Grand Gulch feels like visiting an outdoor museum. It is a fascinating canyon dotted with Native American rock art, granaries, and dwellings. If you like Native American history, it is a place you have to visit! It is also stunningly beautiful scenery.

Grand Gulch is a long drainage. When talking about hiking and backpacking, generally people are referring to about a 50 mile stretch from Kane Gulch Ranger Station, down Kane Gulch to the confluence with Grand Gulch, then down Grand Gulch to the San Juan River. Few hike the entire length in one trip. The upper section, described here, is one of the most popular sections to visit. It has fairly easy access and many sites to visit.

Logistics
Permits: Permits are now required for day hiking or overnight backpacking in Grand Gulch and its tributaries. Day hiking permits do not have a limit, but there is a limit on the number of backpacking permits available. As of the fall of 2025, these seemed fairly easy to get. See the BLM site listed in the permits section for current availability and details.

Route Options: We started from Kane Gulch Ranger Station and exited Sheiks Canyon over 3 days / 2 nights. For two adults and an 8-year-old, this was a good length, though climbing out of Sheiks Canyon is strenuous. If you are a bit more ambitious, I would recommend going from Kane Gulch Ranger Station to Bullet Canyon and out Bullet Canyon. This could be done in 3 days by most groups, or 4 if you want a casual pace. Any route you do, unless it is out and back, will require a car shuttle. For our trip I used a mountain bike. It took about an hour to set up the shuttle at Sheiks Canyon trailhead and bike back to the ranger station (9 miles of biking). Bullet Canyon would probably be similar or a little longer.

Distance Note: We found distances, with side trips and route finding, to be longer than the cleaned-up map. Expect days to feel a bit longer than the mileage may indicate.

Water: WATER TO FILTER FOR DRINKING IS A BIG CONCERN IN GRAND GULCH! You should talk to a ranger about current conditions before you start your trip. Spring and fall GENERALLY see springs flowing. There are a few springs that are typically more reliable than others: Junction Spring, Todie Spring, Coyote Spring, Green Mask Site Spring, Bullet Canyon Junction Spring, and Jailhouse Spring. We carried at least 2 quarts each between water sources and camped near a water source every night. Be sure to treat all water.

Season: Generally spring or fall. Summers can be very hot, and water can be very difficult to find. I have been in Grand Gulch in the winter. Snow and ice made for slow going, so be cautious about setting out if there is snow on the ground.

Camping: BLM asks that you use existing campsites to minimize impacts in the canyon. These are typically near springs. On our October visit, we were surprised to only run into 2 other groups the entire 3 days and had no problem finding campsites near springs. No fires are allowed. No pets are allowed.

Site Etiquette: Visit sites responsibly.

• Treat all cultural sites as sacred places.
• These are not just “ruins” - they are the heritage of living Indigenous peoples.
• Approach sites quietly and thoughtfully.
• Oils from your hands can damage rock art or fragile plaster. Don't touch!
• Don’t lean, sit, or climb on walls - they can crumble easily.
• Never remove or move artifacts (like pottery shards, corn cobs, or tools).
• Use existing paths when possible.

The map and description show the many sites I thought were particularly interesting or popular, but with some exploring and/or binoculars, there are other sites to be seen. Keep an eye out as you hike.