Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument spans nearly 2 million acres of Utah's most spectacular desert wilderness, featuring colorful rock formations, hidden slot canyons, and ancient fossil beds. This remote monument offers families an incredible opportunity to explore one of America's last great frontiers while kids discover the secrets of paleontology and desert ecology.
Junior Ranger Program at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Junior Ranger program at Grand Staircase-Escalante focuses on paleontology, geology, and desert survival skills through hands-on activities and exploration. Kids complete activities in their Junior Ranger booklet while learning about the monument's incredible fossil record, including dinosaur tracks and petrified wood discoveries.
- Hunt for fossils and dinosaur tracks in ancient rock layers
- Explore colorful slot canyons and towering rock formations
- Learn desert survival skills and wildlife adaptation strategies
Planning Your Visit
Van Life Tip: Stock up on water and supplies in nearby towns like Boulder or Escalante, as services are extremely limited within the monument's vast wilderness.
Plan Your Stay
Save on park entry with the America the Beautiful Pass — $80 for unlimited access to all 400+ National Park sites for a full year.
Where to Stay
Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Parks to Earn More Badges
See all Junior Ranger badges
Track your family's progress across every National Park Service site
View Badge Tracker