Grand Staircase or Needles District in September?

[outdoornate65]

We are planning a two week trip in Sept that will be our first longer trip in our new rig (FWC Granby).

Heading to Phoenix from Denver to visit a kid in college then heading north to Utah for a few days before circling around to Chaco Canyon.

We had planned on hitting Needles area of Canyonlands for four days of hiking and exploring. I've been to Needles District a few times but the GF has never been.

When I look at my maps of Utah, I keep focusing on the vast expanse that makes-up the Grand Staircase area. I've never been west of Lake Powell so really don't have any idea what the area holds and I've not found much info online (the BLM site sucks).

So, is the Grand Staircase worth skipping Needles or does the awesomeness of Canyonlands win out?

I welcome your feedback and recommendations.

Nate

 

[knoxswift]

Both are pretty awesome. However when I am looking for long term boondocking I prefer the Mexican Hat and Grand Staircase area.
I seem to only do short off road trips to Moab.
So my 2c park yourself around Valley of the Gods and explore out east and west from there.
(I don't know what you're secondary travel methods are....for me I tow motorcycles which let's me leave my camp setup for long stays)

 

[knoxswift]

Valley of the Gods

 

[Cayuse]

Either is worthwhile. You could go through GSENM and spend some time there then drive the Burr Trail and up to Capitol Reef, over to Hanksville and then on to Hite and come into 211 and The Needles from the south. It would end up being more of a survey trip than an in depth trip but it would give some flexibility. Also, September could still be really hot so getting into the higher country south of Needles might be good.

There is so much to see in Utah that it becomes really hard to decide where to go. I've been spending time there for 30+ years and there are lots of spots that I want to get more familiar with.

 

[searching for nowhere]

In the GSENM there is lots to see.
- The Cosmic Ashtray.
- Petrified logs.
- Slot canyons.
- Dinosaur tracks.
- Devil's Garden.
- Cottonwood canyon has fossilized oysters.

See the following link for more ideas.

https://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/grand_staircase_escalante/national_monument.html

 

[outdoornate65]

In the GSENM there is lots to see.
- The Cosmic Ashtray.
- Petrified logs.
- Slot canyons.
- Dinosaur tracks.
- Devil's Garden.
- Cottonwood canyon has fossilized oysters.

See the following link for more ideas.

https://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/grand_staircase_escalante/national_monument.html

Thanks for the link....good stuff there.
Also found a bunch of good info on www.summitpost.com

 

[Vic Harder]

heading out that way then myself. We see the Needles as "comfort zone" hiking/camping, to be done after exploring new areas. We will be doing both Burr Trail and Hole in the Rock roads, driving about 10 miles every day to move sites to yet another slot canyon to explore. Looking forward to it!

Do you have any links to the summitpost you can share?

 

[outdoornate65]

heading out that way then myself. We see the Needles as "comfort zone" hiking/camping, to be done after exploring new areas. We will be doing both Burr Trail and Hole in the Rock roads, driving about 10 miles every day to move sites to yet another slot canyon to explore. Looking forward to it!

Do you have any links to the summitpost you can share?

Vic,

I just did a search on www.summitpost.com and it had quite a bit of info on Grand Staircase.