Hiking Coyote Gulch - Part one of our Hiking the Escalante Series
Canyons are the Southwest’s magnificent cathedrals. Today’s article is the first in our hiking the Escalante series showcasing the beauty and splendor of these incredible cathedrals and the awe-inspiring formations created by the Escalante River. Sheer cliffs, red rock walls, ancient geologic sculptures and dozens of tributaries await the adventurous trekker when hiking Coyote Gulch; a stunning, 9-mile side drainage of the Escalante River set in the heart of southern Utah’s rugged canyon lands, and perhaps one of the greatest examples of this spectacular splendor.
(Be sure to click on all of the images on this page to truly experience the beauty that awaits you when hiking Coyote Gulch.)
Hiking Coyote Gulch – The Most Beautiful Hike in the Southwest
Coyote Gulch is a small slice of paradise, reminiscent of the old Glen Canyon before it was ruined by the rising waters of Lake Powell fifty-three years ago. This immense untrammeled land was a place of stunning side canyons, geology, and botany, light and shadow, with delicate maidenhair fern and grass set against the backdrop of the cool, glistening Colorado River. A place of glowing red Navajo and Wingate Sandstone, the geology ranges from razor-sharp cliffs, cascading terraces and uplifted arches, to twisted strata dressed in black desert varnish. Blues, yellows, oranges and purples completed the color spectrum; rich, dramatic and magnificent.
Open to the sky, the sheer cliffs of Coyote Gulch are continuously altered by sun, rain, wind and snow. Deep within these stony estates, calm and quiet reign.
Our group of eight fellow hikers headed into the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument last April for not only the awe-inspiring scenery but mild temperatures, wildflowers, and spring-green vegetation. We entered the canyon via “Crack in the Wall”, 36 miles south of U.S. 12, off Escalante Grand Staircase’s Hole in the Rock Road. To access this hike, we turned left at Forty Mile Ridge Road and followed it for 4.3 miles to the trailhead.
After an easy two miles, we reached the rim of the canyon. From this vantage point, it seemed impossible to make it to the canyon floor safely. The “crack” in the wall is exactly that, a crack. We lowered our packs down the rock wall, tied on to a 30-foot rope. Our group, one by one, squeezed through a space about 18 inches wide to overcome this obstacle. We descended a huge red sand dune to reach the canyon bottom, a hike which featured exhilarating views of sculpted red sandstone cliffs and the gigantic Stevens Arch in the distance.
Once at the bottom of Coyote Gulch, we were impressed by just how small we felt and how tall the canyon walls really were. After exploring Stevens Arch, we set up camp underneath a huge grand alcove. Our campsite featured high ceilings overhead and views across the river of soaring canyon cliffs, chiseled by wind, ice, rain, and elements of the ages.
Next morning, we backpacked upstream, in the opposite direction from the Escalante River. Coyote Creek flows from west to east, down to the Escalante River. Many members in our group, including yours truly, couldn’t resist the urge of clicking photos every couple of steps. The scenery along this stretch of the creek was truly breathtaking. My good friend David Dube, a hiking enthusiast and accomplished Grand Canyon backpacker, called this place the prettiest he’s ever seen.
There was a surprising number of trees and brilliant green vegetation down in the canyon floor which made for an outstanding contrast from the glowing red sandstone. Under our feet, the lively stream chiseled and coursed through the relatively hard Kayenta Formation, forming dazzling waterfalls. We splashed through the creek and located trails which safely bypassed the cascades. Later on, we came upon a particularly scenic chute and waterfall which provided a refreshing mid-day swim in the warm April sun.
We hiked for three hours that morning to reach one of three spectacular natural arches, Coyote Natural Bridge. But before we walked under this amazing landmark, off our right shoulders stood the obscure and wonderful Cliff Arch. This slender and graceful stone arch plunged from the top of a huge rock wall to the canyon bottom.
During our journey while hiking Coyote Gulch, we observed water seeps along the walls near stream level. We stopped at a few of the more vigorous springs to refresh our water containers. The quality of the water at these fountains pouring out of the rocks, was superb and quite refreshing, one of the many delights of this canyon.
Jacob Hamblin Arch
We headed north at a small tributary of Coyote Creek, dropped our packs, and hiked a half a mile along a clear stream which fed the remarkable Black Lagoon. We listened to the tranquil sounds of dripping water which seeped from the ceiling of the overhang into the lake. The pond curved out of sight to the right, hidden and encased among the red slick-stone. This place, lush vegetation, wildflowers, silence, soaring red cliffs reflected in the clear water, tranquility, represented the true essence of our journey and is one of the great experiences when hiking Coyote Gulch. We lingered there a while and enjoyed our lunch break.
When our group rejoined the main watercourse, the canyon continued to bend and snake dramatically; we observed huge amphitheaters deeply overhung and streaked with desert varnish which gave us a good indication of vertical. Late in the afternoon, we reached Jacob Hamblin Arch, which rose majestically over the creek. We camped at the foot of the arch, named one of the best campsites in North America by Backpacker Magazine. Having spent a night there, we won’t dispute the validity of that claim!
The next day, we hiked another glorious mile and a half to Hurricane Wash, one of three main exit points you can use when hiking Coyote Gulch. Before doing so, we explored yet another immense cathedral-like recess on the opposite side of the stream. A spring-fed creek emerged out of a mysterious place deep within the rocks and created its own magic before spilling into the mainstream course. If we had more time, we would have explored this side drainage further. But we backtracked to Hurricane Wash and walked five miles up the mostly dry drainage to the trailhead and our vehicles, capping a memorable three-day sojourn at one of the most beautiful places in the southwest.
Ed Doran, a talented photography who accompanied us on this trip, said it best: “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.” Click Here to check out Ed’s excellent narrative and photography!