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Fauna of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

There are about 300 species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles living in the Grand Staircase Escalante including mule deer, mountain lions, cougar, bighorn sheep, elk and even some bears.

Mammalian Studies - There are about 30 species of mammals in the variety of environments of the monument. Studies are an on-going process in the Grand Staircase and habitat studies are among the many going on. Quality habitats are often reflected by the number of species living in them. Research has shown that riparian habitats, with thick coverage of shrubs, grass and trees, were found to have the greatest number of mammalian species in the monument.

Amphibians and Reptiles - Species of reptiles found in the Grand Staircase include the California King snake, the plateau striped whiptail and the endangered desert tortoise. Amphibians found include the tiger salamander and the red spotted toad. Underway are studies including their habitats and behavior. There are about 46 species of reptiles and amphibians in the monument. The desert tortoise has lived on the earth for 67 million years but today it has been crowded out of its environment by urbanization and development. In addition to crowding, humans often pick up the harmless creatures which causes the tortoise to empty its bladder and as a result some die from dehydration.

Birds - Numerous birds are found in the Staircase including the endangered California Condor, Peregrine Falcon and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher as well as the threatened Bald Eagle. Some of the species of birds living in the Grand Staircase that have been declining include the Burrowing Owl, Long-billed Curlew, Northern Goshawk, Blue Grosbeak Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawk. There are about 22 species of raptors and 200 species of birds in the Grand Staircase. The rare California Condors have a huge wing span of up to 9.5'. Some of the Condors released into the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness area have found their homes in the Grand Staircase.

"This is not about locking lands up. It is about freeing them up from the pressures of development and the threat of sprawl for all Americans, for all time."
--President William Clinton, January, 2000<

One of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument's goals is the collection of complete data on species presence, populations, and habitat characteristics so that they can protect the native biodiversity. On these 1.9 million acres of land a crucial record exists of late cretaceous terrestrial life. Hidden among the beauty of this protected area there lies proof of what once roamed earth. The animals and humans of the past have left a trail for us to explore. Unlike most US lands, the majority of the pristine area of the monument still holds a key to the past. There is evidence of our past, present and future in the monument, safe on pristine land not yet disturbed by human presence.

Directions: East Zion to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Grand Staircase Map Grand Staircase Road Map From Salt Lake City, travel south on I15 to U-20. Exit on U-20. Turn south on U-89 and follow U-89 to Glendale. From Las Vegas: Travel I15 to exit 16. Follow U-9 to the south entrance of Zion and through to the east entrance. Take U-9 for 12 miles to Mt. Carmel Jct, where U-89 and U-9 meet. Drive north on U-89 to Glendale. From Glendale, turn right on 300 N. (Bench Road) Follow the graded dirt road, Skutumpah, into the Grand Staircase. Remember the Grand Staircase is a wild and remote place. The dirt roads may be impassible when wet and there is usually no water, services or cell phone access. Skutumpah is a backway and should only be traveled in dry conditions. Call for road and weather information before travel: 435.644.4680			Dinosaur Tracks from Hackberry Canyon in the Grand Staircase
	Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.

Grand Staircase-Escalante Roads - Pristine and remote describes the roadways within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Highway 89 defines the southern border and Highway 12 accesses the northern side. In addition to Highways 12 and 89, there are 959 miles of open road in the Grand Staircase. Glendale, Utah, located on Highway 89, northeast of Zion National Park, connects the east side of Zion to Bryce Canyon via the Glendale Bench Road and the scenic backway, Skutumpah Road. To the north, Highway 12 connects Tropic and Boulder, Utah. At the southern end of the monument, roads connect Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona. The most popular roads in the Grand Staircase are probably Skutumpah Road accessed either by the Glendale Bench Road, near the east entrance to Zion, or the Johnson Canyon Road near Kanab, both leading to Kodachrome Basin near Bryce Canyon. All interior roads except for portions of the Burr Trail and Johnson Canyon Road are unpaved and may be impassible if wet.

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