We're eager to visit the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument before leaving Utah. Created by President Clinton in September 1996, the 1.7-million acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is the first national monument to be managed by BLM. This pristine, spectacular region was the last place in the continental United States to be mapped. We back-pack in, set up camp, and spend several days exploring this still-unspoiled frontier.