Bryce Canyon to Staircase Escalante Monument – 24 September 2025

After leaving Bryce, the landscape shifted again — we drove through sculpted mesas and rolling badlands until the terrain gave way to vast pale cliffs. As we reached Grand Staircase-Escalante, towering white and gray rock faces rose around us, a stark contrast to the reds and oranges we’d been seeing.

We set up the RV at Canyons of Escalante, a well-kept camp along the main road with sweeping views of the surrounding hills. That afternoon we all three—me, Derek, and Jax—explored Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, walking the Petrified Forest & Rainbow Loop trail. This 2.2-mi loop (3.5 km) leads past hundreds of fossilized logs embedded in the hillsides — logs that glitter in shades of red, purple, gold, and white as though nature turned them into jewels. Jax climbed onto the largest log he could find and posed like royalty in that ancient forest.

The next morning, Derek went out for a long 20 km road walk to build endurance (he’s preparing for the Moab 240), while Jax and I drifted through Escalante’s historic main street. The old brick houses, silvery lampposts, and vintage motels made for a quiet, pleasant stroll.

The following day, we turned our focus on one of Grand Staircase’s most beloved hikes: Lower Calf Creek Falls. The 6.2-mile (10 km) round-trip trail leads you through canyon walls, cottonwoods, trickling streams, and finally to a 126-foot waterfall that plunges into a pool of turquoise water. The trail is moderate, with stretches of sand that slow your pace. But the payoff — cool spray, striking cliffs, and that hidden oasis — makes it one of the gems of the region.  

By the time we returned, the canyon had changed again—deep shadows cast across the rock walls as evening crept in, leaving us with the echo of rushing water and the wilderness all around.