Golden Cathedral Trail
Garfield County, Utah
Details
Distance
9.27 miles
Elevation Gain
1398 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Thomas Burton
Golden Cathedral is a very neat rock formation located in the heart of the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. It is a little difficult to get to but a really special place.
From highway 12, drive south down the hole in the rock road for about 17 miles to a dirt road on the left that is well marked for Egypt. Follow that dirt road 9.9 miles to the Egypt Trailhead. There is a BLM trail register at the trail head. After that, take one of the numerous ways down to the Escalante River. We decided to go down Fence Canyon and camp at the Escalante River for a night but you could also just head straight for the mouth of the canyon using a topo map to find a safe way to descend down to the Escalante River.
Finding the mouth of Neon Canyon wasn't too difficult because it is one of the only canyons that has a mouth on the left side of the Escalante River as you are looking down river. We did have to bushwhack a little in order to make it. Once in Neon, the trail was easy to follow and there were no problems.
It is a pretty short hike from the entrance of Neon Canyon to the Golden Cathedral. It only took us about 30 minutes. Dogs are allowed to visit the Golden Cathedral but must be kept on leash. Form there return the way you came.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Reviews
Great hike but be prepared for a full day. We started around 8am and it took 10 hours but we explored some other points of interest nearby, if you’re just going to the cathedral and back it should be around 6-8 hours. There will be cairns along the trail but having a map or digital route to follow is highly recommended, especially if you aren’t going up and down Fence Canyon. Save some energy for the climb back to the parking area, it’s not so bad going down with fresh legs but it feels long at the end when you’re hungry and thirsty!
5.0
And you have to do your homework. Crossing 25-Mile-Wash on Egypt Road might be difficult in a normal passenger car, and even impossible after rainfall. The hike down Fence Canyon is easy, The trail is well marked with cairns. Getting down to the river might require some root finding skills. Depending on the weather, the crossing of the Escalante river might be difficult. After recent rain falls in the water may reach up to your belly. The hike back to the parking lot is quite a climb and can be strenuous and hot if you go there in the afternoon, so, be sure to make an early start. If you do this as a day hike, plan for about 4 to 6 hours. Better check back with the BLM office in Escalante concerning the road, river and weather conditions before you start !
4.0
The trail was steep in some areas. Do your research before you go it's not the best marked trail and it's easy to pass it. Highly recommend water shoes and plenty of water. I would plan a minimum of 7 hours to hike and explore on the way.
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Canyoneering in Neon Canyon
Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyons
Devils Garden
Hike to the Cosmic Ashtray
Explore Devils Garden
Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons Loop
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy