4-48 HoursFee applies
Driving to Alstrom Point
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Drive the semi-improved roads to Alstrom Point, in the southwest region of Glen Canyon National recreation Area along the border with Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near Big Water, UT. Distance: 46 miles round-trip, about 4 hours if you do not stop to look at the scenery Mix of paved and dirt roads, impassable when wet Four-wheel drive recommended for the final five miles and required at the last parts of the road. No RVs.
Travel Glen Canyon’s Moonscape Backcountry On The Way to Alstrom Point Located at the southwest region of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area along the border with Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the 46 mile (74 km) long drive to Alstrom Point offers excitement for the adventurous explorer. Views of features in the Tropic Shale, where marine reptiles once swam the Cretaceous Seas, then up on the Romana Sandstone with panoramic views of the ever changing canyons of Lake Powell in Glen Canyon, await the traveler who wishes to explore this interesting road. There are side hikes at Wiregrass Canyon and Resurrection Canyon, side drives at Crosby Canyon, any hoodoo formations to stop and see, and a number of side roads that lead up Smoky Mountain and onward to Escalante UT. To fully enjoy the journey always be well prepared. Make sure you have plenty of water, an emergency car kit, proper footwear, sunscreen, a hat and a means of communication. There are no facilities and no shade anywhere on Romana Mesa including Alstrom Point. Be confident that your vehicle can drive on these roads. If the vehicle has high enough clearance, it can. If you can't clear that first creek crossing, your vehicle cannot handle the drive. For latest road conditions and travel information, check in at the nearest Visitor Center or check the most recent Road Report. If you are having an emergency, call 911. Tips for a safe and enjoyable trip Pack out what you pack in. Carry out all trash and food scraps. Help keep wildlife wild by not feeding them human food. Always take plenty of drinking water with you. One gallon per person per day is recommended. Make sure to eat to balance electrolyte loss and bring snacks. Flash floods happen in an instant here. A storm can appear out of nowhere, sending water flooding into a canyon (Specifically, into Wahweap Creek, and if you are on the other side of it, you are camping there until the creek calms down). If you see or hear a threat of rain or storms, DO NOT RISK your safety for the scenery. Never enter washes or narrow canyons when it is raining or threatening to rain. Check with a ranger or official for road and weather conditions before starting your trip. Warning: there is limited cell service in this area. Leave your trip itinerary with someone so you can be located in case of car trouble or other mishaps. Leave the scenery as it is. Do not write or carve on rocks, do not disturb plants or wildlife. Take only pictures, visit with respect and leave no trace. Pack out everything you bring in, most importantly pack out all human waste and trash. This is the desert, and mostly rock, so burying waste will be almost impossible, and the waste will not decompose. Please note Although in dry weather the roads to Alstrom Point are easily accessible to passenger cars, wet weather may make the roads impassable even for 4-wheel drive vehicles. Check with rangers or local officials for weather and road conditions. Recreational Vehicles and trailers are not recommended.
Tags
Scenic DrivingAncient SeasPhotographyCanyons and CanyonlandsClimate ChangeRanchesFossils and PaleontologyGeologyNight SkyRock Landscapes and FeaturesButtesScenic ViewsTrailsRoads, Routes and HighwaysThe Gold RushWildernessGlen Canyon National Recreation Areagrand staircase escalante national monumentscenic driveswildernesshikingORVrecreate responsiblyUtahOld Spanish Trail
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Details
Duration
4-48 Hours
Duration Details
It does take around four hours to just drive to Alstrom Point and back, but there are places to stop, walk around, and camp to the night if you wish.
Fees
There is no additional fee to drive to Alstrom Point.
Fees Apply
No
Seasons
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Time of Day
Day, Dawn, Dusk
Accessibility
The roads are rough dirt almost the whole way. Although in dry weather the roads to Alstrom Point are easily accessible to high clearance passenger cars, wet weather may make the road impassable even for 4-wheel drive vehicles. Check with rangers or local officials for weather and road conditions. Recreational Vehicles and trailers are not recommended. On top of Romana Mesa, there are no trails or railings. The ground is uneven and can drop hundreds of feet with no warning. There are no comfort facilities, shade, or other services.
Pets
Yes — Pets are allowed in most parts of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Pets must be on a leash that is no longer than six feet in length. Owners must clean up solid pet waste.
Reservations
No
Location
Alstrom Point (point is at the end of the drive)