Cottonwood Canyon Road — Grand Staircase-Escalante Dispersed Camping

Cottonwood Canyon Road runs from Highway 89 near Kanab up to Cannonville on Highway 12. It cuts through the heart of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Camping here is dispersed pullouts along the corridor, not a campground. Expect red and cream slickrock, Cottonwood Narrows, the Cockscomb ridge and Grosvenor Arch near the north end. There are no hookups, no water, no trash service and no real crowds. Pack it all in and pack it all out. The usual BLM 14-day stay limit applies, and fire rules change with the season, so check before you strike a match.

This is a clay road, and clay is the whole story. Dry, a careful 2WD with some clearance can manage it. After rain or a monsoon storm it turns to slick, axle-deep peanut butter and the washes run. Flash-flood danger is real in the narrows. Check the forecast and ask at the Kanab or Cannonville visitor centers before you commit. Cell signal is basically nonexistent, so carry paper maps and a spare tire. Have a dirty day.

Free slickrock camping on the Grand Staircase's backbone