BLM · BLM national monument or conservation area · Utah

Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument

The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument (GSENM) is a United States national monument protecting the Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Canyons of the Escalante in southern Utah. It was established in 1996 by President Bill Clinton under the authority of the Antiquities Act with 1.7 million acres of land, later expanded to 1,880,461 acres (7,610 km2). In 2017, the monument's size was reduced by half in a succeeding presidential proclamation, and it was restored in 2021. President Trump again cut out most of the monument by proclamation on July 13, 2026. The land is among the most remote in the country; it was the last to be mapped in the contiguous United States.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

National Monument181,425 acresBLMUT10 campgrounds within 10 mi
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Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationNational Monument
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateUtah
Size181,425 acres (computed from the boundary polygon)
National Conservation Lands idNLCS000852
Center point37.7820, -111.3701
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 32)

Boundary map

4 outlines

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 9 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

BLM · Inside
Deer Creek Campground
First-come6 sites
BLM · 2.9 mi
White House Campground
Reservable12 sites
FS · 7.6 mi
Blue Spruce Campground
First-come5 sites
FS · 7.8 mi
Posey Lake Campground
Reservable23 sites
FS · 8.4 mi
Oak Creek Recreation Site
Reservable9 sites
NPS · 8.6 mi
Primitive Campsites At Cedar Mesa Campground
First-come5 sites
FS · 8.9 mi
Rosebud Atv
Reservable4 sites
FS · 9 mi
Upper pleasant creek campground
First-come16 sites
Show 2 more

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas
National Historic Trail · 15 mi
Old Spanish National Historic Trail
National Recreation Area · 15 mi
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
National Park · 21 mi
Capitol Reef National Park
National Park · 23 mi
Bryce Canyon National Park
National Register listings within 15 miles · 3 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

181,425 acres, measured from the published boundary polygon. The agency’s own figure can differ where the boundary includes water or inholdings.

Source: How acreage is computed

Who manages Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Bureau of Land Management

What state is Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument in?

Utah.

Source: How states are assigned

Can I camp at Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

1 federal campground sits inside the boundary, including Deer Creek Campground. 10 in all are within ten miles. Rules vary by unit; the BLM page has the current camping rules.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

A point inside the boundary is at 37.782, -111.370. Old Spanish National Historic Trail is 15 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Bureau of Land Management

How dark is the night sky at Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 32 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

Old Spanish National Historic Trail (15 mi), Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (15 mi) and Capitol Reef National Park (21 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument?

3 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Boulder Elementary School and Coombs Village Site.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name: the BLM National Conservation Lands layer.
  • States: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons; a state is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area.
  • Acreage: geodesic area of the published polygon. The agency’s official acreage can differ where the boundary includes water, easements or inholdings.
  • Description: Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The article was accepted because its title contains this unit’s name.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.