Ordealist

Utah

Southwest Utah

Last verified April 2026

Slickrock, slot canyons, and the Grand Staircase. The most varied overlanding country in the lower 48.

Southwest Utah covers Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the high plateaus of the Aquarius, and the canyon country south of Capitol Reef. Expect deep sand, slickrock benches, and stretches without cell service or fuel for 100+ miles.

Season notes

Best windows: late September through early November, and mid-March through May. Avoid the monsoon spike in August unless you enjoy flash flood evacuations. Winter is doable but high passes get snowed in.

Trails

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