A couple of years ago I went on a multi day hiking trip with an outfitter called Wildland Trekking. This particular trip was to encompass a visit to Bryce Canyon and then Grand Staircase-Escalante located in Southern Utah where we would be hiking several of the slot canyons.
My companion was another artist friend who had been on several other hiking adventures with me including hiking down to Phantom Ranch and the trails in Zion. The national parks in Utah are iconic for their unique color and landscape. Bryce in particular is famous for its “hoodoos” represented in my painting “Thor’s Hammer”. The rock is pink, white, and orange with breathtaking views and a trail system.
East of Bryce is Escalante National Monument which is a high desert landscape characterized by slot canyons, waterfalls, and unusual rock formations with a vast “staircase” of cliffs providing extensive opportunity for hiking. Within Escalante is a hike called Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail which is a flat easy out and back hike located just off of the Utah Scenic Byway.
There are several points of interest as you hike into the falls including a pictograph on the wall opposite the canyon. These are red-painted anthropomorphic figures created by the Fremont people between 700 and 1300 AD. The figures are human-like with headdresses and holding hands. On the day that we hiked to the falls, it was in the 70’s and the sky was deep blue and crystal clear.
As I sat eating the lunch prepared by our guide, I watched various people swim out to the falls and be christened by the deluge of cool water. It was one of those rare days in nature where you can just be immersed in the experience, content without worry.
As I was packing up to hike back out, I heard the lyrics to Van Morrison’s song “Days Like This”. “Well my mama told me there would be days like this.”
Call to Action: Grand Staircase Escalante faces renewed threats in 2026 through congressional efforts to invalidate its protective status. Reversing protections would open this area to mining, oil and gas drilling jeopardizing wildlife habitats, cultural sites, and the livelihood of businesses dependent on tourism. Sign the petition: grandcanyontrust.org