Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Area, Parts of Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah
The most common soil here is Daklos, on about 5% of the land: a loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Pinepoint and Colskel come next.
About 83% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 94% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 81% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: bedrock lies within 40 inches under 83% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Area, Parts of Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Area, Parts of Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock outcrop, Navajo Sandstone | 75K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Pinepoint-Rock outcrop, Navajo Sandstone-Parkwash complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes | 54K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Badland and Rock outcrop, Straight Cliffs and Wahweap Formations-Kydestea family complex, 50 to 80 percent slopes | 52K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Daklos-Hideout-Rock outcrop, Straight Cliffs Formation, complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 50K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tsaya, saline-Rock outcrop, Straight Cliffs Formation-Lithic Torriorthents complex, 50 to 80 percent slopes | 47K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Kenzo, steep-Rock outcrop (Kayenta Formation) complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes | 46K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pinepoint-Parkwash complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 46K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Daklos family-Rock outcrop, Wahweap Formation, complex, 50 to 80 percent slopes | 43K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Skyvillage-Mikim-Badland, Kaiparowits Formation, complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 42K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Parkelei-Plumasano, moist-Pinepoint complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 41K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Colskel-Arabrab-Vessilla complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop, Straight Cliffs Formation-Atchee family, steep-Chilton family complex, 50 to 80 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop, Navajo Sandstone-Nalcase complex, 2 to 30 percent slopes | 38K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Colskel-Menefee complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes | 35K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Daklos, steep-Rock outcrop, Straight Cliffs Formation, complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes | 35K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop, Navajo Sandstone-Mespun-Nalcase complex, 2 to 30 percent slopes | 34K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Arabrab-Vessilla-Colskel complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 32K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Catahoula-Clapper, dry complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tsaya-Rock outcrop, Straight Cliffs Formation, complex, 10 to 60 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Daklos, saline-Skyvillage, saline-Cannonville complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes | 28K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 81% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 94% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.