Cottonwood Canyon Road — Cannonville to US-89 via Grand Staircase Desert Spine
46 miles of Utah slickrock spine — respect the clay.
Cottonwood Canyon Road runs 46 miles south from Cannonville through the heart of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to US-89 near Paria. It’s not technically brutal — most of it is manageable gravel and hardpacked dirt — but the clay sections near Grosvenor Arch will stop a four-wheel-drive vehicle dead if any rain has fallen in the past 24 hours. Grosvenor Arch itself is worth the drive: a rare double-arch of buff sandstone that most tourists never reach. South of the arch, the road descends through Cottonwood Narrows, where the canyon walls press in close and layers of Navajo sandstone stripe the walls in red, cream, and orange. The Cockscomb monocline dominates the eastern horizon for the final stretch into Paria.
High clearance is required — soft-roader SUVs get stuck in the clay ruts regularly. True 4WD helps but isn’t always essential in dry conditions. The BLM road is unmaintained; check current conditions at the Kanab or Cannonville visitor centre before you roll. No permit required to drive through. Dispersed camping is allowed with a free permit obtainable at the trailhead registers. Best season is April through June and September through October — summer thunderstorms can close the road for days. Cell service is essentially zero the entire length. Fill water and fuel in Kanab or Bryce Canyon. This road is one of the best bang-for-buck overland runs in the American Southwest.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 46 mi / 74 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5900 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD in dry conditions; 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Cannonville, Utah |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management — Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Cottonwood Canyon Road BLM Kanab Field Office |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can my stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Cottonwood Canyon Road without a lift?
Yes — a stock high-clearance truck or SUV handles this fine in dry conditions. The road is graded dirt and gravel with no serious rock obstacles, but ruts and washboards can get rough, so all-terrain tires are a real advantage over street rubber.
What happens if it rains while I'm out there?
The Entrada and Chinle clay formations turn into a greasy, axle-deep mess when wet — vehicles get stuck, tires pack solid, and recovery becomes a serious problem. BLM closes the road when wet and it can stay closed for days after rain; check conditions at the Kanab Field Office before you leave.
Do I need a permit or pass to drive Cottonwood Canyon Road?
No permit is required to drive the road. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument charges no entry fee, but dispersed camping rules apply — 14-night stay limit, 200 feet from the road and water sources, no established campfire rings in most zones.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The stretch through Cottonwood Narrows is the tightest and most technical — the canyon walls close in and the road can drop into loose sand and eroded ledges. Nothing a capable high-clearance rig can't handle dry, but it demands attention and you won't be turning around easily if you get committed.
Is there any water or gas along the 46 miles between Cannonville and US-89?
There is no gas, no potable water, and no cell service for the entire 46 miles. Fuel up in Kanab or Panguitch before you start, carry all your water, and plan for self-rescue — nobody is coming quickly if something goes wrong out here.
Trail track
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