The Cottonwood Narrows hike is an easy 1.7 miles (one way) through a deep gorge along Cottonwood Creek in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. It’s popular with hikers passing through the area exploring Cottonwood Canyon Road along the wildly picturesque Cockscomb.

View more images available as prints from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Cottonwood Narrows Trail Description

The Cottonwood Narrows Trail is an easy to follow exploration through a deep gorge with immense sandstone walls towering around you. Without many landmarks or wrong turns, there’s not much to explain in terms of the hike itself. The trail can be started at either the south or the north trailhead, and while you could take the road back to the trailhead you started from, it’s always more interesting to see the same trail coming from the opposite direction.

Getting There

From Cannonville, Utah, head south on Kodachrome Road for 20.2 miles, over which time the road will transition seamlessly to Cottonwood Canyon Road. The North Cottonwood Narrows Trailhead will come first, while the South trailhead will show up 1 more mile down the road.