By Jon Crowley
Four days, three nights and 598 miles: our southern Utah UTV adventure took us from the red rock country near Kanab to a campsite above Lake Powell, through the high country around Escalante and back across the desert. We drove more than 100 miles each day, with one night in a tent and two nights in a hotel.
The ride came together in May 2020 after Rally on the Rocks, one of my favorite annual trips to Moab, was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lanse Chournos suggested an adventure ride in its place. His son Sam and Reid Nordin from Walker Evans Racing joined us, giving us a small group of four vehicles for the trip.
This is an account of the route we rode in 2020, not a current turn-by-turn route guide. Road conditions, designated routes and UTV access can change. Check current land-manager maps, road reports and local requirements before planning a similar ride.
Starting at Hog Canyon near Kanab
Our starting point at the Crocodile Staging Area near Kanab.
We began at the Crocodile Staging Area east of Kanab, which connects to the Hog Canyon OHV Trail System. From there, the plan was to spend the first night camping above Lake Powell at Grand Bench, then use Escalante as our base for the next two nights.
I drove our 2019 Can-Am Maverick X3 X rs MAX Turbo R. We had replaced its rear seats with Alpine Designs storage racks, creating space for tools, spare fuel and camping gear while retaining the comfort and performance that made the four-seat X3 a good fit for long days on mixed terrain.
Our Maverick X3 MAX carried the gear for four long days on the trail.
Watch the full trip video:
Grand Bench and Lake Powell
One of the most memorable stops was our campsite at Grand Bench, several hundred feet above Lake Powell. We traveled toward the area by way of Smoky Mountain Road and Grand Bench Road. The approach put us a long way from services, and the Grand Bench portion included sections where we used low range.
That first night captured what I enjoy about an adventure ride: covering ground all day, then stopping somewhere remote enough to make the effort of bringing camping gear worthwhile.
View our Grand Bench campsite above Lake Powell on Instagram
Morning coffee at camp was a welcome start before another long day in the vehicles.
From Desert Roads to Escalante’s High Country
Our route brought us past the balanced rock near Left-Hand Collet Road and toward the Hole-in-the-Rock area before we finished in Escalante.
The next day delivered a completely different setting. We climbed from Escalante, at roughly 5,000 feet, toward Barker Reservoir at about 9,500 feet. There was still snow on the ground, and the temperature made it clear how much elevation we had gained.
We also visited Hell’s Backbone Bridge near the Box–Death Hollow Wilderness Area. The bridge and surrounding views were highlights of our time riding out of Escalante.
Burr Trail and Cottonwood Canyon Road
Another scenic stretch took us along the Burr Trail from the Boulder area. Our original ride notes called out an essential access distinction: UTVs are prohibited within Capitol Reef National Park, including street-legal UTVs. The Burr Trail crosses multiple jurisdictions, so anyone planning a ride in this area needs to check the exact route and park boundary before setting out. See the National Park Service regulations for Capitol Reef.
On the final day, we traveled Cottonwood Canyon Road after stopping at Grosvenor Arch. Its changing scenery made a fitting finish to a ride that had already taken us from Lake Powell’s desert overlooks to Escalante’s much cooler high country.
What 598 Miles Taught Us About Adventure Rides
Four consecutive 100-plus-mile days require a different approach from an afternoon trail ride. These were the lessons I took away from our trip:
- Match the daily mileage to the group. A small group can move more efficiently. With more vehicles, allow extra time or plan shorter days.
- Test radios before leaving. Reliable communication matters when dust or terrain separates vehicles. Our Rugged Radios installation article offers a closer look at how we equipped another Maverick X3.
- Prove the vehicle before the trip. Install and test new parts well ahead of a remote ride, then inspect the machine before each long day.
- Know the route and its access rules. Carry navigation you know how to use and check current designated-route information. The BLM’s current travel information and road report are useful starting points for the Grand Staircase–Escalante area.
- Calculate fuel range with the vehicle loaded. Use real-world consumption, account for detours and carry an appropriate reserve.
- Agree on the pace beforehand. Everyone should know whether the goal is to cover miles or spend more time exploring each stop.
- Drive with the distance home in mind. A mechanical failure is much harder to solve when the trailers and services are dozens of miles away.
More Southern Utah Adventure Rides
We have returned to the Big Water and Escalante area for other multi-day rides. For a guided trip that started in Big Water, crossed toward Escalante and returned by a different route, read our UTV Offroad Adventures Big Water to Escalante trip report.
For a different high-country ride in southern Utah, see our Duck Creek SXS Adventure report.
Our Can-Am Maverick X3 Adventure Setup
The rear-seat storage conversion was the most visible change for this trip, but the X3 also carried suspension, driveline, communication, lighting and comfort upgrades. Here is the equipment installed on the vehicle at the time of the ride:
- 2019 Can-Am Maverick X3 X rs MAX Turbo R
- SDR Motorsports cage from MotoExpo
- Alpine Designs rear-seat storage racks
- HCR Racing suspension, radius links and gusset kit
- SuperATV Rhino 2.0 axles
- Rugged Radios intercom, radio and helmet blower
- Assault Industries tire carrier, steering wheel and mirrors
- XTC Power Products street-legal kit
- Shock Therapy dual-rate spring kit
- Baja Designs LED lights
- Bombshell Gear door bags
- PRP Seats heated seats
- ITP Tenacity tires on Hurricane wheels
- Rear Light Bar LED whips
- Zollinger Racing Products radius rod plate and radius link bones
For more on how the vehicle and gear worked over the entire trip, watch my 600-mile adventure ride wrap-up:
