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Grand Staircase-Escalante: well- hidden gem
On the road from Torrey to Kodachrome Basin, you will drive through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument several times.
The road winds over high ridges and invites you to drive slowly.
And enjoy. Because the views are nothing short of magnificent. Deep valleys, colorful layers of rock and endless views alternate.
It is an almost inaccessible landscape that can be experienced mainly from the scenic drive, kilometer after kilometer.
For us, after Buckskin Gulch, this was without a doubt one of the most beautiful routes of the entire trip.
But remarkably, this park seems less known to the general public than many other destinations in Utah.
Probably because it is so inaccessible.
Boulder
In Boulder we stopped at the parking lot of the Anasazi Museum, opposite Pole’s Place, for a short siesta.
The succession of heights, curves and impressions, combined with the constant concentrated driving, took its toll.
The route over the plateau of Grand Staircase-Escalante is beautiful, but requires constant attention from the driver.
After kilometers of climbing, descending and steering, a short rest was more than welcome.
Pole’s Place looked like a postcard: well-kept, colorful and completely in harmony with the environment. While we were resting, we saw someone watering the many flowers in the front yard.
If I ever make this trip again, I would probably spend the night here. It’s a picture.
Especially because Boulder itself surprised us.
The village has an unexpectedly lively and almost hip feel, with several cafes, restaurants and well-kept accommodations. Much looks relatively new.
Perhaps the general public has discovered this remote corner of Utah in recent years.
Futuristic glamping resort
The same feeling came over us a little later at the Clear Sky Resort and its domes.
Like from a science fiction movie, they are scattered across the valley: a few large domes, but especially many smaller ones that look almost alien against the background of red rocks and open plains.
The whole thing intrigued us enough to go for a drink.
The prices are at least as futuristic as the architecture, but it was nice to take a look inside a world that is clearly not meant for the average camper.
Grand Staircase Escalante: a well-hidden gem, unlike its well-known counterpart, the Grand Canyon. Read more about this in our next story.
Emma