Coyote Gulch Hiking and Backpacking Guide

Coyote Gulch Overview and Facts

The main Coyote Gulch trail is an intense but manageable hike that crosses from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. These parks are managed together by the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center. There are other trails and sites to see in the area, as well. Some are easier to reach, while others are more challenging. 

Even within Coyote Gulch itself, there are a number of trails that you can take in and out of the canyon. They’ll lead you to sites like Jacob Hamblin Arch and Fortymile Ridge, intersecting with each other to provide as short or as long a hike as you want. Each trail varies in difficulty and length, letting you make the Coyote Gulch hike that fits your schedule and ability. The trails you tackle are up to you, but it’s worth knowing about the terrain before making your choice. Here’s what you need to know about Coyote Gulch Trail:

• Location: Coyote Gulch is in Utah, in the Grand Staircase-Escalante desert.
• Geography: This semi-narrow canyon winds through red rock country, until the tributary that carved it meets the Escalante River near Lake Powell.
• Trail Length: The main trail is 11.5 miles, round-trip, but you can plot a course anywhere from 2 miles to 30 in the area
• Area: The Escalante Interagency Visitor Center manages a total of 1.9 million acres.
• Trailhead Coordinates: 37.389971, -111.034848
• Weather: Temperatures range 40s-50s in the winter to 80s-90s in the summer. Winter months can see 5-10 inches of snowfall per month. The region doesn’t get a lot of rain, but in canyon country, you should always be mindful of flash floods. A storm that’s miles away can trigger a flash flood in the canyon.
• Terrain: You’ll encounter sandstone, sand, and creek bed. Some trails include unique challenges such as rock-scrambling, friction climbing, or narrow passages that will require you to ferry your pack across with a rope. Shade is sparse, and there are several creek crossings, so waterproof trail shoes or boots are recommended.
• Difficulty: Coyote Gulch is a long, strenuous trail. There’s no technical rock climbing on the main trail, but the rock-scrambling can present a challenge. It makes a solid overnight hike. You can hike it in a day if you really want to, but you won’t get the most out of the scenery.

Coyote Gulch Highlights

• Water Tanks: These water tanks may seem to be in the middle of nowhere, but they’re a great landmark near the main Coyote Gulch trailhead, and most of the other trails aren’t too far away.
• Crack in the Rock: Located on the Fortymile Ridge trail, near the water tanks, a crack in this 50-foot cliff lets hikers down to the sand dune below, and from there to the place where the Escalante River and Coyote Gulch meet. But getting through may take a little ingenuity.
• Stevens Arch: The area is no stranger to dramatic rock formations, but at 160 feet tall and 220 feet wide, this massive arch is particularly noteworthy.
• Coyote Natural Bridge: This enormous, arching span of rock towers over the creek running underneath. The shadows cast by the stone overhead make it feel almost like a grotto, when the creek is high. Which is a great reminder—bring waterproof shoes, or at least a change of socks.
• Jacob Hamblin Arch: Jacob Hamblin Arch isn’t the largest arch in Utah—or even in the Coyote Gulch area—but it’s often regarded as one of the most beautiful. It towers over the canyon, creating a space that feels cavernous and intimate, all at once. Hikers have likened it to a natural cathedral. There are at least four different trailheads that can get you here, and the surrounding area serves as a popular campsite for backpackers.

How to Get to Coyote Gulch

To get from Coyote Gulch, you’ll need to start from Escalante, Utah. The closest international airports is Salt Lake City International (SLC), followed by McCarran International (LAS) in Las Vegas. Nearby regional airports included Cedar City Airport (CDC) and St. George Airport (SGU). From Escalante, take Highway 12 towards the canyon. Just before mile 65, you’ll see an unpaved road on the right side, as the road curves left. This is Hole-in-the-Rock Road. There are several trails in, out, and through the gulch, and most of them are accessible via this one road. Trailheads are marked by how far down this road they are, so use your trip odometer to make sure you get where you’re trying to go. Even the few trailheads that aren’t directly off Hole-in-the-Rock Road are just a short drive down a side road.

Coyote Gulch Rules, Regulations, and Restrictions

There are a few things you’ll want to know before going to Coyote Gulch. With an upswing in tourism, the park authorities have put a few rules in place to help preserve the area.

• Get a permit. If you’re camping overnight, you’ll need a backcountry permit in Escalante or at the trailhead. If you’re just day hiking, please sign in at the trail registry. If you’re going to be camping in the Glen Canyon Wilderness, you’ll need a permit from the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center.
• No groups larger than 12. If your group size is over 12, you’ll need to split into smaller groups that camp and hike at least ½ mile apart.
• Leave no trace. That whole “Take only pictures; leave only footprints” thing holds true.
• Dispose of waste appropriately. All human waste must be contained and carried out using either a portable toilet or a specifically engineered bag waste containment system.
• No fires. You’ll probably want a camp stove system as a substitute.
• No pets. This includes dogs, but also includes pack animals such as horses or goats.
• No feeding wildlife. Please store food and trash in such a way that birds or other animals can’t access it.
• No rock cairns. Please rely on your map and compass, rather than risk harming the environment or confusing other visitors with a rock cairn.
• Mind Volume. Please let people enjoy the natural soundscape by keeping your group quiet and by only playing music in headphones.
• Watch for flash floods. Check weather conditions before you go, and be mindful that a storm miles away can cause flooding in your location.

Coyote Gulch Trailheads and Trails

Beyond the main trail, there are many other trails snaking through the terrain. From short hikes of just a few miles to lengthy excursions, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Regardless of the length or difficulty you’re comfortable with, there’s a hike at Coyote Gulch for you. For the longer trails, some people will bring two cars, and park one at each end of the hike.

Red Well

This trail takes you out from Red Well down to the Escalante River. Getting there and back is a much longer hike, at 28.4 miles. But the terrain isn’t as challenging, and hikers who cover the trail generally consider it easier  than the Coyote Gulch Loop. This trail starts about 1.5 miles off Hole-In-The-Rock Road. It runs along the plateau, descends into Coyote Gulch, then narrows into a canyon. From there, it takes you through to Hurricane Wash, the Jacob Hamblin Arch, and the Coyote Natural Bridge. Finally, the trail passes close to two waterfalls before taking you to the Escalante River.

At nearly 30 miles, you’re going to want to camp out for a night or two. The good news is that there are plenty of chances to do so, especially around Jacob Hamblin Arch and the Coyote Natural Bridge.

Hurricane Wash

An intermediate trail, Hurricane Wash runs 5.9 miles, descending into Hurricane Gulch and taking you to the point where it joins with Coyote Gulch amid sandstone cliffs. From there, you can head on down to the Escalante River for another 6 miles or so, or hike the 5.9 miles back to the starting point. In any case, the terrain isn’t as challenging as some of the others, and being surrounded by the walls of Hurricane Wash is a breathtaking sight.

Fortymile Ridge: Water Tank

The Water Tank route is great for rock climbers. This short trail is just 2 miles each way, and features 100 feet of friction climbing. The trailhead is a 4-mile drive off of Hole-in-the-Rock Road, and takes you out to the Gulch. From there, you can hike back, or head elsewhere. If you have experience with friction climbing (also known as slab climbing) this is a great place to put your skills to use.

Fortymile Ridge: Crack in the Wall

This short trail goes from the Fortymile Ridge trail down to the Escalante River. It’s just .7 miles each way, but it has some unique challenges. A large, loose sand dune can take care of your cardio of the day. There’s also a narrow passage to be aware of. (This is the “crack in the wall” that gives the trail its name.) The area is too narrow to wear some packs through, so some people use a rope to pass their backpacks through. You’ll see grooves in the rock where hikers have placed their ropes before.

Escalante River and Water Access

Coyote Gulch has a perennial stream, about a mile away from the Red Well trailhead. There’s also a stream in Hurricane Wash, about 3.5 miles from the trailhead, and accessible from the other two trailheads when you reach the canyon bottom. For most of the hikes, it’ll be impossible to miss water, as you’ll wind up walking across or in the stream at some point. Be ready for wet feet!

In addition to the streams, there are numerous seeps and springs that crop up along the way. Sourcing water shouldn’t be a problem. Just make sure that you have a way to purify the water you come across. There have been some issues with E.coli in the water in the region, so be careful and thorough with your water purification.

Another thing to keep in mind, water-wise, is that the area is prone to flash floods. This is not uncommon in canyon areas. Just keep an eye on the weather in the area as you set out, and remember that flash floods can be triggered by storms that are miles away.

Coyote Gulch Hiking

The overall experience of hiking Coyote Gulch is breathtaking. It’s remote, only reachable by a long drive down an unpaved road. But once you reach your destination, what you find is incredible. The canyon trails wind through staggeringly tall red rocks, past ferns pushing their way through cracks in the stone, through gorgeous formations like waterfalls or a natural bridge. The loops and side trails let you map out a trip anywhere from 2 miles to 30, and challenges available include rock-scrambling, friction climbing, and navigating narrow passages.

Trails range from intermediate to difficult, and the opportunities for a seasoned hiker are fantastic. Be sure to bring plenty of shade and sunscreen (a gorgeous desert is still a desert, after all). Bring ways to purify water. And bring shoes that can navigate rock-scrambling and crossing streams. You’ll either want shoes that can get wet, or an extra change of socks or two.

Coyote Gulch Backpacking and Camping

For most routes through Coyote Gulch, you’ll want to spend at least one night. The only other choice is to barrel through so fast you won’t have much chance to appreciate where you are. And after that long drive, why not make the most of your trip?

Since fires aren’t permitted in the area, you’ll need some other way to cook. A good camp stove is a great way to enjoy a great meal after a long day’s hike, even when you can’t build a fire.

Look at the weather, (you can get a general idea of the climate here) and make sure that your tent is suitable for the temperatures during your stay. As always, bring tablets (or be ready to boil water) if you plan to grab water from the springs, creeks, or river in the area.

Coyote Gulch Camping Permits

Wherever you camp, you’ll need a permit. You may want to call ahead to figure out which permit you need. For hikes into Glen Canyon Wilderness, you’ll need to visit the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in person. For other areas, you can get a permit at the visitor center or at one of the entry trailheads. Camping always requires a permit, but day hikes may not.

Have a Fun, Safe Trip

Coyote Gulch covers a lot of ground. There’s no end of sights to take in, and no shortage of challenges. Just make sure you put in the prep work you need for a responsible trip. Research the weather, since the area is prone to flash floods. Get any permits you need. Make sure someone back home knows where you are and how long you plan to be gone. Bring all of the essentials you need for a great hike. 

Once you’re there, though, seeing the red stone arches tower over you, or feeling the thrill of conquering the trails or the friction climbs, all that hard work will be more than worth it.