Grandstaff Canyon, UT

History
The canyon was named after William Grandstaff, a mixed-race cowboy who prospected and ran cattle in the desert canyon in the late 1870s with a Canadian trapper named Frenchie. They took joint possession of the abandoned Elk Mountain Mission fort near Moab after 1877, and each controlled part of the Spanish Valley. Grandstaff fled the area in 1881 after being charged with bootlegging whiskey to the Indians.


Hike
Grandstaff Canyon follows a perennial stream that drains into the Colorado River. The trail, shaded by cottonwood and willow trees, stays near the creek for 1.85 miles, then ascends a canyon wall and ends under Morning Glory natural bridge.Family and dog friendly, it's an easy trek until the short climb. The natural bridge is a fabulous destination and a good place for a snack. It has a span of 243 feet, which is the 6th longest span in the U.S., according to BLM statistics. Watch for poison ivy growing under the bridge.

BLM land access is complimentary.

Sources
trekkin_gecko, Wikipedia, azbackpackr, John9L

2018-07-14 trekkin_gecko & HAZ_Hikebot