Off-Road ~ 4×4 Dirt Road ~ Grand Staircase
Type of Road: Two track dirt road mandatory 4×4 vehicle Loop Drive
Length: 40 Miles from Big Water back to Big Water
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging depending on road conditions
!WARNING! Flash Floods are frequent. Check weather forecast
Terrain: Shale (quickly turns to mud), Rocky Sections, Wash Bottoms
Destination: Scenic Overlook, Spring, Arches & Hoodoos
Elevation Gain: 1030 feet from Big Water
Directions to the Road
Turn north off of Highway 89 in Big Water onto Ethen Allen Street and drive for 0.6 miles and take a left onto Fish Hatchery Road. You will pass the hatchery and shortly after you will need to cross Wahweap Creek, under normal conditions the crossing is fine for any type of vehicle but beware during times of rain. Shortly after the crossing you will pass the trailhead for the Wahweap Hoodoos and the road will enter the bottom of Nipple Creek (BLM 327) and quickly become a 4×4 only road. Drive for 16.3 miles and take a right at Tibbet Canyon, the turn will be marked with a sign. Drive Tibbet Canyon Road (BLM 325) for 7 miles, take a right on Smokey Hollow Road (BLM 330) and continue straight until you reach Big Water . This road will change from BLM 330 to NP 230, 3.6 miles after turning off of Tibbet Canyon Road.
Nipple Creek to Tibbet Canyon Loop Drive Description
This 4×4 dirt road loop out of Big Water, Utah delivers an epic drive through two major drainages in the Kaiparowits Plateau in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This moderate route takes you up Nipple Creek to the top of Nipple Bench, across desolate flats, then winds down Tibbet Canyon before returning to Big Water, Utah. Along the way, you’ll encounter a stunning array of intricate geology, arches, hoodoos, and jaw dropping expanses that stretch from East Clark Bench to Navajo Mountain. Nipple Creek Spring, a seasonal flow of crystal-clear water, trickles through a stand of giant cottonwood trees, inviting you to stop, enjoy the shade, and refresh yourself with the cool, soothing water. The road is mostly moderate but changes frequently as seasonal floods carve the wash bottoms, causing hazards and difficulties to vary throughout the year. There is no cell service on this drive, so it’s essential to prepare for a remote experience and the possibility of breaking down or getting stuck. Bring self-rescue equipment and provisions in case you become stranded, and always check weather conditions before heading out. Avoid this drive during monsoon season.