Cottonwood Canyon Road — Grand Staircase-Escalante Slot Canyon Corridor

Cottonwood Canyon Road runs 46 miles through the heart of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, connecting Cannonville in the north to US-89 near Paria Canyon in the south. Most of it follows Cottonwood Wash — a broad, sandy, clay-bottom drainage flanked by Navajo sandstone fins, Paria River badlands, and the surreal pink and white banding of the Cockscomb anticline. Grosvenor Arch, one of the most impressive double arches in the Southwest, sits just off the road at mile 12 and is worth every second of your time. The road also passes the Paria Movie Set, a crumbling ghost town used in dozens of Westerns.

This route is deceptively easy in dry conditions — a high-clearance 2WD can cover it when the clay is bone dry. But wet bentonite clay turns this road into a skating rink and a trap. Never attempt it in rain or with rain in the forecast; vehicles get swallowed when the clay swells. The road is rough in spots with embedded rock ledges and soft sand stretches. No permits required, no reliable cell service end to end. Carry 3-4 gallons of water per person. Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the monument. Best season is April through June and September through November.