Finding a route through the landscape of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is difficult, unless you’re a bird!

The slot canyons are so deep and your view of the sky so narrow, handheld GPS units won’t work.

The twisting, sinuous canyons ALWAYS look much shorter on a topographic map than they are when you’re in them.

In this activity you’ll be looking at the landscape of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from several different angles, all online. Using topographic maps, satellite, and aerial photos you’ll get the chance to try your hand at route-finding in the Monument.

You’ll also learn about the Geographic Information System (GIS) and how it could possibly come in handy if you were to lose your way in the land of hoodoos, slot canyons, and colored cliffs.