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Grand Gulch, Utah - Trails Illustrated
Map #706 - National Geographic Maps
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Coverage includes BLM/San Juan Resource Area; Grand Gulch Primitive Area; Grand Flat, Northern Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Valley of the Gods, Cedar Mesa, Snow Flat, Grand Flat and Comb Ridge; First, Fish and Owl Creek, Polly Mesa and San Juan River. Includes UTM tick marks for use with your GPS.
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 The Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area
The Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area, near the Four Corners, encompasses nearly 40,000 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Grand Gulch is a federally designated primitive area, so the BLM works to keep the land open to modern-day explorers while protecting the natural habitat and ancient Anasazi ruins present in Grand Gulch. As a result, most of Grand Gulch can only be travelled on foot or with pack animals. There are a number of day hikes and overnight trips for all hiking and backcountry experience levels, and visitors to the Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area will be well-rewarded with stunning mesa views, archaeological discoveries, and the opportunity to see unique desert plants and animals in a natural setting.
History of the Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area
Grand Gulch is almost completely formed from sandstone which was laid down from 251 to 290 million years ago when the Four Corners was covered by an inland sea. Sandstone is soft and easily eroded by wind and water, both of which forces have combined to form the stunning rock walls, rock bridges, and alcoves found within Grand Gulch. It has been said that Grand Gulch contains the highest density of archaeological remains from past human settlement anywhere in the U.S., and it is easy to believe as almost every switchback and turn in the canyons of Grand Gulch reveals another pictograph, ruined building, or pottery sherd, often within view of seasonal waterfalls and soaring rock arches.
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 Grand Gulch was first settled by the early Basketmakers, the ancestors of the Anasazi, in about 300 BCE. The Anasazi flourished here beginning in 200 CE before migrating south in about 1300 CE, leaving many archaeological sites behind. Almost all of the archaeological sites in Grand Gulch are from the Anasazi, but a few remains have been tied to the earlier Basketmakers. The Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area was briefly, and sparsely, settled again by American farmers and stock herders at the turn of the 20th century. A few hints of this Old West settlement period remain.
Climate and Species in the Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area
The Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area is on the Colorado plateau. It has a desert climate and ranges in elevation from just under 4,000 feet up to almost 7,000 feet above sea level. Even a day hike can gain or lose 1,000 feet, and some of the trails have consistent changes in elevation that can wear hikers out quickly, so visitors must be prepared with water and appropriate hiking gear whether planning on a day trip or a backpacking excursion. Because of its unique placement, the ecology of Grand Gulch contains many different species of plants and animals.
 Plants in Grand Gulch must be drought-resistant due to the very low amount of rainfall, and have developed extensive root systems to collect as much moisture as possible. Since sandstone is porous, many of these plants grow on the canyon walls, such as ferns that tend to grow in stands. There are also desert flowers in Grand Gulch that typically bloom in the spring for a short period of time after the rains, notably several sub-species of yucca. Utah juniper and pinyon pines grow in abundance through certain areas of the canyon system. Cheatgrass, a non-native plant, also grows thickly at some points of Grand Gulch, and is a serious fire hazard – one of the reasons that open fires are prohibited in the Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area.
Many desert animals also call Grand Gulch home, from small animals such as jackrabbits and the endangered black-footed ferret to animals that may pose a danger to hikers such as cougars. On occasion, bear sightings have been reported in the Grand Gulch complex. It is more common to see desert birds like the kingbird and turkey vulture. The collared lizard is also frequently sighted basking on sandstone shelves, along with less eagerly anticipated species such as rattlesnakes, tarantulas, and desert centipedes.
Getting to the Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area
Visitors to the Grand Gulch Utah Primitive Area can anticipate walking some of the best trails that Utah has to offer. Grand Gulch is the definition of scenic, and has something for everyone from archaeological finds to rare desert species. Though it is a backcountry area, the Grand Gulch complex is easily accessible. The main, and most popular, trailhead starts at Kane Gulch on the northern end of Grand Gulch, bordering Utah 261. Vehicles can also be parked at the Bullet Canyon Trailhead seven miles south of Kane Gulch. Information on parking areas, permit fees, and trail routes can be requested from the BLM or the ranger station at the Kane Gulch trailhead.
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Hiking and Backpacking in the Cedar Mesa area of Utah > |
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