Cottonwood Canyon Road

Cottonwood Canyon Road - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

October 2008 

Shirley and I recently crossed the Cottonwood Canyon Road in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah. We traveled the route from south to north, and the road left north from rte 89 at a point east of Kanab, Utah and west of Page, Arizona. The road crossed the barren Paria Rimrocks before it descended into the Paria River Valley. The road then turned north away from the Paria and followed along the side of Cottonwood Creek as it meandered through the Cottonwood Wash. The wall of the Coxcomb rose above the wash and formed its border to the west. The cottonwoods gave way to cedars as the road gained elevation, and the wash disappeared behind us after we crossed over the height of land and descended into another valley. A side road diverged right for Grosvenor Arch. After crossing another ridge we descended into the town of Cannonville on rte 12, east of Bryce Canyon National Park.

We spent an enjoyable three hours on the 47-mile trip. We drove Shirley's AWD Toyota Highlander, but any high-clearance 2-wheel drive vehicle could make the trip.

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Trip Geologist Shirley discovers a rare sand-colored rock in the Paria Rimrocks.





The Coxcomb rises in the distance




Descending into the Paria River Valley




Approaching Cottonwood Wash





Cottonwood Wash with the Coxcomb rising behind




Cottonwood Creek meanders through the Wash















Cottonwoods in the Wash

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