Government Trail is a popular access route into Grand Gulch. The 3.6 mile trail to the junction with Grand Gulch is easy to moderately difficult. Grand Gulch is a popular area for hiking and backpacking to see Ancestral Puebloan cliff ruins and rock art in a natural setting. Grand Gulch and its tributaries feature miles of winding canyons lined with cliffs that provided sheltered overhangs to people in the past. Some ruins are amazingly inaccessible, perched high on ledges and under overhangs. Other attractions include the scenery and wildlife, as well as the solitude of desert canyons. Hiking and backpacking in Government Trail requires a permit or day pass. For permit information click on the following links:
Cedar Mesa Backpacking Permits
Cedar Mesa & Comb Ridge Day Hiking
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