Skutumpah

Skutumpah (pronounced scoot um pa) runs east-west through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument from the intersections of Johnson Valley Road and Glendale Bench in the west to Cottonwood Canyon Road near Cannonville in the east.  The graded road is easily passable in 2WD vehicles unless wet.  When wet, the road becomes essentially impassable in any vehicle.  The clay surface becomes exceptionally slick, providing virtually no traction.  The road has deep ruts, steep grades, and hairpin switchbacks on the eastern end.  Emergency contact stations are every 5 miles along a good portion of the remote road.

The western end is relatively dull but offers good views of the orange and pink cliffs of the Bryce Canyon area.  The road crosses Deer Springs Ranch, a large plot of private land.  Watch out for cattle on the trail.  The eastern half of the road is far more interesting.  A bridge crosses Bull Valley Gorge, a challenging canyoneering destination.  Take a moment to walk onto the bridge and look down into the impressively deep sandstone gorge.  Willis Slot Canyon is an easy 2-mile round trip hike through a scenic slot canyon.  The trailhead has plenty of parking.  

Camping is limited.  The best dispersed campsite on the western end is 2 miles into the track across from one of the emergency rescue beacons.  The shaded site can host up to 5 larger rigs and is suitable for tent camping.  A mile from the eastern end is a superb camping area on the edge of a ridgeline capable of hosting 15 to 20 vehicles while still providing privacy.   The best sites have impressive views, with Powell Point dominating the skyline.  Deer Springs Ranch offers cabins and campsites.  Plenty of commercial camping and lodging options exist in Cannonville, Tropic, and the beautiful Kodachrome State Park.