Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument lies between Capitol Reef and Bryce National Parks. We spent the next couple of nights in Escalante itself from where we hiked to Escalante Natural Bridge. This involved repeated river crossings, and fortunately our guidebook advised that we should be prepared to get wet up to our knees. The bridge is 130 feet high and spans 100 feet.

Escalante Natural Bridge

Escalante Natural Bridge trail

Escalante Natural Bridge trail

That afternoon, we drove along the scenic route Utah 12 to Boulder Mountain. At 9670 feet, the weather was quite different with even a bit of snow!

Boulder Mountain

Boulder Mountain

In the evening, we took a picnic to the Devil’s Rock Garden with its weird red hoodoos and arches. I guess we were getting used to those….

Devil’s Rock Garden

Devil’s Rock Garden

Devil’s Rock Garden

Devil’s Rock Garden

In the morning, it was on to Bryce.