Coyote Gulch to Hackberry Canyon — Grand Staircase Cottonwood Circuit via Grosvenor Arch
Clay, narrows, and a double-arch in the void.
Grosvenor Arch stops people cold — a rare double-arch of Navajo sandstone rising 152 feet out of nowhere off Cottonwood Road, and most visitors never leave the parking pullout. Push past it south on the Cottonwood Canyon Road and the pavement ends fast, giving way to bentonite clay and slickrock bench that turns this into a genuine backcountry circuit when you loop in Hackberry Canyon from the east. Hackberry runs 20-plus miles of red and white Navajo sandstone narrows with seasonal pools and old cowboy carvings on the canyon walls. Connecting these two corridors via the Upper Paria Plateau bench and Round Valley draws through a landscape so empty and geologically violent it feels like a different planet.
The bentonite clay on Cottonwood Road is impassable when wet — no exceptions, no heroics, it will swallow your rig and hold it. Dry conditions only, high-clearance 4WD, and ideally a skid plate you’re not precious about. There are no services between Kanab and Cannonville; carry at minimum 5 gallons of water per person. Spring and fall are the windows — summer heat in here is brutal and flash flood risk is real in Hackberry. The BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument office in Kanab issues no permits for this route but can give current road conditions, and you want that call before you roll.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109.4 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5800 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Kanab, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM GSENM visitor info BLM Kanab Field Office |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this, or does it need a lift?
Stock high-clearance 4WD is the bare minimum, but the Cottonwood Wash sections have embedded rock and clay ruts that will punish low-clearance rigs. A modest lift (2-3 inches) and all-terrain tires make a real difference — skid plates are strongly advised on the rocky stretches near Grosvenor Arch.
What happens to the trail after rain — is it passable?
No. Cottonwood Wash and the clay sections become impassable death traps when wet — the bentonite clay turns to grease and will swallow a vehicle fast. Check forecasts for the entire region, not just Kanab, and do not attempt if rain has fallen within 24-48 hours anywhere along the route.
Do you need a permit to drive or camp this circuit?
No permit is required to drive the route, but you must self-register at a BLM trailhead kiosk if one is present. Dispersed camping within Grand Staircase-Escalante is free but must be 0.25 miles from roads and water sources — no campfire rings in many zones, so check current fire restrictions with the BLM Kanab Field Office before you go.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it sketchy?
The Hackberry Canyon entry and the lower Cottonwood Wash crossings are the crux — multiple water crossings with soft sandy bottoms and no good line-of-sight for depth. The clay benches above the wash also have off-camber shelf road sections with serious drop-off exposure that will pucker even experienced drivers.
How far is the nearest gas and what's the fuel range situation?
Kanab is your last reliable fuel stop before launch — top off there, full tank. The circuit runs 68 miles of slow, hard backcountry driving, so factor in higher fuel burn than highway; most rigs doing this at trail speeds in 4WD burn 30-40% more than normal. There is zero cell service and zero fuel on route, so carry a spare fuel can if your rig's range is under 250 miles in rough terrain.
Trail track
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