Project Overview

Grand Staircase Escalante Partners is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management to help remove the invasive goathead plant and remediate visitor impacts on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument along the popular Burr Trail Road. 

The goathead plant (Tribulus terrestris) is spreading rapidly throughout GSENM, especially at popular dispersed campsites and along hiking trails. Visitation to this area has also greatly increased over the past several years with people looking to recreate on the beautiful mesas and in the stunning canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This has caused an increase in visitor impacts that are hard to address completely without the help of volunteer time and labor. Volunteers will help address the spread of the goathead plant by removing it and its seeds from the Monument and will also address visitor impacts including campfires, tree cutting, vehicle trespass, and new site creation. 

It is expected that this project will be greatly affected by thunderstorms and heat. The goal will be to get as many goatheads pulled in the morning as possible with the option to do some projects in the afternoon like campsite remediation. 

Project Leaders

Kristen Buck & Victor Coulon

Recommended Activity Level 

Volunteers should have the ability to hike 3-5 miles per day and lift 30-40lbs throughout the work day. It is likely that inclement weather will affect this trip, including heat and thunderstorms and GSEP will make adjustments to the trip itinerary as needed.

Tentative Itinerary

Saturday, August 9th

•  8:00 am - Meet at the GSEP Headquarters in Escalante, UT, at 530 West Main Street to do introductions, check gear, and to go over safety and work plans. 

•  8:30 am – Travel to Burr Trail

•  9:15-12 pm – Project work (goatheads)

•  12-1:00 pm - Lunch

•  1:00-2:30 pm – Finish project work (campsite remediation)

•  2:30-3:30 pm – Travel back to Escalante

•  3:30 pm – Wrap-up and depart 

Needed Gear

• Long-sleeved work shirt and pants that you don't mind getting dirty

• Closed-toe shoes

• Eye protection (sunglasses are fine)

• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.)

• Lunch

• Snacks

• At least 2 liters of water

Provided Gear

• Work gloves

• Extra water

• All project gear

Project Overview

Grand Staircase Escalante Partners is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management to help remove the invasive goathead plant and remediate visitor impacts on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument along the popular Burr Trail Road. 

The goathead plant (Tribulus terrestris) is spreading rapidly throughout GSENM, especially at popular dispersed campsites and along hiking trails. Visitation to this area has also greatly increased over the past several years with people looking to recreate on the beautiful mesas and in the stunning canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This has caused an increase in visitor impacts that are hard to address completely without the help of volunteer time and labor. Volunteers will help address the spread of the goathead plant by removing it and its seeds from the Monument and will also address visitor impacts including campfires, tree cutting, vehicle trespass, and new site creation. 

It is expected that this project will be greatly affected by thunderstorms and heat. The goal will be to get as many goatheads pulled in the morning as possible with the option to do some projects in the afternoon like campsite remediation. 

Project Leaders

Kristen Buck & Victor Coulon

Recommended Activity Level 

Volunteers should have the ability to hike 3-5 miles per day and lift 30-40lbs throughout the work day. It is likely that inclement weather will affect this trip, including heat and thunderstorms and GSEP will make adjustments to the trip itinerary as needed.

Tentative Itinerary

Saturday, September 6th

•  8:00 - Meet at the GSEP Headquarters in Escalante, UT, at 530 West Main Street to do introductions, check gear, and to go over safety and work plans. 

•  8:30 am – Travel to Burr Trail

•  9:15-12 pm – Project work (goatheads)

•  12-1:00 pm - Lunch

•  1:00-2:30 pm – Finish project work (campsite remediation)

•  2:30-3:30 pm – Travel back to Escalante

•  3:30 pm – Wrap-up and depart 

Needed Gear

• Long-sleeved work shirt and pants that you don't mind getting dirty

• Closed-toe shoes

• Eye protection (sunglasses are fine)

• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.)

• Lunch

• Snacks

• At least 2 liters of water

Provided Gear

• Work gloves

• Extra water

• All project gear

Project Description

Sign-ups for this project are through Wilderness Volunteers. To sign up, please visit https://wildernessvolunteers.org/wv-project/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-fall-2/

In partnership with Wilderness Volunteers and the Bureau of Land Management, volunteers will help remediate visitor impacts on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument along popular recreation corridors and treat Russian olive in the Escalante River Watershed. The project will start with Russian olive removal along the Escalante River and/or one of its tributaries using handsaws, herbicide, and loppers (2 days).

The second half of the project will be to address visitor impacts along Hole in The Rock, Spencer Flat, and/or the Burr Trail (will be determined later based on weather and impacts, also 2 days). Volunteers will help address camping impacts like campfires, tree cutting, vehicle trespass, and new site creation. This project may also include addressing and remediating scratched in and drawn on graffiti in sandstone canyons and trail work to improve signage and cairn reconstruction and refinement.

Recommended Ability Level

Volunteers should have the ability to hike 3-5 miles per day and lift 30-40lbs throughout the work day. 

Abbreviated Itinerary

• Thursday, October 2nd. The group will meet midday at  GSEP Headquarters in Escalante, UT, at 530 West Main Street to go through introductions and project orientation and will help set up camp in preparation for the work week ahead.

• Friday, October 3rd. Workday.

• Saturday, October 4th. Workday.

• Sunday, October 5th. Day off.

• Monday, October 6th. Workday.

• Tuesday, October 7th. Workday.

• Wednesday October 8th. Break down camp, goodbyes, and depart.

Needed Gear

Equipment List

Provided Gear

• Work gloves

• Face masks

• Water

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and tea

• Groover system

• Camp kitchen

• All project gear

• First aid kit

• Emergency location device (Garmin InReach and radio)

• Maps/GPS

Project Description

Welcome to the Hike + Heal Grand Staircase Escalante, an immersive experience designed to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This unique retreat seamlessly combines environmental stewardship, self-discovery, and the serenity of nature to create an unforgettable journey. 

In partnership with Hiking My Feelings and the Bureau of Land Management, we will be cleaning up impacts along the Boulder Mail Trail on the Northern end of Grand Staircase. This is a 3 day, 2 night backpacking project October 17th-19th, with a prep and car camping day the night of the 16th. Volunteers will need to provide their own backpacking gear and food (packing list is below). GSEP does have some backpacking gear that volunteers may borrow including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacking packs, camp stoves, and headlamps; please reach out to the volunteer@gsenm.org email if you would like to use any of this gear during the trip. Usually, personal gear + project gear will be about 40 pounds of total weight in your pack that will have to be carried about 5 miles each day. We will take breaks on the hikes and will go at a pace everyone is comfortable with. Additionally, some of this work will be taking place in the Death Hollow creek so volunteers should expect to be wet for a duration of the hike. 

We will be hiking the popular Boulder Mail Trail beginning at the east side and hiking west, ending at the Escalante River Town Trailhead in Escalante. The total hike is about 15 miles with most of it on slick rock with undulating hills, valleys and deep canyons that have steep entries and exits. Death Hollow is known for Poison Ivy throughout the corridor, we will be hiking approximately one mile in the creek which can be up to 10 feet across in sections and ankle to knee deep throughout. We will be focusing on correcting cairns, checking “at large” campsites, picking up trash (GSEP and BLM staff will handle any human waste removal) and providing graffiti remediation where necessary throughout the hike. 

Project Leaders

Kristen Buck & Victor Coulon

Recommended Ability Level

This trip requires hiking around 5-8 miles a day in a remote area on rough and uneven terrain. You will need to be able to carry all personal backpacking gear as well as some project tools which can amount to 40 lbs +. Please keep in mind temperatures during this season can be anywhere from 70-80 degrees for a high and 40-50 degrees for a low.

Camping

We will be camping along the Boulder Mail Trail as a group. The general flow of the trip will begin with transport to a camp area near the trailhead where we will do an afternoon activity, set up camp, and have dinner provided by GSWP. In the morning, we will pack up camp and start backpacking, hiking in as far as the work will allow, setting up camp, dinner and settling in for the night. The next day will be breakfast, packing up camp, continuing work projects (largely spent around and in Death Hollow), finding a new camp, dinner and settling in for the night. The last day will be breakfast, packing up camp and finishing work projects as  we hike back to the Escalante Town Trailhead. Both nights will likely be spent near Death Hollow, but are subject to change depending on work needed and the pace of the group.

Abbreviated Itinerary

October 16th: 

• • 2:00 pm - Meet at the GSEP Headquarters in Escalante, UT, at 530 West Main Street to do introductions, check gear, and to go over safety and work plans. 

    • We have bathrooms, water, parking, coffee, and tea - please bring a reusable mug!

  • 3:00 pm – Shuttle to a campsite near the trailhead for a afternoon activity and to set up camp. 

  • 6:00 pm - Dinner provided by GSEP

October 17th:

• • 7:00 a.m. - Wake up, make breakfast, pack for the day

  • 9:00 a.m. - Start backpacking, completing projects along the way

  • 12:00 p.m. - Lunch

  • 12:30 p.m. - Continue hiking and projects

  • 5:00 p.m. - Find campsite

  • 6:00 p.m. - Make camp and cook dinner

October 18th: 

• Same as October 17th. We may keep a basecamp and just complete projects near camp this day depending on how far we made it along the trail on the 17th. 

October 19th:

• • 7:00 a.m. - Wake up, make breakfast, pack for the day

  • 8:00 a.m. - Continue hiking and projects 

  • 12:00 p.m. - Lunch

  • 1:00 p.m. – Continue hiking and projects

  • 4:00 p.m. – Finish hike at Escalante Town Trailhead and return to respective vehicles

  • 5:00 pm – Wrap-up, goodbyes and depart 

Required Personal Gear

Equipment List

Provided Gear

• • Project materials (trash bags, graffiti remediation gear)

  • Wag bags (3 for each person, please let us know if you will need more). Burying waste will not be permitted, please make sure you have a system for carrying out your own wag bags.

  •  Work Gloves 

  • Water filter and treatment

  • First aid kit

  • Emergency location device (Garmin InReach and radio)

  • Maps/GPS

Project Description

In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, GSEP is organizing a stewardship project to remediate impacts at the Toadstools off 89A outside of Kanab and improve the White House Campground. From October 31st - November 2nd, volunteers will focus on these highly impacted recreation areas by clearing brush, installing signs, removing invasive species like Russian thistle, remediating graffiti, and removing trash. This project offers a hands-on opportunity to help preserve and enhance the natural beauty and accessibility of these significant sites within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Join us in making a tangible impact on our public lands!

Project Leaders

Kristen Buck & Victor Coulon

Recommended Ability Level

Volunteers should have the ability to hike 3 miles per day and lift 30-40lbs throughout the work day. 

Abbreviated Itinerary

•  Thursday, October 30th - The Volunteer group meets midday at a time/place TBD. The group will go through check-in, introductions, and orientation, and will help set up camp in preparation for the work week ahead.

•  Friday, October 31st - Workday

•  Saturday, November 1st - Workday

•  Sunday, November 2nd - Half workday / Break down camp, goodbyes, and depart

Needed Gear

Equipment List

Provided Gear

•  Work gloves

• Face masks

•  Water

•  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and tea

•  Groover system

•  Camp kitchen

•  All project gear

• First aid kit

• Emergency location device (Garmin InReach and radio)

• Maps/GPS

Description 

Stay tuned, project details to come! We will likely be addressing graffiti in slot canyons on the north end of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. 

Project Leaders

Kristen Buck 

Recommended Ability Level

This project requires hiking up to 5 miles with project tools, gear and equipment. You will need to bring a daypack with water (at least 4 liters), lunch and snacks. Please be ready to get your feet wet!

Tentative Itinerary

Saturday, November 15th

• 8:00 am - Meeting location TBD for introductions, check gear, and go over safety and work plans.

• 8:30 am - Travel to worksite

• 10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Complete project tasks, taking snack and lunch breaks as needed

• 3-4:00 pm: Travel back to meeting location and wrap-up

Needed Gear

•  Long-sleeved work shirt and pants that you don't mind getting dirty

•  Closed-toe shoes

•  Eye protection (sunglasses are fine)

•  Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.)

•  Lunch

•  Snacks

•  At least 2 liters of water

• Day pack with the 10 Essentials 

Provided Gear

•  Work gloves

•  Extra water

•  All project gear

• First aid kit

• Emergency location device (Garmin InReach and radio)

• Maps/GPS