It’s no secret why millions of people travel to Utah to hike each year. Not only is it home to the Mighty 5, it also has an abundance of other breathtaking hikes outside of its national parks scattered throughout the state. One of those is Coyote Gulch, a backpacking trek along the Escalante River. This short trip features eye-catching red rock walls, sheer cliffs, centuries-old geologic sculptures, and a steady stream of water. Our friends at Southwest Discoveries recently backpacked Coyote Gulch with the Sierra Club and detailed their experiences in a recent blog post .
Together, a group of eight hikers made their way to the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument, 1.9 million acres of wilderness reaching from the town of Escalante in northeast Utah to Kanab in southwest Utah. To get to Coyote Gulch, the group drove 36 miles south of U.S. 12, off Escalante Grand Staircase’s Hole in the Rock Role and entered the canyon via “Crack in the Wall”.
The first two miles were easy, until the group reached the rim of the canyon. This is where the real adventure began. They then had to climb down the “crack” in the wall to make it to the canyon floor, lowering themselves one-by-one by a rope. Once they were all safely transported down to the canyon bottom, they made their way to Stevens Arch, a 225-foot wide and 160-foot tall just a short distance away from the Crack in the Wall.
After spending the night camping near Stevens Arch, the group continued their trek upstream, the opposite direction of the Escalante River. Next notable rock formation on this list: Coyote Natural Bridge, a small arch with a stream that runs beneath it.
By late afternoon, the group reached Jacob Hamblin Arch, which is where the ascent back up to the trailhead begins. They opted to stay the night before hiking to Hurricane Wash and completing their journey.
Jacob Hamblin Arch
Ed Doran , a photographer who accompanied the group on the journey, described the journey as,
“Magical rock formations, geologic wonders full of color, texture, and spellbinding beauty inhabit the area. One becomes acutely aware of just how small and insignificant we all are against the backdrop and solitude of the area. Endless slot canyons and crevices beckon you, each with its own unique perspective and hidden secrets.”
For a much more detailed explanation of backpacking Coyote Gulch, check out the full blog post on Southwest Discoveries , a travel company that specializes in providing unique itineraries with expert guides by your side for adventures in the Southwest.
