere else on the trail.
Next came the steep descent down Kelly Grade, one of the most exciting sections of the trip. The narrow switchbacks dropped riders from high elevation down toward Glen Canyon with massive panoramic views overlooking the rugged desert landscape below.
Lake Powell
From there, the group reached a decision point and split for the final scenic leg: continue through Crosby Canyon Road or take the Alstrom Point option for a higher-elevation panoramic overlook of Lake Powell and the surrounding canyon country.
The Alstrom Point group climbed to one of the most iconic overlooks in the region, taking in sweeping, high-elevation views of Lake Powell, dramatic cliff lines, and endless desert horizons.
The Crosby Canyon group descended through a narrow and beautiful canyon corridor lined with incredible sandstone formations and natural rock sculptures carved through the canyon walls. As they made their way toward Lake Powell, it was striking to see that portions of the road now exposed were once underwater — a reminder of how low the lake levels have become over the years. This group reached the shores of Lake Powell where one lucky dog enjoyed cooling off with a swim after an epic 98-mile day on the trails.
Both groups eventually made their way back toward Big Water. After soaking in the final views, it was a short ride back to the Rodeway Inn in Big Water where the 2026 Grand Staircase SXS Experience officially came to an end.
About UTV Off-Road Adventures
UTV Off-Road Adventures specializes in guided side-by-side tours and multi-day off-road experiences throughout some of the most scenic destinations in the American Southwest. From the towering cliffs of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to the red rock landscapes surrounding Moab and Lake Powell, the company provides participants with carefully planned routes that showcase the region’s natural beauty, history, and adventure opportunities. Events like the annual Grand Staircase SXS Experience bring together UTV enthusiasts from across the country for unforgettable rides, breathtaking scenery, and camaraderie on the trail. For more information about upcoming adventures and events, visit UTV Off-Road Adventures online at www.utvoffroadadventures.com
If you missed this one, join us next May 20–23, 2027 for the Grand Staircase Expedition 2-Night UTV Expedition
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