Grand Staircase Escalante UT-12 Self-Driving Tour in Utah booking from $16.99

Grand Staircase Escalante UT-12 Self-Driving Tour

Overview

Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Explore the hidden wonders of the epic Grand Staircase Escalante drive with a self-guided audio tour. Drive along the Hogback (the ridgeline), learn about the hidden mysteries of this giant geologic staircase, and discover the long-buried secrets of the Fremont and Puebloans. This self-guided tour allows you to explore UT-12 with maximum flexibility and value.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

City: Utah

Sat 31 May

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $16.99

Make a reservation

Sat 31 May

Starting at $16.99

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone

Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!

Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!

Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!

Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.

Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!

Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

What To Expect

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is a United States national monument originally designated in 1996 as 1,880,461 acres of protected land in southern Utah. In 2017, the monument's size was reduced by half in a succeeding presidential proclamation. NOTE: This 125-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Grand Staircase in 3 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Before you fully enter the Grand Staircase National Monument, you'll have an opportunity to detour to Bryce Canyon National Park. The two are right next to one another, so don't worry about missing out on one or the other. You'll almost certainly have time to see both!

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

The Escalante Petrified Forest is a truly remarkable phenomenon. Long ago, this was an ordinary forest. But the trees have long since been petrified and turned completely to stone. Today, these ancient, multi-colored remnants of the forest offer clues to the distant past.

Escalante Interagency Visitor Center

The Escalante Interagency Visitor Center offers all sorts of information for enjoying and exploring the Monument and surrounding areas. It's also a great place to grab a snack or refill your water bottle before continuing your trip.

Spooky Gulch

Spooky Gulch is particularly narrow and winding, and if you’re able to make the squeeze, hiking through the gulch can be quite the experience. You won’t need any special hiking gear or experience-- just an extra hour to drive there and another hour or two to explore.

Lower Calf Creek Falls

Calf Creek Vista offers more panoramic views of the harsh, beautiful desert landscape which defines the Staircase. Don't forget to snap a few photos while you're here!

The Hogback

Your route will take you along the famous Hogback, probably the most unforgettable part of the entire monument. This winding stretch of road is full of sharp curves, steep drops, and spectacular views on either side. Drive carefully, and make sure to admire the sights along the way!

Upper Calf Creek Falls

If you'd like to hike to a perennial waterfall, you'll have the chance to take a quick detour to the Upper Calf Creek Falls Trail. This moderate, 2-mile trek ends with a beautiful 88-foot waterfall tumbling down a dramatic cliff. It's a little sandy and rocky at points, so make sure to wear good boots if you plan to make the trip.

Boulder

The town of Boulder is one of the most isolated communities you're ever likely to see. With a population of just over 200, this town isn't exactly a bustling hub. In fact, it didn't even have electricity until 1947! Many of the residents here are descendants of the first pioneers to settle in the area.

Dixie National Forest

As you drive, you'll pass through Dixie National Forest, home to some of the oldest evidence of human activity in the entire region. Anthropologists have reason to believe humans lived here as far back as the Ice Age! Besides the history, of course, it also makes for a beautiful change of scenery.

Larb Hollow Overlook

Larb Hollow Overlook is the last viewpoint on you tour, so be sure to make it count! The land stretches on for miles beneath this overlook, making it perfect for photos or simply for taking in the majesty of this one-of-a-kind place. You'll also pick up some facts about how wind, rain, and erosion created such a striking landscape.

Capitol Reef National Park

At the end of your Grand Staircase-Escalante tour, you'll find yourself right near the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park. One of Utah's "Mighty Five" national parks, Capitol Reef is something you can't miss if you're in the area. Boasting rich history, dramatic desert scenery, and even a seemingly impossible orchard, this park really has something for everyone.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (25)

JayandLani

May 2024

Great concept, very easy to use and a terrific way to learn about an area. Hope they are successful enough that in the future they can provide the same service with a more targeted product. This tour was well done and interesting, and would be great for a family with younger kids. If they made a product that was more focused on Geology (I was in Utah) I’d be very interested. Also, please give a quiet “ding” or similar when the narration is to begin, many times the abrupt onset of narration startled me from the quiet beauty of the scenery. Liked this product enough to write this long a review

Response from Host

May 2024

Hi JayandLani, thanks for your feedback on my Grand Staircase-Escalante tour! Your suggestion for adding a "ding" for narration is excellent. If you want to explore more of Utah's landscapes and geology, my Ultimate Utah Bundle includes specialized tours like Arches and Bryce Canyon. Happy exploring!

Raymond_F

May 2024

I was unable to get to the location the tour was sending me to. After almost three hours of redirecting, the tour stated I had reached my starting at an intersection in the middle of nowhere. Finally we gave up and found yourselves 2 hrs away from the entrance which we finally found without the tour guide. Al

Response from Host

May 2024

Raymond, so sorry to hear you had trouble finding the starting point with the GPS! It sounds like you might have accidentally started the wrong tour version. There are two versions for Grand Staircase-Escalante, one starting near Panguitch and another near Torrey. The good news is the tour content is valid for a year, so you can definitely use it on your next visit. If you'd prefer, I can also swap your access for any of our 150+ self-guided tours. Just let me know!

Cindy_J

Nov 2023

Disappointed again. We have tried these once before and were disappointed but willing to give it a second chance. First, I didn’t get my code and had a terrible time getting help getting it. Then, when I finally got it I downloaded where I had internet and we started on the tour. It kept going back to the beginning. We never got to hear anything that we were seeing! We got so frustrated that we turned around and went back to our hotel!! I would like a refund! Very disappointed!

Response from Host

Nov 2023

Cindy, I'm genuinely sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds like there was a technical glitch with the tour starting over. So that you know, there's no need to return to the starting point if you're already on the route. I understand how upsetting this must have been, and we want to make it right for you. Your purchase is always available so you can listen to the stories at home. Alternatively, I'm more than happy to arrange an exchange or a refund from our selection of 100+ tours. Just reach out and let me know how you'd like to proceed!

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Grand Staircase Escalante UT-12 Self-Driving Tour

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