Backpacking Golden Cathedral | Escalante Grand Staircase

Overnight Hikes

Feb 13

OVERVIEW | GETTING THERE | WHAT TO EXPECT | NEED TO KNOW

OVERVIEW

Golden Cathedral Trail is nestled in the stunning Grand Staircase-Escalante, just off the iconic Hole-in-the-Rock Road. This incredible trail had long been on my list of must-do overnight hiking trips, but for some reason, other adventures always seemed to take precedence.

Finally, in May of 2024, my friends and I ventured out for a two-night backpacking trip—and it did not disappoint. I would highly recommend this as a backpacking adventure. Both Golden Cathedral and Choprock Canyon were absolutely amazing to see and explore, making the effort to get there completely worth it.

GETTING THERE

From Escalante, Utah, take the main road, Highway 12, east through Escalante. Turn right onto the unpaved Hole in the Rock Road.
From Torrey, Utah, head south on Highway 12 for nearly 60 miles. Turn left off of Highway 12 onto the Hole In the Rock Road
Drive 16.3 miles turning left onto Egypt Bench Road, and reset your trip odometer.
The road will progressively worsen so a high clearance vehicle is highly recommended.
After 2.9 miles, continue straight on the main road and cross Twenty-Five Mile Wash at 6.4 miles.
At 7.4 miles, you’ll encounter slick rock and a rocky incline.
9.3 miles take the right fork and at 9.9 miles, you’ll reach the Egypt trailhead.

WHAT TO EXPECT

You will begin a steep ascent down some slickrock from the trailhead, keeping an eye out for the well-placed cairns guiding you along the rock. The trail takes you to Fence Canyon where you will set up camp near the Escalante River.

The route continues to descend towards the Escalante River over a mix of rock sand-making it hard not to think about the challenging climb back out at the end of the journey.

The trail takes you through a series of river crossings that, during certain stretches, were at times thigh-high.

Once you reach the river, there are plenty of places to set up camp.

We continued downstream to Neon Canyon, the first side canyon on your left. From here, it’s a relatively short trek to the Golden Cathedral.

Because we arrived at the Golden Cathedral later in the day, we were fortunate enough to have the entire canyon all to ourselves, allowing us to truly soak in the beauty surrounding us.

The next day, we set off upstream to explore Choprock Canyon. After several river crossings and a lengthy walk through a sandy wash, the canyon narrowed as we passed the South Fork to our right. The towering sandstone walls and the beautifully sculpted rock formations of the main canyon are truly remarkable.

After hiking about 4.5 miles we headed back to camp. On the way back, we got slightly disoriented as we navigated through the vegetation along the river. We eventually found our campsite but had to rely on our GPS App to guide us back.

The most strenuous part of the trip is the hike out, which offers little to no shade. Pack out plenty of water!

NEED TO KNOW

Be Prepared for Wet Feet: I wore Chacos for river crossings and while navigating through Choprock Canyon, but I ended up with blisters. It’s a good idea to bring an extra pair of dry socks or alternative footwear.

Navigation Tools: Carry a map or a GPS app with a downloadable map. It’s easy to become disoriented in the desert, particularly near the Escalante River and when exploring Choprock Canyon.

Shade Availability: There is little to no shade on the trail. The best times to hike are in spring and fall to avoid extreme heat.

Challenging Hike Out: The hike back can be tough, especially as temperatures rise. Start your hike early to avoid the worst of the heat, and be sure to pack plenty of water. I was surprised to see others hiking in the area with little to no water!

Additional Resources: Download my FREE backpacking checklist here.

Recommended Gear: I suggest using this water filter - it’s ideal for filtering river water.

Gear Reviews: Check out my go-to backpacking gear and gear reviews here.