Bikepacking the Grand Staircase Loop (Video)

compose Logan Watts
time Dec 19, 2023
comment 1

In October, Mick Turnbull and Danielle O’Hara rolled out of the little oasis of Escalante in Southern Utah to ride the Grand Staircase Loop. It became one of their favorite sections of a three-week, 800-mile bikepacking trip across Utah. They made this video along the way to document their ride and showcase what makes this loop special. Watch it below and scroll down to learn more about the route.

A 178-mile ride through southern Utah. A two-wheeled ramble through hot desert valleys, grand escarpments, and crumbling ridgelines. Not a whole lot of water.

As they were pedaling Skyline Drive the week before, Mick and Danielle dodged a few storms and eagerly watched the radar as rain soaked the Grand Staircase Loop. In fact, Mick mentioned that it was dumping rain almost everywhere but directly on them. This ended up being a gift on the otherwise water-starved Grand Staircase Loop. Several flowing creeks made sourcing water easier along the route, which meant they didn’t need to fill up at the typical cattle tanks.

Wending its way through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Grand Staircase Loop is a three or four day bikepacking route following quiet and remote dirt roads over spectacular plateaus and canyons. With abundant scenery and wide open camping, the route was designed to bring awareness of to this beautiful and threatened area. Find the full route guide here.

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