The Great Chamber Hike (one of our faves)

by Ashlie Harris

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THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Even though we’ve been in the Kanab area since September of 2024, we only now made it up to visit the Great Chamber (also called Cutler’s Point Cave), and boy am I kicking myself for not going sooner! There are plenty of things to do in Kanab, including scenic hikes, 4x4 tours, and Kanab OHV trails - I’d gotten a little sidetracked. I’d been wanting to see some of the Grand Staircase Escalante views, so this Great Chamber hike was high up on my list, and the entire trip was a blast from beginning to end! 

We drove an open-door Roxor 4x4 OHV rental (courtesy of Dark Sky!) along sandy backroads, feeling as though we were the only people in the world. The isolation could have been a bit intimidating if I’d sat around long enough to think about it. Thankfully, I was too consumed by the natural beauty around every turn to dwell on such matters.

Going off-roading was a thrill I wasn’t expecting to enjoy nearly as much as I did. I will admit, it was a little nerve-wracking at times, especially on the near-vertical up-and-down hilly terrain, but my husband navigated us like an expert through all of the sketchy bits. We rattled over cattle guards, surfed through deep pockets of sand, and puttered quietly past cows grazing in the distance. And the lizards! Every which way I turned my head, a lizard was darting over a rock or behind a tree! The wildlife was a blessing to witness and become a part of for a short while.

Even the wildflowers seemed to be frolicking to a whimsy of their own. So much life was packed into the back country of this southern Utah-n landscape, and we hadn’t even made it to the Great Chamber yet! We spent about 20-30 minutes getting to the Great Chamber on the back roads, stopping every so often to inspect the wilderness around us. ‘Twas bliss!

THE GREAT CHAMBER HIKE BEGINS

This off-road adventure in Kanab took us through deep sand trails and OHV routes. When we finally had the chamber in our sights, we both felt a thrill, and the excitement ramped up. The chamber loomed above us in the distance, imposing and daunting in its presence. Neither of us are incredibly experienced hikers, so I was getting a little nervous about our ability to scale the steep, sandy incline.Thankfully, we had both dressed appropriately in thin fabrics and tough hiking boots, and with plenty of water. Once we reached the dead-end turnaround, we parked the vehicle and explored until we spied the trailhead near where we’d pulled in. Slipping through the wooden posts on either side of the barbed-wire gate, we began our ascent. The path was shallow sand and rock at first, with patches of bright yellow Narrow Leaf Mule Ear flowers that looked like bunches of miniature sunflowers. 

SO MUCH TO SEE!

We stopped quite a bit along the way to look out at the scenery around us. In the distance, we were able to see a large red rock formation, which I later discovered was most likely the Nephi Pasture Point. This area was most likely utilized by ancient indigenous people from the Anasazi and Southern Paiutes for seasonal hunting and gathering, and possibly temporary housing, as well. I find that kind of history fascinating, so being able to see the highest point of the Plateau from the Great Chamber was an exciting moment. 

As we continued our hike up to the chamber area, the terrain became more and more steep and difficult to navigate. We paid less attention to the views and watched our footing more closely instead. Once we reached the bottom of the massive dune housed within the Great Chamber, we rested before initiating the grueling climb. ‘Grueling’ may be too harsh a word. In truth, it looked fairly daunting, but in practice it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be. We made it about halfway up and came upon an outcropping resembling Pride Rock from The Lion King. It was an impressive formation on its own, and we took a few minutes to rest and appreciate the view from there. It seemed the sky went on forever, and in the far distance we could just barely make out the lower steps of the Grand Staircase Escalante. Simply stunning!

CHILLING AT THE TOP

Once we’d rested enough, we continued the climb to the top of the dune. Before climbing up, I made my way to the far side of the dune, following the literal footsteps of hikers who’d gone before me. On the other side, I found an easy way to the top, with a solid rock foundation. Easy peasy! In the chamber, behind the rise of the dune, we found evidence of many animals using the area. There were footprints of rabbits and mice, some bird talons, and even some small cat prints! My husband followed some of the prints and discovered an area where there had most definitely been a scuffle of some kind between the cat and the rabbit. I was surprised to see such active life happening up there!We spent some time lingering in the silky sand, enjoying the cool shade and the sweet, warm breeze whispering through the area. The same ‘breeze’ that can sometimes reach speeds of over 70mph. The same ‘breeze’ that, over millennia, shaped the chamber into the majestic arched cave we see today. It’s amazing to sit among the grains of sand and realize they once made up ancient mountain ranges, cliffs, and canyons. Once upon a time, dinosaurs and even our own human ancestors walked upon those tiny pieces of sand. Now, centuries later, those bluffs and primordial desert basins have disintegrated and been carried off on the very breeze that broke them. Little by little, the granule remains were deposited at the mouth of the Great Chamber like a golden tide, ebbing and flowing over the grace of time.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

We enjoyed the area for a bit, taking lots of pictures and investigating this footprint or that weird-looking crevice, then we began to make our way back down. The descent was much easier than the climb up had been, as we had gravity working for us rather than against us this time. Still, it was slower going than it could have been; we were meticulously picking our way around sticker bushes and dead, thorny tumbleweeds. When we finally made it back to the 4x4, we were thoroughly satiated in our desire for adventure and exploration. 

The drive back was bittersweet. It was still a fun ride, but I truly felt as if I was leaving the past and heading back into modern day. It’s amazing to realize the world around us has such a rich history that we rarely pay attention to. Doing the Great Chamber hike in Kanab was a humbling reminder of where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we may be in the future. It was a magical experience, and I can’t wait to get back out there and discover more fascinating natural and man-made history!

Looking for a technical guide to exploring the Great Chamber in Kanab, Utah? Click here!