Cottonwood Canyon Road

Trail Overview

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a relatively easy route that serves as a shortcut between Bryce Canyon National Park / Utah SR-12, and Lake Powell / US-89. It follows Cottonwood Canyon and the Paria River, and the canyon is the dividing line for two different sections of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. To the west is the Grand Staircase, and to the east is the Kaiparowits Plateau. The scenery is constantly changing over the course of the road, with expansive views of the canyon and rock formations.

Photos of Cottonwood Canyon Road

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Difficulty

While the road surface is easy to contend with, there are large uphill and downhill sections with limited visibility. The presence of cows and other livestock is common on the road, as most of the National Monument is open range. Soft spots on the road are uncommon, but are possible with changing road texture. The road is not recommended in the winter or after rainfall, as the fine silt base of the road can make it extremely treacherous to attempt.

Technical Rating